Apple Reviews in Raleigh-Durham, NC Area

Pros

Always one of the first people to get your hands on new products. Tons of excitement and energy around product releases that make you hyped to be a part of the Apple team. Tons of inept customers truly respect your technical skills.

Cons

No speculating about rumors or potential products, even though you want to. Company is growing so fast that they can't keep up with customer demand in the store.

Advice to Senior Management

Some hires are baffling. I understand the need for diversity, but I'm not sure how the mental capacity to perform technical basic functions is a skill they don't always look for.

Pros

Everyone you meet that works for Apple is dedicated to excellence, strives for an open team environment, and is in love with our products. We all work for the future success of our company by innovating in even the smallest areas of our job. Feedback and self improvement are a huge part of working for Apple, everyone can benefit from this environment.

Cons

Currently, Apple is seeing an exponential increase in it's customer base with a similar reflection in the amount of foot traffic in the stores. Loud, hot, and overcrowded stores can make for difficult customer interactions in an already stressful work environment. Working for Apple retail requires dedication and every last drop of performance and efficiency an employee has, this will leave you physically and mentally exhausted at the end of the day.

Advice to Senior Management

It would be helpful to streamline communication and give employees dedicated time to review and process this communication. One of the most difficult parts about working at Apple is not knowing about new information when it comes out.

Pros

The pay is very above average and if you love Apple you'll love this job. The other employees all seem to be great people who share your same values. The management is capable and above average for retail.

Cons

You have the deal with tons of people and some of them are nuts. Most people don't know how to really use a computer and assume it has to be the fault of the computer itself. Retail is its own downside - you deal with consumers who want everything now, with expectations that exceed reality.

Advice to Senior Management

What was great about working for Apple retail was that Apple corporate did actually communicate with us. They want you to share the goals and values they do.

Pros

Rewarding experiences, working with people who enjoy the products.
Above average base salary, perfect for students.
Very flexible weekly scheduling.
Impressive employee discounts.
By design, you aren't paid on commission, so both you and the customer won't have to go through the motions of selling/buying products you don't want to.

Cons

Customers, understandably very sensitive about their computer-related investments, get a bit testy sometimes and take their anger out on you, when they are often the cause of their own problem.

Advice to Senior Management

None.

Pros

There's the atmosphere, its great, full of energy and excitement. Helping people every day and watching them leave with a smile after you told them they lost irreplaceable baby pictures is powerful. The stock discount is pretty awesome too.

Cons

As a an Apple Retail employee, you're replaceable. And they don't hesitate to remind you of that. Pay is high for retail, low for technical jobs. There's a lot of strife between the store and regional levels, and between the stores themselves. There's lots of drama.

Advice to Senior Management

Appreciate your employees more, and they might stick around longer.