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Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

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Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#51

Post by [deleted] »

revorad wrote: post #45
bytesong wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Flagged for zero content. The question itself may not present any content but the discussion it has started has already created some. Also, the thread currently has 70 points. Clearly, some people are interested in it, which I think, invalidates your assumption that the thread is pointless. I really cannot see why you needed to flag it.

the thread currently has 70 points Also known as the 10% effect. See point 1: http://mattmaroon.com/2010/11/23/i-quit-hacker-news/ That's exactly the reason I flagged it. I don't want such stuff on the front page. It's extremely boring.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#53

Post by czhiddy »

larsberg wrote: post #19
xentronium wrote: post #12

I believe that they've got somewhat strictest policies on talking about internal stuff. Well, at least that's what some bloggers write about [1] and I haven't heard about any counter-proofs. [1] http://gizmodo.com/5427058/apple-gestapo-how-apple-hunts-dow...

I agree. I have close, personal friends who went to work at Apple. The last time I talked to one of them, they started getting visibly nervous just talking about the breakfast they had at the on-campus cafe. Not what it cost, or what it was, but even that it existed. I quickly changed the topic.

Sounds like your friend suffers from bizarre paranoia or acute social anxiety. (See how I can just make stuff up too?)

Having been invited multiple times by friends to Infinite Loop for lunch and dinner, and debated the quality of the food vs Google's with them (Google still wins on that front), I can safely say that nobody at Apple gives a shit if employees talk about the cafe.

The Gizmodo article is pretty much bullshit as well, my friends tell me. Unless there are groups at Apple that are more secretive than the UI team/iPhone/iPad are and actually enforce those rules on their own.

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#54

Post by bytesong »

revorad wrote: post #45
bytesong wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Flagged for zero content. The question itself may not present any content but the discussion it has started has already created some. Also, the thread currently has 70 points. Clearly, some people are interested in it, which I think, invalidates your assumption that the thread is pointless. I really cannot see why you needed to flag it.

the thread currently has 70 points Also known as the 10% effect. See point 1: http://mattmaroon.com/2010/11/23/i-quit-hacker-news/ That's exactly the reason I flagged it. I don't want such stuff on the front page. It's extremely boring.

I get your point but, who gets to decide if a thread is boring or not? What gets stuff on front page is the collective opinion of the community. Saying that something on front page is boring is merely a personal opinion.

Lack of the ability to downvote definitely cripples the way to represent the opinion of the community about a specific thread. Considering that, your argument makes sense but my point is, flagging the thread will make absolutely no difference as long as there are a significant number of people who show interest in it.

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#56

Post by anonymon »

If you go to Apple, you might be surprised to find out that you've already agreed to some form of NDA with them. Especially, for example, if you're a part of any Apple Developer program. They might not always feel compelled to remind you of this, however.

I wouldn't know, though; I don't think I recall ever having been to Apple. No, not in a million years. I do find this Apple sweatshirt which I must've found at a thrift store to be especially comfy, however.

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#57

Post by the_jc »

I blogged about my experiences both in Apple Retail, and in "corporate" Apple for a number of years. Eventually I took it all down, though not due to any pressure from the company. I took it down because I was inundated with emails from 15 year olds who wanted to know how to get a job in an AppleStore. But I worked for Apple for 6 years in Retail and AppleCare, and interfaced extensively with hardware engineering. I'm not sure I'd have anything interesting to say, but if you have any questions, I'll try my best to answer them.

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#59

Post by nihilocrat »

whogivesashirt wrote: post #27
KuraFire wrote: post #20

For the people working there, talking about it on a public forum is cause enough to get fired, and hiding behind an online alias is not going to give you enough protection. Apple is full of really smart people, who like their jobs well enough not to risk losing them so casually and for such little incentive. As for the process of interviewing: for a lot of the more interesting jobs at Apple, interviewing involves sig…

I left a few years ago, and once I left the reality-distortion/no-disclosure zone I was amazed at how paranoid we all were over computer accessories. When you're in the mix, it feels like the most important thing in the world. And yet, since leaving, I haven't been able to find a job that challenges or stimulates me anything near what Apple did.

Apparently, neurosis begets job satisfaction? People who take their jobs "way too seriously" tend to get a lot of enjoyment when they see success in said job.

Re: Ask HN: Why does no one talk about working or interviewing for Apple?

#60

Post by pitdesi »

I interviewed at Apple for a product manager role. I have an MBA, and they were an on-campus recruiter. I interviewed on campus, then they called me to tell me I was going to have a 2nd round interview in Cupertino. 2 weeks later, I haven't heard anything and I am scheduled to be in Mountain View for a GOOG interview. I email them, telling them that I'd be happy to come in and save myself the time and them the travel expense...

They email me a week later (post my interview) and tell me "that should work..." They really have a crappy set of recruiters working there. Ultimately, I needed to accept another job (ended up being at AMZN), and Apple never actually got back to me. I've heard some similar stories about recruiter ineptitude there.

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