First there was a group interview. I'm not a very extroverted person, didn't have a funny story to tell, and I didn't answer any of the questions. But when we broke out into smaller groups I think I made an impression on one of the managers who was watching from afar. I wasn't sure I would get a call back for a second interview, but I did about a week later. I met with a manager from the Cambridge store to which I was applying. He was really nice, we chatted a bit about life, and got to the questions - Why do you want to work for Apple? When you previously worked in retail, did you ever have to deal with an unhappy customer? How did you deal with them? Tell me how you would sell one of our products. What programs are you familiar with? What makes iPhoto so special? Tell me how you would differ from other employees, how you would stand out in my store. After the interview, I asked him how he got started with Apple and what his experience was like. At the end, he gave me a sheet of paper with instructions on it and told me the next step before the next interview would be a video. That's right - a video. Using iMovie. Answering the question "Why would you be a great addition to the Apple team?" I had 36 hours to email it in. So I wrote a song. I played guitar and sang, and had two of my friends play percussion. It was actually a whole lot of fun. I got another call about a week and a half later from another manager at the Cambridge store who wanted to set me up with my (his words) "hopefully final interview". Hopefully? C'mon. I sang you guys an awesome song. Just hire me already! He had already filled positions for interviews that day, told me he would call me back the following day. I didn't hear from him again for about another week. By this time I already had other interviews lined up and I lost a lot of enthusiasm for this position. But I scheduled my final interview anyway - it wasn't for another week. I had already come this far, I might as well see if they offer me the position. Meanwhile, I received an email from an Apple recruiter to fill out the online form for a background check. Wasn't worried about that at all. I also received an email from a manager from a New Hampshire store inviting me to their hiring seminar. That was kind of annoying. Isn't there some kind of record that I'm already in the midst of that process in MA? Anyway, my final interview is this afternoon. I'm meeting with the marketing manager. We'll see how it goes.

It’s a very long process so have patience. Sometimes they will give you feedback but if you are external you will just receive a turn down email. Keep applying. Apple says it’s not a NO. It’s a not now and that’s very true.