I applied through college or university. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Apple (Athens, GA) in Feb 2013
Interview
I found out about the job opportunity via Abdul Savage, an Apple Recruiter who spoke in one my classes at the University of Georgia. He provided the class with a link to an online application to the Apple AHA position.
I filled out the application and submitted it. Within a few days, I received an E-Mail from Apple Recruiting with a link to a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked basic questions about problem-solving and personal experiences.
I filled out the questionnaire and submitted it. A few days later, I was invited to attend an information session, which "is required for you to move on to the next step in the hiring process." It turned out (after E-Mail exchanges) that Abdul Savage, the Apple Recruiter who spoke in my class, already gave an information session during his talk (which is rare) and this requirement was thus already fulfilled.
Around a week or so later, I received an E-Mail from Apple asking me to make a Skype interview appointment via online website form. I filled it out, and I had about a week to prepare.
The interview was very casual. I spoke with a woman who asked questions about customer service experience and hypothetical situations. She asked about how I would balance schoolwork with the job, whether I knew certain criteria applicants had to meet for the position, and whether I had any past experience with receiving customer service.
I am currently waiting for a response, which my interviewer told me I would receive within 3 weeks. Next week it will have been 3 weeks.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If your mother bought an iPhone, and she called you saying, "My iPhone won't send or receive E-Mails," how would you walk her through fixing the issue?
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Apple (Orlando, FL) in Jan 2013
Interview
You need to create an account on the apple site.
They call you and ask 2 questions.
1. What is a hard drive.
2. What is an external component.
If you get through that they setup a skype interview.
In that interview they ask questions like this "from what i remember".
1. Describe RAM what how it works.
2. How do you trouble shoot an apple product that can not connect to the web. Phone or tower.
3. What apps do you use? Yes you need to name some.
4. What does the icon look like that connects you to the web and other devices.
5. Why do you want to work for this company.
6. If someone calls and they broke their macbook. What steps do you take to assist them.
7. Name a time when you had to use customer service.
8. Someone can't send emails but they can receive. How do you solve it.
If you get through that. They will shoot you an email for a 3rd interview. I am awaiting that one myself.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The customer service questions got me. Due to me never really having to deal with that. Also, the tech support questions got me a little. I did not know if they wanted me to solve all the problems right on the phone...
After you apply online and you're contacted for consideration, expect several different recruiters asking you the same exact questions -- weeks apart -- for no apparent reason other than getting your hopes up and wasting your time.
The job description *seems* heavy on customer service and technical expertise. However, expect to be disqualified at the end if you have several years of customer service and/or tech experience (yes, you read that right). Extra points taken off if you have certifications in anything. Basically, the more you know, the less they're interested in you (and yes, you read that right, too). And the truly sad thing? They could've just simply read your resume and weeded you out in the first place (heck, even car dealerships will specifically advertise for salespeople who have no sales experience).
The offer of employment is a crap shoot dependent on who interviews you last. If you get one of the nice people, you're in. If you get one of the interviewers who is distracted or seems annoyed that he/she has a job interviewing people, you're toast.
The company preaches the focus on "empathy" during the entire application process, but seems inability to be empathetic towards what they're putting their applicants through. This was one of the most unorganized application/interview processes I've ever experienced. And for a company based on efficiency? Unforgivable.