Apple shakes up retail workforce with new and renamed job titles, other changes

AppleInsider

In an "all-hands" meeting for retail staff this weekend, Apple reportedly introduced a slew of significant changes including three new job titles, renamed existing positions, and even an updated corporate credo it wants workers to follow.

The new jobs -- applicable in the U.S. and the U.K., and possibly elsewhere -- include "Pro," "Creative Pro," and "Technical Expert," according to MacRumors. The first is a sales position above Expert, and reserved for the people the most familiar with Apple products. Creative Pros have similar level of knowledge, but applied to learning.

Technical Experts will fill a new middleground between Technical Specialists and Geniuses, helping to alleviate wait times for support. The people will for instance take on some mobile repairs -- something that was previously restricted to Geniuses -- while doing troubleshooting for some other products and software, two examples being the Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Meanwhile the company has renamed the different sections of the store, changing the sales floor from the "Red Zone" to the "Product Zone," and "Back-of-House" to "Backstage." Appropriately some job titles have been altered -- Red Zone Specialists are now simply "Specialists," while Back-of-House and Inventory Specialists have become "Operations Specialists" and "Operations Pros."

"Family Room Specialists" have also been turned into "Technical Specialists" though, and "Business Specialists" are now "Business Experts."

The new credo has six stanzas and sets out broad aspirations. "We are here to enrich lives," the text begins. "To help dreamers become doers, to help passion expand human potential, to do the best work of our lives."

Hong Kong's APM Mall.

Separately, a unconfirmed tip received by AppleInsider suggests that Apple is establishing its sixth Hong Kong store in the APM Mall, Kwun Tong in the Kowloon area. China has become a focus of the company's retail expansion, particularly Hong Kong, given the city's wealth. The person claimed that Apple could have the outlet open in time for next month's "iPhone 7" launch.

leftthefruitstand

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

lolliver

leftthefruitstand said:

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

We've finally found the one!! Someone who can run Apple far better than Tim Cook. Quick, call the board of directors and get this guy hired. He's obviously a real expert on running a billion dollar company!! So are you free to take over the CEO roll from Tim or are you too busy running your own billion dollar company???

bugsnw

I've never had a bad experience at an Apple store. Just the opposite - it's always been a wonderful experience. Talented, knowledgable people who listen and seem to care. And they smile and display enthusiasm. I'd want these workers for sure. Whatever Apple does to improve that, I'm game.

welshdog

Working in retail and customer service is a horrible job. That being said, I have always had good Apple Store experiences even if the workers may be in a less than ideal work environment.  So hats off to Apple Store workers, they help me out and leave me with a good feeling.

P.S. I worked for Apple as an At Home Advisor supporting iOS for 6 weeks.  I could not handle it and had to quit.  Working for Apple in customer service/retail is totally different than working for the main product design/manufacturing part of Apple.

theothergeoff

lolliver said:

leftthefruitstand said:

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

We've finally found the one!! Someone who can run Apple far better than Tim Cook. Quick, call the board of directors and get this guy hired. He's obviously a real expert on running a $200 billion dollar [sales] company!! So are you free to take over the CEO roll from Tim or are you too busy running your own multi-multi billion dollar company???

fixed it for you.   You short changed Tim by just a smidgen.

lolliver

   theothergeoff said:

lolliver said:

We've finally found the one!! Someone who can run Apple far better than Tim Cook. Quick, call the board of directors and get this guy hired. He's obviously a real expert on running a $200 billion dollar [sales] company!! So are you free to take over the CEO roll from Tim or are you too busy running your own multi-multi billion dollar company???

fixed it for you.   You short changed Tim by just a smidgen.

Haha, thanks for that.

Hopefully those figures aren't too overwhelming for leftthefruitstand to comprehend...

tallguy

Where are the Confusion Specialists to explain that mess?

steveau

Visiting Sydney a few years back my iPhone died. By the time I got back to my hotel and raced (on foot) to the Apple Store it was late. I explained that I was flying out tomorrow, had appointments that night and in the morning the next day and was then flying interstate. The assistant took my phone and told me to wait. The expert in iPhones arrived a few minutes later. He told me that the battery had died and after hearing my story he said "I have two possible answers, but first what's more important to you: speed or cost?" I said speed and I walked out with a new phone, new case, screen protector, transferred SIM, transferred data, apps , etc. about 45 minutes later - still in time for my dinner appointment! I have had similar experiences, the only thing that I don't like is the on-line service booking app.

franklinjackcon

lolliver said:

leftthefruitstand said:

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

We've finally found the one!! Someone who can run Apple far better than Tim Cook. Quick, call the board of directors and get this guy hired. He's obviously a real expert on running a billion dollar company!! So are you free to take over the CEO roll from Tim or are you too busy running your own billion dollar company???

