News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

October 25, 2007

stores

Be an Apple Concierge, and tell me where to get a good steak

Posted Oct. 25, ’07, 3:45 PM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Apple » Stores

concierge.jpgOne thing I don’t like about a lot of the stores at the mall is the employees who are asked to stand at the door and drown you with attention the moment you walk in. “Hi! How are you! Anything I can do for you? Can I help you find something? Those are lovely shoes! I hate my job and life!” Sometimes when I see one of these nefarious greeters standing there, looking all greet-y, I opt to pass the store, instead of going in, just so I don’t have to deal with their piercing smiles.

Apparently Apple doesn’t feel the same way — I’m probably just too anti-social — and is now looking for people to fill a new “Concierge” position at 90 or so of its retail stores.

ifoAppleStore has the skinny on the job posting (which I can’t find on Apple’s Job site), listing several of the Concierge’s expected qualities:

  • “Verbally embraces the customer with a five-star welcome and a fond farewell”
  • “Can orchestrate the store adventure in the best possible way”
  • “Understands customer needs and connects them to the right person at the right time”
  • “Provides every customer with a superior customer experience”

Apple also lists the type and characteristics of people they want for the position:

  • You “exude warmth, energy and charisma, you love meeting new people, you inspire them, you thrive on the unexpected.”
  • “You get people, and people get you, you have a passion for customer service, you have a passion for Apple products.”
  • “You nurture all budding technology crushes and lifelong Apple love affairs.”

I’ll be honest: those are some of the weirdest job specifications — both duties and requirements — I have ever read. Here’s hoping the people they hire for this position aren’t actually like that. Otherwise I’ll have to start passing the Apple Store, too.


4 Comments

Paul said:

Wow. I've never been personally greeted when going into an Apple store, even when there's a staff member standing right there doing nothing.

Does this mean I'm not the type of person they want as a customer?

October 25, 2007 4:07 PM
JS said:

Lol, I hate greeters :P

October 25, 2007 6:07 PM
imalex Author Profile Page said:

Wow. Can we say "Wal-mart greeter"? Ugh.

Thankfully, I haven't seen that here in any of the Apple stores here in Toronto, but man, if that starts happening, Steve will be getting a BIG no-no letter from moi.

Nice way to annoy people.

I love going to the Apple stores here because the employees are available and approachable if you need them, but they leave you alone. They politely and unobtrusively make you aware of their presence if you need something from them, but otherwise, let you do your thing.

I hope that never changes. That's just the way it should be.

October 25, 2007 8:03 PM
jayH said:

i was actually debating applying to that job earlier to day. i wonder how much apple pays...

October 25, 2007 8:47 PM

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