Apple Interview
Questions

Talking about your most significant accomplishment will give the interviewer a firm idea of where you place your values. It will also show the interviewer more about your personality, how you like to be motivated, and how to coach you in the future. It is okay to brag a little bit when answering this question. Show that you are proud of yourself and your career accomplishments!

Rachelle's Answer #1

"The greatest accomplishment in my career was graduating University as an honors student while still working full time in a related field. I was top of my class, and working full time. This success showed me that I could dedicate myself to my career, and reach the goals that I set for myself. It felt great to accomplish so much and receive recognition for my dedication."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"My greatest career accomplishment occurred in my most recent role. I was the fastest promoted in the organization's history. I was not only proud of myself but also received accolades from the VP of Sales in front of the entire company, which was an extraordinary moment. I look forward to breaking records and exceeding expectations with Apple as well."

Onboarding new employees is a time consuming and costly endeavor, so the interviewer wants to make sure that this role will be a long-term fit for you. Be open with the interviewer about your dreams within the Apple organization, on a long-term basis. Share what promotions you hope to eventually receive and discuss what you wish to learn from being a part of their organization.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I have some pretty lofty career goals. I want to make a big impact within the tech industry, to push technology and press for bigger, better ideas on a regular basis. After researching Apple and learning more about this position, I feel that this role fits beautifully with my future aspirations. The company shares the kind of growth mindset and ambitious passion for success that I value personally. I appreciate that your organization considers the people here to be those that revolutionize an entire industry. I would like to grow into a Store Manager position, then work my way into a Market Leader role."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"This particular position, as Store Leader, is a goal that I have set my sights on for quite some time. I believe it is the next step in a long and fulfilling career with Apple. The industry leadership that your company offers, by way of your Apple Store Leader Program, as well the culture of ambition and reinvention, are key for me, and I feel confident I will gain skills in this role that will make me successful for years to come."

Even the most well-meaning coworkers can distract you from getting things done at work from time to time. The funny and entertaining coworkers who like to chat online and send YouTube videos are often the ones who can get in the way of your productivity if you let them. How do you respond? Show off your ability to set professional boundaries, when needed.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I typically just set a kind, but clear, boundary and tell my coworker that I need to focus on my work at hand. I will sometimes offer an alternate time for a catch-up, over lunch for example. It is important for the sake of workplace culture to set aside time to be social with coworkers, so I usually just let them know when I'll be available for a quick break in the day."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"If I have a distracting co-worker, I will highlight the distraction right away while remaining kind. I feel it's always best to nip issues in the bud right away before they become out of control."

People are either iPhone or Android; PC or Mac. You will rarely find a techie who doesn't have a solid opinion one way or another. When Apple comes out with a new product, there are lineups and people camping outside overnight. Sometimes, customers line up for days. Now, that is customer loyalty! Discuss with the interviewer what customer loyalty means to you. Be sure to express your interest in fostering and guarding those fantastic client relationships that Apple has created over the years.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I know that when the iPhone X announcement came out, it became available to pre-order and sold out within minutes. Not many companies can say they sell out in pre-order phase. It's incredible to see how loyal customers are to the Apple brand. I would define loyalty like that as blind faith. Your customers know they will love your product. Often, they don't ask questions; they hand over their money because they are keenly aware of the quality and guarantee that comes with investing in an Apple product."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"Apple products are known for being the best in the world. Your customers know that every release will be exciting and innovative. I would define a loyal customer by their willingness to pay a lot of money to have the latest and greatest technology, from a specific brand like Apple."

Diversity and inclusion are celebrated topics at Apple, and the interviewer would like to know that you share this mindset. Apple states that 'Humanity is plural, not singular. The best way the world works is everybody in. Nobody out.'

Apple believes that:

- Diverse teams make innovation possible.
- Depending on the contributions of outstanding women leaders is essential.
- Diversity is their future.
- Every point of progress makes a significant impact.
- Pay equity is simply the right thing to do.
- LGBTQ rights are human rights.
- The most powerful technology should be accessible to everyone.
- A more diverse future begins with opportunities in education.
- Technology for everyone should be made by everyone.
- Their commitment to diversity extends to their suppliers.

Share with the interviewer the ways that you celebrate diversity and inclusion.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"As a visible minority myself, I make a conscious effort to include others in learning about my unique culture. Also, I am broad-minded with it comes to the needs and differences of others. Diversity to me is not simply a matter of culture but also of gender identity, age, and more. I am conscious of being sensitive to others in every action that I take in the workplace."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I appreciate the open and transparent effort that Apple makes when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and greatly appreciate the Diversity Network Associations (DNA) you have put in place. I embrace those different from me and utilize those differences as learning opportunities. I am sensitive to the needs of others and empathetic to the fact that everyone walks a different path, whether that be related to gender identity, sexual orientation, heritage, and more."

