Have you taken the time to prepare for the most common Apple interview questions?

The launch of the first Apple iPhone in January 2007 forever changed the consumer tech landscape. Less than two decades later, Apple has become one of the most well-known tech companies in the world and continues to be a hub for innovation. Getting hired at Apple is no easy task, however. That's especially true when it comes to the company's interview process. To maximize your chances of landing a job offer, you'll need to be prepared to answer the top Apple interview questions.

This innovative company is known for asking a combination of challenging puzzle-based and behavioral interview questions. To succeed in your interview, you'll need to understand the types of questions you're likely to be asked and know how to answer them in a compelling way. 

In this article, we'll offer some tips to help you answer the top 22 Apple interview questions and provide some sample questions and responses to help you prepare.

How to answer Apple interview questions

When preparing for an Apple interview, you will want to ensure that your answers are aligned with the position you're seeking. One great way to do this is to carefully review the job posting for clues about the types of questions you'll be asked. Pay close attention to any required skills and experiences that are cited in that job description.

What is the STAR method for Apple interview?

Regardless of the job you're seeking, the STAR method is an excellent way to answer many of the most common behavioral interview questions, including those for Apple. To effectively use this system, you need to use the following formula:

  • Situation. Briefly describe the situation or challenge that you were facing.

  • Task. Next, provide details about the task you were assigned.

  • Action. Then describe the actions you took, including skills that you used to complete the task.

  • Result. End your answer by highlighting the positive results that your actions achieved. 

Related reading: Using the STAR Method in Job Interviews: A Strategy Guide

Practice responses to these questions before you ever get to the interview

As you consider how to ace the Apple interview, think about how you would answer each question posed to you. This kind of preparation is vital for ensuring that you're as comfortable as possible once you're sitting in front of the interviewer. It's often helpful to write down your responses so that you can practice them prior to the interview date. 

Be sure to use the STAR approach whenever possible to help provide structure to your answers.

Do your homework

You'll also want to spend time researching the company. Learn about Apple's culture, its current innovation efforts, and announced plans for the future. That will help you navigate the interview process and may provide insight into the types of questions you'll want to ask your interviewer when you reach that stage of the conversation.

Top 3 Apple interview questions 

While there are many different questions that Apple interviewers may ask, it's helpful to start with some of the most common. Below are three of the most commonly asked Apple interview questions. We've also provided sample answers for these three questions that you can refer to as you create responses for all twenty-two of the questions featured in this article.

1. What is your favorite Apple device and why? 

On the surface, this question is straightforward. However, your response not only provides insight into how familiar you are with Apple products, but it also lets the interviewer know your level of enthusiasm for Apple and its products, including any insight you have into Apple's tech, i.e., how their products function. 

“I love all of my Apple products. I love their functionality and privacy capability when compared to other tech products and software. Still, If I have to choose just one, I will have to say my favorite Apple device is my Apple Watch. 

It functions as a lifeline to my Mac and iPhone by letting me know when I might need to pull them out based on the real-time alerts I receive. I'm able to stay connected to my work and personal life with my watch, which also increases my efficiency and ability to effectively manage my time.”

2. Tell me about a time you failed and how you bounced back from it.

A behavioral question like this is a perfect example of when to apply the STAR method for your response. The interviewer will be listening and assessing your level of honesty, integrity, resilience, and creativity.

“Early in my career, I was selected as one of the three tech liaisons to work with HR for a confidential layoff that was occurring within the IT and finance divisions of the company. Part of the management team conducting the layoffs was overseas, which required confidential transmission of information and documents. This was before cloud-sharing, so our communication was primarily by email. 

We were up against a tight deadline to provide the proper severance communication documents, and I was responsible for submitting the documents to the team. I inadvertently sent the documentation to a name on the severance list instead of the hiring manager of that individual. Obviously, that was a huge failure considering the confidential nature of the communication and the fact that the individual was on the layoff list – it would be a huge blow for him to receive the communication ahead of time and by email. 

Fortunately, I immediately realized what I had done as soon as I hit the “send” button, and I contacted my manager and the HR lead for the severance program. We were able to work with our IT network head to retrieve the communication before the individual opened the email.

