How to Get a Job at Apple: Apple Job Application and Interview

Working at Apple is the pinnacle of many tech careers, so learning how to get a job at Apple is essential. While a coveted position working for Apple can be challenging to get, it is possible, especially if you arm yourself with knowledge about the company and its job prospects before applying.

Luckily for you, we here at Career Karma have compiled all of the information you need to know about how to get a job at Apple. From the company’s background and work environment to career opportunities and the application process, you will find answers to all of your questions in this guide to getting a job at Apple. If you want to learn how to land a job at Apple, read through our detailed guide below and start working toward your dream role today.

Apple: Company Background

Apple is a prominent tech company that was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, both college dropouts. Both men had decided it was their goal in life to create a smaller, more user-friendly computer for people to use at home or in the office.

By 1980, the company had released both the Apple I and Apple II computers and had gone completely public. The Apple II computer was the first-ever computer to use color graphics, which helped significantly with building Apple’s reputation as a leader in technology.

After a few years away from the company, Steve Jobs returned and began revamping the products. By 2011, Apple was selling personal computers known as iBooks, mp3 players known as iPods, cell phones called iPhones, and music software called iTunes. The addition of these products turned out to be the best move for the company as sales skyrocketed.

In October 2011, Steve Jobs passed away, but Apple continued to grow as a company. Though the iPhones were released prior to Steve Jobs’ passing, the evolution of the popular cell phone has continued for years. Currently on the market is the iPhone 12 Pro, which was released in October 2020. The company is now a tech giant that continues to thrive and is expected to remain one of the leading technology companies for decades to come.

What’s It Like to Work at Apple?

As is the case with many large companies, it can be difficult to judge the work environment at Apple because of its many work locations. However, though the individual work environments may differ, there is a general consensus that working for Apple provides employees with awesome benefits, exciting daily work, and a fantastic team environment.

Great Compensation and Benefits

Apple provides employees with some of the best compensation and benefits possible. As part of Apple’s job benefits, employees receive an annual 25 percent employee discount on their choice of an iPod, iPad, or Apple computer, as well as 50 percent off Apple software. However, Apple job benefits are not just extended to the employees themselves. There are also various discounts for friends and family members.

As for time off, new hires are given 12 days of paid time off, and this increases with the length of employment. Women can take four weeks of paid time off prior to giving birth and an additional 14 weeks of paid leave after delivering. Partners who have not given birth are also provided with six weeks of paid time off. Overall, Apple provides employees with great time off and discount benefits. 

After learning about these Apple job benefits, you probably really want to know how to get a job at Apple. First, let’s take a look at what working at the company is like. 

Fun and Exciting Work

Every time a new Apple product is released, there is always big hype. Now, imagine yourself being part of the team behind the release of these exciting new products. It is no surprise most Apple employees report their work being fun and exciting.

Whether you are part of the team behind the development of the hardware portion of new iPhones, or the new IOS software, you are guaranteed to be engaged in whatever work you do for Apple. Even working in sales or customer service can be exciting when you work for Apple.

Awesome Team Environment

Apple is an equal opportunity employer, so regardless of your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other diversity, you will not only be hired but also part of a fantastic team. Apple has a culture of inclusion and embraces diversity and uniqueness, which creates a wonderful work environment for just about anyone. As such, getting a job at Apple is possible for everyone.

Most Apple employees report working in a safe and awesome team environment, and you will likely experience the same when you begin working for the company. As stated on the Apple website, there is a place for every kind of genius at Apple, and you will find a place and team that suits your strengths. With this, current employees are happy with Apple’s company culture. 

Getting a Job at Apple

Getting a job at Apple can be intimidating, but as long as you abide by their policies and job requirements, there is no reason you won’t be hired. Even qualified applicants with criminal histories are given a fair chance at employment, so you do not need to be concerned about getting a job at Apple if you have a prior record.

Apple is a drug-free workplace, as well as an equal-opportunity employer. If you are concerned about your sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability causing problems with your employment possibilities, you have nothing to fear when it comes to getting a job at Apple. Apple will consider the employment of all qualified applicants, regardless of their national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other factors that make them unique.

As long as you are able to abide by Apple’s work accommodations and policies, you are sure to have a shot at the job of your dreams. Keep reading for more information about how to get a job at Apple, including the application and interview process.

How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Apple?

As is the case with many of these tech giants, getting a job at Apple can be very competitive. However, how hard it is to get a job at Apple will depend on what type of position you want. For example, securing a full-time position is often described as impossible because Apple has so many strict and rigorous requirements you must meet to become a full-time associate.