Perhaps you have led a club at work, been a coach for a youth sports team, or were on the advisory board for a non-profit organization. You should always be prepared to show the interviewer that you have a natural ability to lead others. Whether you have led a group of 500 or a team of 2, you must display to the interviewer that you are capable of handling the responsibility that comes with being a leader and mentor.

Talk about your desire to be a leader. Share with the interviewer that you strive to be a role model for others. Explain that you jump at the opportunity to lead groups, encourage your counterparts, and be a face of the organization when challenges arise.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"In my current position, I am the president of the social committee. I love that I have the opportunity to encourage employee engagement while being a positive influence on the workplace culture. I am a natural leader because I start with leading by example. As a leader, I make myself available to others who need mentor-ship, a bit of assistance in adjusting to their role, or just a listening ear when they've had a tough day. I am confident in my leadership abilities and look forward to joining your team in a leadership role."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I certainly do see myself as a leader. Not only have I managed a team in two prior roles, but also I believe that leadership does not always equate to management. I am sure to lead at all times by providing the best model of enthusiasm and work ethic of the organization. I am open to new ideas and love to tackle a new project which, to me, embodies leadership."

This question is similar to 'Why are you the best candidate for us?' Think about the strengths and skills that made you an asset in your last position. Maybe you influenced changes that saved the company money. Perhaps you were the top grossing sales person on the floor. Think of your strengths in action! If you are reliable, talk about how consistent your work has been and how you are in constant support of your coworkers. If you have a strong work ethic, share how you accomplished a project in the midst of harsh obstacles.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"There were several ways I was able to bring value to my last position. First, I successfully passed each sales goal in my department. Second, I was able to motivate other members of my team and share my sales techniques with them. Third, I introduced two new procedures to the sales manager that helped us eliminate employee idleness between sales calls."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I brought value to my last position through my high level of reliability, my positive attitude, and my above average organizational skills. Successful project management is a large part of my work history. The company I am currently with was lacking when it came to smooth project execution. I was able to improve their performance in that area greatly."

Apple is known for offering a solid work/life balance for their employees. With that said, the majority of people in the workforce readily accept overtime hours or take work home with them on occasion. Talk to the interviewer about how frequently to take your work home. If you do take work home with you, make sure to express that it is due to overachieving and not procrastination or poor time management.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I make sure to utilize my work hours very efficiently, so the only time that I take my work home is when there is an extremely stringent deadline. I would say that, overall, I take my work home maybe twice per month. It's all about being diligent with your time, but I do understand that I may be required to stay late from time to time."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I try not to take my work home with me. Everyone needs downtime. However, if something needs to get done, I will get it done, even if it means staying past closing time with a client who needs help troubleshooting their device or getting a new one set up."

Talk to the interviewer about your sales targets, results, and contributions in the past. Be sure to highlight your biggest wins and talk about the ways you will bring the same performance to Apple if hired. This question is an excellent opportunity for you to inquire about sales goals and expectations.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I plan to contribute to your profitability through hard work, tenacity, and paying close attention to the needs of my customers. I have solid results in my most recent position and look forward to bringing these same successes to Apple. Could you share with me how you lay out daily, weekly, and monthly sales targets in this location?"

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I have a solid sales blueprint that I would be happy to walk through with you today. In this plan, I have prepared a 30, 60, and 90-day plan that includes how I will set out to make an immediate impact here. May I share it with you? I am a sales achiever with a proven history of exceeding my goals every month for the past three years."

There are a million things to gain from working at Apple, including incredible training, a great brand on your resume, fun perks, competitive wages, and product discounts. Talk to the interviewer about your reasons for wanting to work for Apple, specifically. With all of the competitors out there - why them? Be as specific as possible.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I would like to join Apple because you have a reputation for teaching your employees how to work well within a billion-dollar business while being part of a fun, lively community. The training at Apple, particularly as a Technical Specialist, is of interest to me because I will learn how to properly troubleshoot customer issues and teach customers how to bring their creative ideas to life."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"Apple has been on my radar for some time now. I have a few friends who work at the store level, in sales based roles, and they have the greatest things to say about working for Apple. Specifically, I believe that you value your team members and their professional growth when it comes to knowledge in the technology industry. These are important factors for me in my next opportunity."

The interviewer would like to know your thoughts on being paid based on your work performance, versus being compensated solely on your years of experience. As millennial employees continue to dominate the work scene, more and more employees are requesting compensation based on delivered results. Do you feel that you should be paid based on tenure, or results? Discuss this with the interviewer and back your answer with an example, if possible.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I feel that employees should be paid, and rewarded, based on their performance. A new employee will find motivation in being rewarded for performance, and it encourages a healthy competition with tenured employees."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"As a manager of people myself, I feel that both performance and experience should be weighted when deciding compensation, pay increases, and promotions. You want to ensure that you compensate your highest performers appropriately but that their growth is stable and manageable in the long-term. Could you share with me how Apple rewards stellar employee performance?"

