So you want to get a job working for Apple?
There are many possible routes that you can take to get in, but unfortunately, no hard and fast rules exist for success. In this article, I will highlight several ways that you could strongly increase your chances of working for the brightest and best consumer electronics corporation in the world.
The first decision you need to make is whether your aim is to work in Corporate or Retail. These are two very distinct areas of the Apple corporation and will dictate which career path through the company you would take.
The second thing you need to do, is to honestly and impartially assess yourself as a potential employee, from the point of view of Apple. You have to be completely neutral and pretty hard on yourself when you do this. Because Apple is such a popular company to work for, positions are highly desirable and sought after. Therefore, Apple has the pick of the crop when it comes to taking on outstanding individuals to fill positions. You have to stand out from the crowd, take the extra step and set yourself apart from others. But you shouldn’t expect to be rewarded or congratulated for being an outstanding candidate – that is simply expected. Your enthusiasm, your drive to be the most exceptional individual you can be, and your readiness to deliver superior outcomes, will be the strongest assets in your career.
Apple Job Site
Your first port of call is the Apple Jobs Website. As with everything that Apple does, this site is spectacular and full of information and opportunities. The site details all of the Divisions that make up Apple Corporate as well as all of the potential positions that can be found as part of Apple Retail.
If you are a student or a recent graduate, then scroll down to the bottom of each page and you find sections dealing with the Apple Intern Program as well as the Apple Graduate Program. These sections are very informative and provide clues on the type of person that Apple is looking for. For example, if you are a student developer, you have the opportunity to join the Apple Developer Program and win a scholarship to attend the WWDC. That would be a fantastic way to bring yourself to Apple’s attention.
Application & Interview
If you find the role that excites you and you believe, strongly believe, that you are ideal for it, then you can start getting your application together. While I’m not going to go into specifics about each type of role, there are a few things that you should do.
The first is to make sure that your CV is well presented, comprehensive without chatter, and filled with keywords relating to your experience and the type of role that would suit you. These keywords will jump out at someone who is assessing your CV. Remember that your CV is the first and only thing that Apple will see before they take your application further so it must be perfect. If it’s not, then you are wasting your time.
It’s easy to extrapolate from Apple’s public image that the company has a minute attention to detail and strives for innovation and perfection. If your CV isn’t up to scratch then it will be noticed. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t apply for a post if you don’t quite have the experience, but simply to make sure that, at least on paper, you look good. If your CV looks like a good fit for the company, then you’ve passed another hurdle. There is no right or wrong way to do it, but it should be accessible and professional.
Once you have submitted your electronic application then sit back and wait to be contacted. There is simply no point in pestering the company.
Secondly, if you happen to get called for an interview, prepare yourself by doing research in the area in which you hope to work. Read around your subject and try to get a feeling for Apple’s way of thinking. It’s likely that you will not be able to find out a lot of information from Apple itself, as the company is so secretive, but if you read around your subject and develop your knowledge in the historical and contemporary aspects then you will at least be able to talk about it with some authority and enthusiasm.
Furthermore, Apple is first, and foremost, a company of innovation with the brightest people working for it. So it’s to be expected that their collective ideas and thinking on a subject, and tangents of that subject, will be light years ahead of yours. This isn’t a reflection on you, but when you are applying to a company like Apple who can define the way we interact with the world, you have to expect that they’ve got a few thoughts up their sleeve. It’s in their nature to be at the forefront of innovation, and it’s how they have got to where they are.
Finally, don’t bluff or try to create an image of yourself that isn’t accurate. It will shine through and will be discovered very rapidly. The recruitment process will not be a slap-dash affair. It will be comprehensive, intelligent and wide-ranging, and you won’t be able to fake it. So, only go through it if you are a genuine candidate. Otherwise it’s a waste of your own time.
The Offer
The best way I know of achieving an objective is to visualize yourself doing it. Use this technique in your preparation and pay attention to the details. And before you know it, you may even receive an offer of employment from Apple Inc.
Best of luck.
You don’t need to be a Genius to