That being said, getting a job at Apple is not impossible. Having earned a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an esteemed university certainly improves your chances of landing a job at Apple, but these are not always concrete requirements. The biggest thing to remember is to stay focused, driven, and professional.

Applying for a Job at Apple

Apple is a huge company, so determining how to get a job at Apple can be difficult. It’s not like you can just walk into a store and pitch yourself. Since Apple offers so many job positions at so many different locations, the easiest and most efficient way to apply for a job is to do so online. Through the Apple website, you will be able to find links to applications for each individual position the company is hiring for. 

When filling out the online Apple job application, you will need to have your education and work experience handy, as the application will request it. As part of the online application, you will likely be asked questions such as: “What motivated you to apply for this position?” or “why do you want a job at Apple?” 

Prepare to answer these questions in a professional and honest way when filling out your Apple job application. Avoid generic answers such as: “It is my dream job,” or “because I saw an ad” if you want to impress your future employers. If you want to learn how to get a job at Apple, it truly starts with crafting an excellent Apple job application that will impress a hiring manager.

Apple Application and Interview Process

If your application is appealing and impressive to the hiring staff, you will be selected for the interview process. The Apple interview process typically consists of three stages: the phone interview, an assessment test, and the final interview. To even be chosen for the initial interview is a big deal, even if you do not get the job at Apple.

The phone interview is the first step of the interview process. This is conducted to determine your competency to work for Apple. You will likely be asked about projects you have worked on and achievements you have earned in your professional career. In addition, you can expect basic interview questions about your education, interests, and background. 

If you pass this interview, the next part of the Apple interview process is to complete an online assessment test. This will determine your ability to work with a team and demonstrate how you would conduct yourself as an Apple employee.

Finally, if you pass the assessment test, you will be selected for a final interview. This is a difficult step of the Apple interview process for most to reach, so even if you make it this far and don’t get the job, congratulations.

In this interview, you will meet with a director in person and be given a chance to tell them more in-depth why you should be chosen for the job. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions about the position, so be sure to prepare by thinking of potential questions and answers prior to the interview. If you pass this interview, you have successfully completed the Apple hiring process and will get the job.

Common Apple Interview Questions

Apple interview questions are famously challenging. When answering Apple’s interview questions, you not only want to show off your desirable skills but you also want to align yourself with the company’s core values. In order to ensure you ace the interview, it is important to prepare. If you want to do some mock interviews to practice, you can use these common Apple interview questions.

• What is something you have done that you are proud of? Why?
• What is your favorite Apple device? Why? 
• How would you deal with a difficult customer?
• If you accept a job at Apple, what will you miss most about where you currently work?
• Talk about an instance in which you disagreed with your supervisor. How did you handle the disagreement? How did the situation turn out?

How to Get a Job at Apple: Step-by-step

If you want to learn how to get a job at Apple, this section will break down everything you need to know. Becoming an Apple employee is not an easy feat, and you will need to be a highly competitive candidate in order to land your dream role at Apple. However, if you follow these steps for how to get hired at Apple, you can unlock an amazing career with the tech company. 

Network

One of the best ways to get a job at Apple is by building a strong network with the tech industry. If you want a shot at working at Apple, you should attend tech networking events and meet people who are connected to the company. Networking is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door. 

The hiring managers at Apple see thousands and thousands of job applications. So, if you can get someone within the company to put in a good word, your job application will stand out. As the saying goes, it is not what you know but who you know. 

Polish Your Resume

Your resume for an Apple job needs to be impressive. However, since the hiring manager will have to comb through piles of resumes, you also want to keep your resume simple and easy to read. Your resume should show that you have relevant experience and professional skills. Note your educational background and any certifications that you have. 

Set Job Alerts

The best way to get a job at Apple is to apply for a position first so that you can make an initial impact on the hiring manager before the sea of applications floods in. If you want to be the first to apply to Apple job openings, you should set up job alerts. 

Many different job sites allow you to enter your email and set up alerts for new Apple job openings. With this, you will automatically receive a notification whenever Apple issues a job posting. This will also help ensure that you never miss an opportunity. 

Apply for a Job at Apple

Of course, one of the most essential steps on the list of how to get a job at Apple is simply submitting an Apple job application. Once you find a position that you would like to apply for, you can submit your resume online. You should also make sure that your resume reflects what Apple is looking for in a candidate, as advertised in the job posting.

Nail the Apple Interview 

As mentioned earlier in this article, the Apple interview process is intense and highly selective. If you make it this far in the Apple hiring process, you have already come a long way. Nailing the Apple interviews is the last key step toward getting a job at Apple. 

If you want to know how to prepare for the Apple interview process, you should read through testimonies from previous applicants. In addition, you can start practicing your answers to some of the most common Apple interview questions that are presented in this article. 

