If you mean is there a job at the Apple Retail Stores where you can be in the back of house fixing the computers all day, the answer is mostly no, with a few exceptions.
All Geniuses have to work at the bar dealing with customers either for designated parts of the days, and, if it is a larger store, there will be one person dedicated to the back for either a day or a week at a time where they don't have to go to the bar, but this role is rotated - so if you get to be in back all week, you're probably looking at the next two 90 - 100% up front. Lots of the geniuses hate the bar and a few are sometimes given special consideration for a little extra time in the back, but it still adds up to more time in the public than without. In a few huge store there are 'back of house' only, or so I hear, so it depends on where you live or want to live, I guess.
Other options include being an inventory specialist, they're always in the back, or a Genius Admin, who are kind of crosses between inventory and genius work, and does more tedious bookeeping, part placement and shipping all day.
There are also 2 (or more) depots in North America (I know one is in Texas) where they ship computers to do repairs, so that could be a good option for you, too.
This comes from 2 years experience in the Apple Store as a Specialist and then Concierge (kill me) all while trying to become a full time Creative trainer, which was my previous experience as a trainer in a media lab and the skill set they hired me for. This is a little important to know, because the hardest thing about Apple is being hired from the outside for open positions, unless a new store is opening near you or you have good contacts. In Apple they have a 'Grow Your Own' program that picks sales specialists who can pass the tests to train on the job into taking the Genius and Creative spots, so most people looking to get these jobs usually start as Specialists and Concierge.
The problem lots of us Aspies have is succeeding well enough in sales with high enough numbers to even be considered for one of the larger, full time positions, when we're so poorly suited for sales and customer service, but so perfectly suited for the technical jobs. You can sometimes overcome this by coming in with already earned certifications and to offer yourself a lot to help at the bar, but it is more difficult to rise in the ranks sometimes if you're not hired directly in, no matter how good you'd be. The best thing about Apple is that they're pretty accommodating and open about differences, so if you have to tell them I wouldn't feel as uncomfortable as I would other places.
For me, I was never able to completely break through, and they said it was because I wasn't a good enough Concierge because I'd get so overwhelmed on busy days when we had to epically multi-task and they couldn't let "just anyone" become a Creative, but when they were in a bind and had to use me as a substitute, I got top marks. I told them it was like making an English major ace a Physics test before being allowed to teach Shakespeare.
But if you remind them of your strengths and are able to get on with the other Geniuses, you'll be top to go. Never hurts to try! Other than not succeeding as I had hoped to, Apple was a really really great company to work for.
24 Feb 2009, 6:29 pm