However, it was still a huge failure on my part, and I had to work hard to regain my team's trust. I took my time and practiced becoming more attentive from that point forward, and I did not make that mistake again. Eventually, I worked my way up and became a team lead for the IT department after a few years.”

3. Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager and how you managed that situation.

Your answer to this question can highlight your level of professionalism, conflict resolution skills, and creativity. 

“I was collaborating with my manager to select a new supply chain vendor for transporting our goods to and from our warehouses. We had narrowed our options down to three possible providers. My manager was largely focused on cost-cutting due to the pressure she was receiving from her manager. Thus, the lowest-priced vendor was her top pick. 

The vendor was a reputable vendor, but they had slower delivery times and a lower reliability rating compared to the other two vendors. My choice was to go with the vendor that had the fastest delivery times and highest reliability rating, though it was the most expensive vendor when considering up-front costs. 

Based on delivery times and reliability, I worked up some numbers that highlighted how reliability and shorter delivery times actually increased our bottom line over a 24-month period when compared to slower delivery times. The higher reliability rating also meant a lower risk of disgruntled or lost customers due to issues with timing and lost orders. 

My manager reviewed the data I had collected and decided to meet me in the middle. We went with the third vendor option, which was both of our second-ranked choices. It allowed for up-front cost-savings, as well as long-term savings due to shorter delivery times and increased customer satisfaction with their decent reliability rating. The company was still using that same vendor four years later, at the time I decided to move on from the organization.”

19 more interview questions from Apple 

Below are 19 more common Apple interview questions, broken down into categories. We recommend familiarizing yourself with each of these possible questions so that you're prepared to respond in a compelling way.

Behavioral/situational

  1. What is something you have done in this life that you are particularly proud of, and why?

  2. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.

  3. If you had to prioritize between fixing a customer's problem or creating a great customer experience, which would you choose? Which do you think is most important, and why?

  4. Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer. 

Leadership

  1. Tell me about a time you dealt with a situation where you had an employee give you pushback on a suggestion. How did you respond? 

  2. Describe an interesting problem you've faced. How did you solve it?

  3. Apple is known to be restrictive when it comes to listing apps in the App Store. Do you see this as a competitive advantage or a disadvantage, and why?

Related reading: Crafting Your Answer to 'What Motivates You?”

Technical skills

  1. Explain a modem and router to me the same way you would describe them to an 8-year-old. 

  2. How would you explain RAM to a 5-year-old child?

  3. How would you derive a confidence interval from a series of coin tosses?

  4. There are three boxes. One contains only apples, one contains only oranges, and one contains both apples and oranges. The boxes have been incorrectly labeled such that no label identifies the actual contents of the box it labels. Opening just one box, and without looking in the box, you take out one piece of fruit. By looking at the fruit, how can you immediately label all of the boxes correctly?

  5. If a person called for tech support but had a dinosaur product, how would you manage the situation?

  6. How would you check to see if the left and right were mirror images of a binary tree?

  7. How would you test a toaster?

Company-specific 

  1. Why do you want to work for Apple?

  2. Apple changed its name from Apple Computers Incorporated to Apple Inc. Do you know why the change was made?

Related reading: Crafting a Compelling Response to Why This Position Appeals to You

General competency

  1. Where do you see yourself in five years?

  2. What is your favorite food/ice cream?

  3. If you accept a job at Apple, what will you miss most about where you currently work?

Related reading: How to Answer, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

Questions to ask the interviewers

It is crucial that the candidate shows interest in the company and position during a job interview. Have your list of company-specific questions ready to ask the Apple interviewer. For example: 

  1. What do you love about working for Apple?

  2. What is a typical day like at Apple?

  3. What qualities are required to succeed in this position?

  4. What type of company do you expect Apple to be five or ten years from now?

  5. Are there any new or unique products the company is currently working on?

Tough but doable

While Apple interviews have a reputation for being tough, prior preparation can help to simplify the process. Moreover, the fact that you managed to secure an interview means that you've already gotten past the most significant hurdle. If you take the time to prepare for the most common Apple interview questions and practice your responses prior to the interview, you should have little trouble demonstrating your fitness for the job. 

Want some professional help to prepare yourself for the most common Apple interview questions before the big day? Connect with an interview coach today.

This article was originally written by Ronda Suder. It has been updated by Ken Chase.

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