I thought interviewing at Apple would be a relative breeze, and came in not knowing what to expect. When I arrived to the store, I realized the entire interview process would be an exercise in sucking up to the managers at the store, who were leading a group interview and delivering propaganda on why Apple is the absolute best company to work for in the entire world.
While I am an avid Apple user (and am typing this on my beloved MacBook Pro right now), we were lead through several group exercises, including interviewing and introducing your partner to the group, then choosing a starburst and having a question asked of you according to the corresponding starburst color/flavor, etc. I guess this can be good and fun, but I felt like there was a clear favoritism towards individuals who fit the semi-yuppie mold, or those who would feel comfortable and confident at a frat/sorority type gathering, and it became obvious that every answer should be tailored to explain why you love Apple and think it is the absolute best company in the whole world.
Of course, a company wants its employees to show the love, but I guess I found all of this beyond ridiculous. I even thought about walking out or volunteering that actually, I don't think I want to work here after all, if my entire time would continue to be a lesson in sucking up and brown-nosing.
In the end, lesson learned is: Don't try to work somewhere that you might not be absolutely passionate about. Actually, I don't think that's a life lesson I'd recommend to anyone because there will always be a time or place to do something, even if it's not your life's passion or dream. However, to work for the Apple store, you have to be in a state of permanent "good-moodness" and make sure you can relate every answer to why Apple is great. I guess desiring such employees makes sense, but I just thought the extent that of some of the 30-something others in the room went to to express this was ridiculous. Glad I did not get an offer. (But they could probably sense my desire to get the heck out of there).