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Apple's inspirational note to new hires

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Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#121

Post by mahyarm »

dsirijus wrote: post #20
SwellJoe wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd go further, and say that Apple is significantly worse than many other corporations in our industry, in terms of how they treat their people, how they treat their customers, and how they view the world and the ecosystem in which they operate. When Apple has power, they abuse it. When they don't have power, they fight tooth and nail to obtain it, while playing the underdog card. And, there are corporations in our i…

When I had to provide credit card information to install FREE application from iTunes, and send copy of ID to Facebook to get my account unlocked (because of their obvious system-wide bug), all in one week, I gave up. I'll finish these Facebook apps I am contracted to build, wrap up iOS apps also under contract, and stick it to the man. No more of this hogwash.

Apple does that probably because they found out they make more money the sooner they can get someone to enter their credit card. Irritating but true.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#122

Post by mahyarm »

CoolGuySteve wrote: post #80
ralfd wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple is famously lean. The Safari version which shipped with the original iPad 2010 was done by only two people. I find that remarkable. But I too wonder how it is to work there. From other companies like Google or Microsoft there are more stories available, from the hiring process to rants from happy or disgruntled employees. Compared to that Apple is even post-Steve an enigmatic black box. Like, how many hacker ne…

If you go back through my comment history you'll see that I've written a few, but I left for the same reasons as the negative responses here. The company was making billions and I didn't even have stock options, whereas the executive team was getting paid several thousand times as much me. They always said "our pay is competitive with the valley", but it didn't feel right. It came out later that Apple and other Silic…

Do you have a blog post about your transition to finance and the differences in working and living conditions?

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#124

Post by jarek »

jopt wrote: post #107
nollidge wrote: post #81

My grandpa used to say: The thanks is in the paycheck. You want my weekends? Fuck you, pay me.

That just means you're not doing the sort of work you'd sacrifice a weekend for. Why is everyone in this thread boasting about this?

What kind of work would you sacrifice a weekend for?

Edit: I mean specifically.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#125

Post by jaimzob »

Thoroughly depressed by the responses here - especially on a site that prides itself (or used to) on being more nuanced and intelligent than average. If you don't like the message then fine, it's a little saccharine for my taste, but it doesn't make Apple a 'soulless' company, it doesn't make Apple customers empty-headed morons suffering from "stockholm syndrome", and snarking at it does not elevate you above those people who do believe in the message. Quite the opposite.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#126

Post by SwellJoe »

chc wrote: post #21
SwellJoe wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd go further, and say that Apple is significantly worse than many other corporations in our industry, in terms of how they treat their people, how they treat their customers, and how they view the world and the ecosystem in which they operate. When Apple has power, they abuse it. When they don't have power, they fight tooth and nail to obtain it, while playing the underdog card. And, there are corporations in our i…

For perspective: Where are you coming from? Were you an Apple employee who had a battle experience or what?

I dated someone who worked for Apple, and many friends have also passed that way during their careers. Likewise, many friends have worked for Google, facebook, SGI, Sun, Intel, IBM, HP, and many smaller tech companies; I've also done my fair share of contracting for tech companies, both big and small, over the past couple decades. I know what our industry looks like. Again, Apple isn't the worst, but it is very far from the best.

I'll also note that it pleases me a whole lot to know that better companies (like Google) can compete, and even win sometimes, against a cut-throat company like Apple. I wish more companies could pull off the Google model; HP was once among the best employers in the valley, but that hasn't been true in a couple decades.

I'm just saying that this little "inspirational note" is just more marketing from a company that excels at marketing and branding. They also excel at other things, too, but they're still merely making luxury consumer goods; they aren't curing cancer, or even making the world's information accessible in ways never seen before. If you want to change the world for the better, I don't think working at Apple is the way to do it.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#127

Post by ryannielsen »

SwellJoe wrote: post #18
josteink wrote: post #14

So like... A company bragging about itself in a way to make employees work more without asking to get paid for it? Can't say I've seen anything like that before. How original this makes Apple! Back to real life: every company claims to be best, unique or something like that. Some hollow, BS claim to motivate their employees. But just because they print it on a poster doesn't make it any more real. Apple is heartless…

I'd go further, and say that Apple is significantly worse than many other corporations in our industry, in terms of how they treat their people, how they treat their customers, and how they view the world and the ecosystem in which they operate. When Apple has power, they abuse it. When they don't have power, they fight tooth and nail to obtain it, while playing the underdog card. And, there are corporations in our i…

> I'd go further, and say that Apple is significantly worse than many other corporations in our industry, in terms of how they treat their people, how they treat their customers, and how they view the world and the ecosystem in which they operate.

As an Apple customer, shareholder, and ex-employee, I'm curious: what facts do you have to back up that assertion?

Apple may not be the best employer in terms of benefits – most teams don't have break rooms full of free snacks, you actually need to pay for the on-site laundry service, salaries often aren't competitive with those of Facebook's and Google's – but I and many others found it to be a fantastic employer.

I believe customers have spoken w.r.t. how they feel about Apple's treatment. They're selling products like crazy, the Apple Stores are consistently lauded for fantastic retail and support experiences, and Apple Care's led or been near the top industry satisfaction ratings for over a decade.

Finally, regarding the world and ecosystem, Apple aggressively adopted product builds that are more recyclable or more environmentally friendly to produce. They were among the first to reduce the size of their packaging so they could use fewer planes and ships to move product, cutting down on fossil fuel usage and shipping costs. Heck, they've effectively eliminated software shipping impact by moving everyone to their App Stores.

Is Apple perfect? No. Are they "significantly worse"? I'd like to hear some facts that back that up... from what I know, they're often significantly better.

Also, genuinely curious: what do you hold up as an ideal corporation, and why?

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#128

Post by Karunamon »

raverbashing wrote: post #76
praptak wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's just a motivational poster Here's my favourite quote about motivational posters, DeMarco & Lister "Peopleware": "These motivational accessories, as they are called (including slogan coffee mugs, plaques, pins, key chains, and awards), are a triumph of form over substance. They seem to extol the importance of Quality, Leadership, Creativity, Teamwork, Loyalty, and a host of other organizational virtues. But the…

Yes, if you go to eBay and order a couple of motivational posters this will only lower morale. Everybody will notice the BS But this is something different. It's what the company truly believes. Or do you see something not matching Apple's beliefe there? If you don't believe that, you certainly won't be a good fit. Now, RedHat can put a poster like "The Power is in the Community" and if you don't like or understand t…

>Now, do you think Google could honestly put a poster "Don't be evil" today?

Sure. What has Google done that's evil?

Difficulty: Mistakes aren't evil, neither is advertising.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#129

Post by Karunamon »

jarek wrote: post #124
jopt wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That just means you're not doing the sort of work you'd sacrifice a weekend for. Why is everyone in this thread boasting about this?

What kind of work would you sacrifice a weekend for? Edit: I mean specifically.

Something interesting and with potential. The same reason any hacker willingly takes on any project.

Find what you love to do, and then find a way to get paid doing it.

Re: Apple's inspirational note to new hires

#130

Post by jarek »

Karunamon wrote: post #129
jarek wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kind of work would you sacrifice a weekend for? Edit: I mean specifically.

Something interesting and with potential. The same reason any hacker willingly takes on any project. Find what you love to do, and then find a way to get paid doing it.

Sorry, I meant specifically, as in a specific field/project jopt would sacrifice a weekend for.

Working weekends seems like a good way to not get fully paid for doing what you love to do.

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