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I'm an Apple Genius in London whilst studying at uni... AMA!

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A few questions:

1. How much training are you put through?
2. What sorta tech questions are asked during interview?
3. What is the difference between genius, specialist, creative expert?!

Thanks :smile:
Original post by SP0TIFY
I juggle my studies with working at an Apple Store as a Genius, feel free to ask me anything about:

Working at Apple

The application/interview process

Tech questions

Experiences etc...

I'll try and answer all questions, only not doing so when it's about stuff I'm not allowed to talk about :wink:


Is Apple aiming to release a competitor to Chrome OS in terms of the cloud.

Do you actually think anything Apple sells is worth the premium you compared to it's rivals?
Reply 22

Spoiler

I've found an answer on Quora that I think makes some better arguments than I can. Here's the link: https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Apple-remove-the-headphone-jack-from-the-iPhone-7-1/answer/Brent-Royal-Gordon?srid=0HSH

But I've pasted the answer below and highlighted some good points... (Well, after posting this, I've realised that formatting doesn't transfer over properly when in a spoiler. Nonetheless, the full answer is probably worth reading on Quora, only takes a few minutes, and is actually quite interesting to read. parts I've put in bold below are still there, but paragraphs etc... didn't survive the spoiler formatting cull lol)

Spoiler

(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 23
Original post by computationchive
A few questions:

1. How much training are you put through?
2. What sorta tech questions are asked during interview?
3. What is the difference between genius, specialist, creative expert?!

Thanks :smile:


1. Every employee at Apple goes through about a week of "Core" training (think about it :wink: ) FRS (iPhone/iPad/accessories/iPod Geniuses) are put through another week of training, learning the more technical aspects of the devices, how to handle them in an appointment etc... Full Geniuses typically now have to pass 2 or 3 exams after spending a couple of weeks learning more in-depth repairs on computers and mobile devices.

2. What's your favourite Apple device & why... What are some of your favourite features on a device, software or hardware... General questions like this really, nothing massively technical. They're mostly looking for people who will fit in well with existing staff, and those with good interpersonal skills that will be able to control an appointment accordingly. Apple don't want a technical knowall that without a certain level of "emotional intelligence" that won't be able to perform when someone comes to them crying that they can't power up their device which has the only copies of their dead relative on it.

3. Specialist - Works on the 'sales floor'/'red zone' and are typically the people you see walking around and chatting away to customers.

Creative - These are similar to specialists, though they also excel at hosting customer facing classes such as iOS or OS x basics classes, Apple devices for the elderly etc...

Expert - Typically tend to be longer term employees that have a natural understanding of all Apple devices and the Apple ecosystem. Most Experts have a specialty outside of work that ties into their job. E.g Some Experts might literally be video editing professionals alongside working at Apple, so they'd be your go-to guy for questions on which device to get for editing, how to use Final Cut Pro etc...

Genius - Host appointments in the Genius Bar, spend most of their time in appointments diagnosing or helping with device issues... and of course carrying out repairs on diagnosed devices.
Reply 24
Original post by Rakas21
Is Apple aiming to release a competitor to Chrome OS in terms of the cloud.

Do you actually think anything Apple sells is worth the premium you compared to it's rivals?


Honestly, I don't think that I know enough about Chrome OS to be able to comment on whether Apple is looking at releasing a whole new product to compete. I'd say that employees at the HQ are definitely looking into Chrome OS though, seeing how it's gaining traction etc... and working from there.

With regards to the second question, yes I do to a certain extent. Though a lot of people forget to factor in the cost of non-Apple equivalent devices when looking at Apple prices.

A MBP is comparable in terms of tech to quite a few windows ultrabooks, which cost a similar amount of money, if not more in some cases. The issue arises when people compare a MBP to a laptop with half the power at less than half the price.

Another interesting note is that quite a few studies show that whilst an apple device (in particular, laptops/tablets/imacs) might cost more than a less or equally powered non-Apple device, they typically last longer for the end user, resulting in a longer term saving of money. E.g A person using a Dell laptop might need to upgrade after 2-3 years, whilst a person using a Macbook will find it runs more than well enough for them to continue using after say 5 years. (This is partly to do with Apple writing very efficient software to run on their handpicked hardware, as opposed to Microsoft/Linux having to cater for a massive variety of computers.)

Also, fwiw, I personally would much rather pay the price for an iPhone that has less customisability, no upgradable storage etc... but a (again, imho) brilliant OS, really nice high quality feel/finish and great camera, than for a Samsung or other manufacturers phone that runs on Android. But that's just me, many others don't believe iPhones are worth their premium price, hence the large demand for other phones too :smile:


Good links to back some of my points (some may be slightly outdated or not the best examples - but I'm lazy/tired atm :wink: )
http://www.howtogeek.com/219478/surprise-macs-aren%E2%80%99t-necessarily-more-expensive-than-windows-pcs/ (compares similarly priced windows laptops etc...)
http://incomeschool.com/why-mac-for-business/ (fairly unbiased view of why os x devices are better on a small business scale than windows devices)
(edited 7 years ago)
How much do various level of geniuses earn?
Thanks for your response!

