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Whether you're making a career change or a recent college grad new to the workforce, applying for jobs can be overwhelming. Knowing what hiring managers want can get you one step closer to landing your dream job. 

Apple boasts 12 days of paid time off, paid maternity leave, and discounts on Apple products and services. These benefits make Apple careers competitive. 

Preparing yourself for your Apple interview makes the process much easier. This guide outlines exactly what to expect in Apple's one- to four-month hiring process.

What types of careers does Apple offer?

There are hundreds of job postings on the Apple Careers page. 

Positions are available in design, machine learning and AI, operations and supply chain, software and services, hardware, marketing, corporate functions, sales and business development, and support. 

Earlier this year, Apple announced plans to return to the office for their corporate campuses with a hybrid model. Working from home is now limited to a few roles, including working as a home advisor. 

Apple retail locations hire for specialist, business expert, technical specialist, Genius, and manager roles. 

 Apple offers tech internships for undergraduate and graduate college students. These internships allow students to work on critical projects, get an insider's perspective, and trial Apple careers.

Apple also offers the Apple Support College Program. This tech support role for full-time students is designed to work around class schedules. It pays an average of$16 per hour, according to Glassdoor. 

Where to apply for Apple careers

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When you're ready to fill out your job application, skip the job board posting site and head to the Apple website. It lists hundreds of entry-level, mid-level, and senior management positions. 

Competition is fierce, so your application needs to stand out. 

One way to do so is by networking and having a referral. If you already know someone who works at Apple, asking them for a referral can increase your odds of being interviewed. 

If you lack connections, review our networking tips and find a networking event in your area. Many college campuses hold recruitment events for students to connect with hiring managers and internship opportunities.

What does Apple look for in an ideal candidate?

Apple's online job form asks for the applicant's motivations and aspirations within the company. The company values collaboration, creative innovation, and challenging standards. 

When answering questions, remain positive, emphasize valued soft skills, and stay true to the company's core values.

Soft skills Apple seeks Brilliance Determination and grit Obsessive curiosity Team focus Idealism

Apple's core values Inclusion and diversity Education Accessibility Environment Supplier responsibility Privacy

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How many years of experience do you need to work at Apple?

Positions like software engineer, database engineer, network security engineer, or data science manager need four to seven years of relevant experience. 

The more senior the position you're applying to, the more experience you need.

How to meet Apple's expectations when applying for a role

Apple's hiring managers look for problem solvers and innovators for prospective hires. Screeners review your education and work history, LinkedIn profile, resume, and cover letter. 

An impressive and organized coding portfolio sets you apart from other applicants for programming roles at big tech companies.

Education background

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For many roles, Apple does not require a bachelor's degree. Positions like design verification engineer and engineering project manager are now open to all with the needed skills.

If you don't have your degree, consider enrolling in a coding bootcamp to gain experience. Like other Big Five tech companies, Apple has a history of hiring coding bootcamp graduates.

Senior positions may require a master's degree in a related field, such as a computer science master's.

LinkedIn profile

Recruiters use software to filter candidates' LinkedIn profiles by job titles, skills, school, and graduation year. 

Prepare your profile by editing your past job descriptions to highlight skills demanded by positions you want. Enable LinkedIn's Open To Work feature and reach out to Apple recruiters to help your chances. 

Resume

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Keep your resume simple. Applicant tracking system software scans resumes for keywords and sorts them before hiring managers see them. 

While this software makes life easier for hiring managers, it affects how your resume should look.

Resist showing off your creative side with graphic design elements or colors. This may make your resume unreadable by the ATS software. 

It's important to tailor your resume for your desired position. A software engineering resume should be completely different from, say, an HR role application. 

Use keywords from the job description when summarizing your experience and remove irrelevant information. 

Use your cover letter to give examples of your soft skills and discuss specific projects you want to expand on. 

Online portfolio (if applicable)

If it's relevant to the role you're applying for, building an online portfolio is a professional way to showcase your skills and stand out from other applicants. 

A great coding portfolio should contain 4-10 projects either completed in school or links to any web pages you've worked on. Some of the most popular and highly-rated portfolio sites are GitHub, GitLab, and BitBucket.

A coding portfolio is essential for positions such as data scientist, web developer, software engineer, or any other coding job. Update your portfolio regularly.

Apple's interview stages

Phone interview

The phone interview, often called the screener, is the first step of the interview process. 

This competency-based interview is only around 15 minutes. The interviewer may ask about your favorite Apple product, how you enhance your skills outside of work, and how you solved problems at work in the past. 

Don't talk too much about one role or project