Apple Careers: Job Titles and Descriptions

There are quite a few different job titles at Apple, but a few of the more desirable tech positions include becoming a network security engineer, a data science manager, a software engineer, or a database engineer. Learn about these positions and the qualifications for getting a job at Apple below. 

Network Security Engineer

• Salary: Approximately $150,00 per year
• Benefits: Full-time position, work with a team, discounted Apple products and software, exciting and interesting work
• Level: Intermediate
• Required Experience: 5 years of managing network firewalls, strong networking knowledge, knowledge in cloud networking and SDN concepts, experience managing IPv4 network ACL’s and IPv4 network inventories
• Required Education: N/A

If you are able to learn network security, working as a network security engineer for Apple is a fantastic job with great pay and benefits. As a network security engineer, you will be responsible for working with the global network services team to support the policies, systems, and firewalls put into place to protect Apple and its products.

This position requires you to have four to five years of prior experience managing network firewalls, knowledge of networking, Python, cloud networking, and SDN concepts, as well as a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education. 

Senior Data Science Manager

• Salary: Approximately $140,000 per year
• Benefits: Full-time position, work with a team, discounted Apple products and software, exciting and interesting work
• Level: Senior
• Required Experience: 5+ years in a managerial role, experience in executive reporting and developing analytic recommendations, experience working with machine-learning powered systems and products, passion for data analysis and data-driven product transformation
• Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or related field. Master’s or PhD in a related field is a bonus.

Working as a senior data science manager at Apple is the dream job for many who are passionate about data science. While no required education is listed for this position, we recommend earning a data science master’s degree to help display your expertise during the application and interview process.

If you are hired for this position, you will earn around $140,000 per year. You will be the head of an awesome data science team, and you will spend your work days partnering with engineering teams to improve the Siri assistant and other customer experience aspects of Apple products.

Software Engineer

• Salary: Approximately $135,000 per year
• Benefits: Full-time position, work with a team, discounted Apple products and software, exciting and interesting work
• Level: Entry to Senior
• Required Experience: 3 to 5 years of software development experience, computer science experience, experience working with large data sets, experience writing multithreaded code, experience using Java and other web services for in-depth development
• Required Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Whether you have earned an in-person or online software engineering degree, Apple is interested in your skills. Armed with a Bachelor’s or Master’s of Science in the field, you could be one of Apple’s next software engineers.

There are many different departments you could work in as a software engineer. For example, you could be assigned to improve Siri and continually transform and upgrade the assistant service. You would use your skills to transform data into intelligence, and you would be behind the team constantly improving the beloved Siri.

Database Engineer

• Salary: Approximately $123,000 per year
• Benefits: Full-time position, work with a team, discounted Apple products and software, exciting and interesting work
• Level: Intermediate to senior
• Required Experience: Experience working as a DBA or database engineer and with AWS or Kubernetes, data replication, Python, Go, and Java
• Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent education

As an Apple database engineer, you will work with a great team to engineer the highly available and resilient database used for powering Apple’s critical services. To qualify for this job, you should learn how to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science online, as this is often the best way to earn a degree.

This position is a great way to expand your skills in computer science and database engineering, all while working for a prestigious company. Whether you plan to work at Apple permanently or temporarily, this position is perfect.

Opportunities for Students at Apple

If you are a student who dreams of getting a job at Apple, there are many opportunities that you can take advantage of. Apple jobs for college students allow you to learn about the company and gain some experience while still studying. If you want to learn about the best opportunities to work at Apple for students, check the list below. 

• Do an internship. As a large tech company, Apple offers a variety of internship opportunities geared toward college students. Apple internships help students apply what they are learning in class to a professional working environment.  
• Work at an Apple Store. One of the easiest ways to work at Apple for students is to become an employee at an Apple store. Retail employees have flexible schedules while still being a part of the greater Apple team.  
• Become an Apple Support College Advisor. Another Apple job for college students is working as an Apple Support College Advisor. In this position, students receive a free iMac and can work from home on a flexible schedule. Apple trains student employees to deliver technical support remotely.  
• Represent Apple on campus. Perhaps the most fun way of working at Apple for students is to be a campus representative. In this role, students connect with their peers and on-campus organizations to promote Apple products. It can involve planning events and presentations and is a very social position.

What Does It Take to Get a Job at Apple?

To get a job at Apple, you must possess determination, motivation, and a strong technological background. While degrees are not technically required for many positions, it is recommended to earn the highest degree possible in your field, as this will increase your chances of being hired. Landing your dream job at Apple can be challenging, but with a lot of hard work, it is completely possible.

How to Get a Job at Apple FAQ