Anonymous Answer

"In a perfect world, an employee with both work experience and performance would get the job. If I had to choose one over the other, I would choose performance. The reason is that work performance shows an employee's drive, focus, and commitment to his or her duties in a role. The employee takes their job seriously and cares about their contribution to a team."

Lauren's Answer

You have a great premise, but note that the question relates to reward versus landing the job. I altered the language slightly to address the slight discrepancy.

"In a perfect world, an employee would be rewarded for their experience and performance. I, however, believe performance should be rewarded over experience. Work performance displays an employee’s ability to remain steadfast in their drive, focus, and commitment. A strong performance indicates Personal Responsibility and a high level of care for their work and contribution to the team."

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This question is a discovery-based inquiry, genuinely focused on how you think versus what you do. Go with your initial instinct when it comes to how you define success and greatness. There is no right or wrong answer, but do give a reply that is insightful and well thought out.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"To me, greatness and success means achieving the goals that you set for yourself. I know the sense of accomplishment when I can make that work, and it makes me feel like I am on top of the world."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"To me, success comes when you accomplish a goal, and that needs to be something specific that you have your eyes set on. I often encourage my team to set specific goals for themselves. Second, greatness ties into that because without believing that you are great, you will not likely succeed and meet your goals!"

Anonymous Answer

"Regarding work, greatness is achieved when someone is successful in their career. A career spans many years and may include many companies. It includes job performance, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work well with others."

Lauren's Answer

Good start. It is helpful to include verbiage in the question to fully respond. In order to stand out as a candidate, I would also take opportunities to provide your take on the question and how it relates to you as an employee. See below.

"In a work aspect, Greatness can be achieved when an employee deems themselves as successful in their role. Success can be measured by the person’s growth in expanding their knowledge and skillset throughout their career. A career accrues mastery as it builds upon itself over time. Success can also relate to job performance, accolades, work ethic, and the ability to work well with others. Presently, I deem Greatness and Success as working for an employer where I can display my skills and offers me opportunities to grow. I believe this position offers highly sought after career growth."

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It's always a great idea to have questions ready for the interviewer. Review the Apple website and other online resources to ensure the queries you have are not mundane, or redundant. The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of items you could have found the answers for from merely watching a video on their website!

Here are some sample questions:

- When would you like to have this position filled?
- How long has this role been vacant?
- Is this a replacement search or a newly created role?
- What is your favorite part about working for Apple?
- What is Apple's primary goal for this position in the next 12 months?
- Is there anything from my background and experience that I can clarify for you?
- What do you see as the most significant change in tech over the past three years?
- Is there any reason why you would not hire me?

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I would like to ask if there is anything in my background on which you need clarification? Also, after discussing everything today, is there any particular reason why I would not be the best fit for this Market Leader role?"

Rachelle's Answer #2

"Thank you for asking! A couple of questions come to mind. What do you see as the biggest challenge Apple will be facing in the next 12 months? Also, what is your employee turnover rate, and could you tell me a bit about the diversity and inclusion plan you have in place, at this specific location?"

Anonymous Answer

"I'd like to know what a typical day looks like in this role. What are the most pressing issues that need to be addressed and managed first vs. the more in-depth projects that take more time? Who would this role be working most closely with? When would you like to have this position filled? What does this position pay?"

Lauren's Answer

These are great questions. I’ve helped with condensing your response.

"I have general questions regarding daily tasks, and who I would be working alongside and reporting to. I would also like to know the timeline of when you would like to fill the position as well as the salary range."

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Apple is known for their unmatched level of customer support. They even have their own acronym!

APPLE:

- Approach customers with a personalized, warm welcome.
- Probe politely to understand the customer's needs (ask closed and open-ended questions).
- Present a solution for the customer to take home today.
- Listen for and resolve any issues or concerns.
- End with a fond farewell and an invitation to return.

The interviewer would like to know what your experience has been with their company. Of course, your response should remain positive. If you did not have a great customer service experience with Apple, you can be honest but be sure to end on a positive note.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"I have heard many excellent things about Apple customer service. Personally, I have had three amazing experiences and one average one which was a one-off. I had called a few times after receiving error codes that I was unable to figure out on my own. The wait time was short and the agent, knowledgeable and energetic."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"Thankfully, my Apple devices have always worked seamlessly. I like that you have various support methods and I hear that the wait time is quite short."

This question isn't a trick question and, there indeed is no right or wrong answer. The interviewer would like to see how far you dig for your response. Your reply will show them just how insightful you can be! This question is a famous Apple interview question so be prepared to have some fun with it.

Rachelle's Answer #1

"If I could have one superpower, it would be to see into the future. This way, I could innovate technology solutions around what I knew would be happening down the road. I could solve the problems of the future."

Rachelle's Answer #2

"I would choose the power teleport. This way, I could fly anywhere around the world in an instant. I would love to see what other cultures are doing, what people need, the resources they could share, and how we could collaborate to make the world a better place."