Just wondering, how did you fit in the week(s) training?! Did you do it in the summer or something? I am currently a uni student.
Most annoying customer?
Customer who got the most upset when you couldn't fix something- like you said, "dead relative"?
What Apple products do you have?

I have MacBook Air 11inch and MacBook 13 inch (2007 model) iPhone 5, Pink IPod Nano and IPad 2

My little community of apple products.


Access to HE in Social Work

BSc Health and Social Care - pending
Reply 29
Original post by SP0TIFY
I juggle my studies with working at an Apple Store as a Genius, feel free to ask me anything about:

Working at Apple

The application/interview process

Tech questions

Experiences etc...

I'll try and answer all questions, only not doing so when it's about stuff I'm not allowed to talk about :wink:


Can you identify what variety of apple this is?

How did your application process go

How old are you

What prior experience did you have

What uni are you studying in?
Reply 31
Do you think it's worth it to wait for the new macbook pro, or buy the 2015 one?
Reply 32
Original post by Blimey1000
How much do various level of geniuses earn?


Tbh, with their being so many regional, experience and hiring periods, this isn't a question I could answer, unless you gave me a rough example of someone working as a Genius e.g when they were hired, where they work etc...
Reply 33
Original post by computationchive
Thanks for your response!

Just wondering, how did you fit in the week(s) training?! Did you do it in the summer or something? I am currently a uni student.


I had uni Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and the training was ~9-4 Monday-Sunday. Other people at uni simply came whenever they could, be it after lessons or choosing to go to training instead of uni lectures lol. But if you miss anything it's not a problem, it's quite easy to learn and you'll get a quick catchup with the ISGTs (In-Store Guest Trainers) and the rest of the new recruits when you arrive.

I caught up on Monday & Tuesday mornings when I arrived in the afternoon, spent the whole time there Wednesday-Sunday, choosing to go to work instead of a single lecture in a module I was bossing :wink:
Reply 34
Original post by TeddyBear86
What Apple products do you have?

I have MacBook Air 11inch and MacBook 13 inch (2007 model) iPhone 5, Pink IPod Nano and IPad 2

My little community of apple products.


15 inch Macbook Pro
Silver iPhone 6S Plus 128GB
Space black Apple Watch
1st gen iPad (rarely used now lol, I found the plus iPhone model is a great midway point between a normal sized iPhone and an iPad Air model)
Reply 35
Original post by Wōden
Can you identify what variety of apple this is?



Judging by the types of apples spoken about in the article that picture is from, probably D’Arcy Spice apples :wink:
Reply 36
Original post by kkboyk
Do you think it's worth it to wait for the new macbook pro, or buy the 2015 one?


I refer you to this article, it sums up the pros/cons of waiting or buying today quite nicely :smile: https://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/08/30/2016-macbook-pro-release-5-reasons-to-wait-4-not-to/?
ITT: Apple idiots who haven't joined the /g/-master race yet.

God-tier: Windows
Meh-tier: Android-x86, Linux Gentoo, Kali, SkyOS
Crap-tier: macOS, ChromeOS
Reply 38
Original post by mulberry1
Most annoying customer?
Customer who got the most upset when you couldn't fix something- like you said, "dead relative"?

Some guy who refused to accept the fact that his iPhone 6 plus (that had the new aluminium casing that stopped "bendgate") and bent at like a 10 degree angle wouldn't be replaced under warranty. He said that having it in his back pocket and sitting on it forcefully didn't constitute as "accidental damage" (meaning it wouldn't be covered under warranty)... Claiming that it should be able to withstand the force created between that of a 15 stone+ man and a chair lol.

On the other hand, I had an elderly woman who thought she'd lost all of her eCards for Xmas lost after her Macbook lost connection whilst sending them to her family and friends... they were in her drafts...

Original post by Vividly clear
How did your application process go
How old are you
What prior experience did you have
What uni are you studying in?

21, no prior experience aside from working in a national clothing shop part time, UOL

Original post by Foo.mp3
Have you watched the documentary: Resonance - Beings of Frequency?

No, but I might do tonight before I go to sleep :P
Original post by Carthaginian
ITT: Apple idiots who haven't joined the /g/-master race yet.

God-tier: Windows
Meh-tier: Android-x86, Linux Gentoo, Kali, SkyOS
Crap-tier: macOS, ChromeOS


Deluded

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