Apple

iOS App Review is under the Marketing umbrella, which arguably throws some of the best parties. Unfortunately, you can't bring +1s, and they're increasingly segmenting this team away from the main events.

Last party I attended, Marketing threw a holiday party for their team, and then they threw a second one that App Review was invited to. It reminds me of segregation. Not all Apple employees are created equal.

Healthcare is good, for now. I wouldn't be surprised if these full-time hourly roles eventually become contracted positions.

If you like to punch in on time – exactly on time, no more than 10-15 minutes earlier, definitely no more than 10-15 minutes later or you get written up – sit at your desk, pretend to be invisible to stay out of the drama, do your work with your head down, and then punch back out, this is exactly the right job for you.

I knew within four months I was going to be unhappy at WWDR. The shifts are strict. The management, with the exception of one or two, sucks.

No free food.

Rare team events that continue to dwindle in number over time.

Lots of internal drama and power struggle.

The rest of Apple looks down on you as not truly being a part of Apple.

There's no visibility with anyone higher than the management level.

There's very rare internal promotion.

There is no feedback loop.

Last I checked, employees were asking for a survey to provide management with feedback. The survey was conducted. Employees asked for results. Management kept dodging the question. They know something's wrong, and they don't want to acknowledge it.

Honestly, stay away. Stay far, far away.

I stuck it out due to pressure from family and friends who insisted that having Apple on my resume would be worth the pain. Looking back, I really can't say that it was worth the years of anxiety, depression, and unhappiness that comes from a toxic environment. It got to the point where I didn't even care anymore. I was about to snap-quit any second. And I'll be honest—I was fired. Yeah, no severance pay.

I walked off campus and felt liberated. I had absolutely no fear from being fired, which I found incredible and surprising. I took the summer off to travel and regroup. I realized I wasn't innately a depressed or anxious individual; it had developed over time from the sheer stress and unhappiness levels from this workplace environment.

I heard through friends that around fifteen people left the team soon after.

Within two weeks of deciding I was ready to come back to work, I found a new job at an awesome company with amazing culture. I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice; I was willing to take a pay cut to ensure I spent sixty hours a week in good company. (Did I mention overtime is the norm at Apple?)

But the best part is, that wasn't necessary. I essentially doubled my salary. Based on what Glassdoor is currently reporting, I make more money than the management that fired me.

My advice: Hold out for something better if you have the opportunity. I understand sometimes options are limited, or sometimes you just really need a paycheck. But don't come to this department to stay long unless they make some big changes.

Care and do better.