Your fallacy is: Appeal to accomplishment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_accomplishment Also known as the I-don't-need-to-be-a-cobbler-to-know-my-shoes-have-fallen-apart fallacy

beowulfschmidt

"Shakes up"

I do not think those words mean what you think they mean.

lkrupp

Typical for big companies. In my career with AT&T I held the same job but had three different job titles over the years. Performed the same work but called by a different name. First I was a Switchman, then Central Office Technician (COT), and finally Telecommunications Specialist (TS), all the while maintaining the telephone switch and associated telecommunications hardware. The last title change was to get rid of any gender references in job titles we were told. 

MacPro

leftthefruitstand said: Partial quote

Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them.

Where did they go, the Microsoft Store or Best Buy?

MacPro

I was half expecting the Apple (Store) manager to be renamed El Capitan. 

linkman

lkrupp said:

Typical for big companies. In my career with AT&T I held the same job but had three different job titles over the years. Performed the same work but called by a different name. First I was a Switchman, then Central Office Technician (COT), and finally Telecommunications Specialist (TS), all the while maintaining the telephone switch and associated telecommunications hardware. The last title change was to get rid of any gender references in job titles we were told. 

How does Central Office Technician in any way provide gender information?

linkman

lkrupp said:

Typical for big companies. In my career with AT&T I held the same job but had three different job titles over the years. Performed the same work but called by a different name. First I was a Switchman, then Central Office Technician (COT), and finally Telecommunications Specialist (TS), all the while maintaining the telephone switch and associated telecommunications hardware. The last title change was to get rid of any gender references in job titles we were told. 

How does Central Office Technician in any way provide gender information?

bobroo

leftthefruitstand said:

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

Spot on post!

Apple of old used to be about innovation and exceedingly good products. Now that it's Tim and Jony's Apple, we haven't seen nary any innovation from some 115,000 employees in a year and a half. The last innovative product was Apple TV. 

A regime change is overdue.

bobroo

leftthefruitstand said:

Apple - Steve just died again. You've lost your essence, and the momentum is seriously waning now. You cant create excitement without the product innovations and 99 pct of your retail staff is flat and lifeless. Creating a new internal job structure and creedo wont fix it - create an amazing new product and pay your people well enough to make passion for your brand the most important thing they need to be worried about. And while you're at it, you might want to promote individuals based on their talents and capabilities and nothing else. Some of the very best people I've ever worked with left you because your system ignored them. Lose the system and turn back the clocks.

Spot on post!

Apple of old used to be about innovation and exceedingly good products. Now that it's Tim and Jony's Apple, we haven't seen nary any innovation from some 115,000 employees in a year and a half. The last innovative product was Apple TV. 

A regime change is overdue.

linkman

lkrupp said:

Typical for big companies. In my career with AT&T I held the same job but had three different job titles over the years. Performed the same work but called by a different name. First I was a Switchman, then Central Office Technician (COT), and finally Telecommunications Specialist (TS), all the while maintaining the telephone switch and associated telecommunications hardware. The last title change was to get rid of any gender references in job titles we were told. 

How does Central Office Technician in any way provide gender information?

rogifan_new

How is this even news other than some disgruntled employee leaked it so the rumor sites would pick it up and make it into a bigger deal than it is? I work for a large corporation, we have re-orgs all the time. No matter how many fans still want to cling to it Apple isn't some dinky little start up its a huge corporation. This stuff is par for the course.

dasanman69

linkman said:

lkrupp said:

Typical for big companies. In my career with AT&T I held the same job but had three different job titles over the years. Performed the same work but called by a different name. First I was a Switchman, then Central Office Technician (COT), and finally Telecommunications Specialist (TS), all the while maintaining the telephone switch and associated telecommunications hardware. The last title change was to get rid of any gender references in job titles we were told. 

How does Central Office Technician in any way provide gender information?

Technician could easily thought as a male dominated job.