After Apple

They kicked me out right before I left.

I joined the retail division as a “creative,” some ethereal position where I was promised I would get to “create” all day (hence the name) and train people how to be creative. I was so desperate to work for the company that I had always loved that I agreed to work part-time. I joined some truly amazing people, and some really obnoxious people.

The first few months, management didn’t know what to do with Creatives. If we weren’t selling, then we were wasting payroll, in their minds. Why we made more than a specialist is beyond me, if that were the case. Lots of discussions later, management left us alone to do what we were told by corporate to do.

Six months later, we get a new manager. The manager immediately plays favorites and changes things just for the sake of change — you know the type — alpha dog pissing on everything just to mark his turf. All the while, he played that fake-cheerleader rah-rah bullshit.

He invented a position (“lead creative”) that still doesn’t exist, and talked about nothing but numbers — how can I personally sell more .Mac? (This isn’t Best Buy, buddy; I’m not a salesman. I’m here to teach.)

I had gotten fed up, so I freshened up my resume, started the Monster job hunt and had a letter of resignation on file. I went on vacation.

I come back from vacation and have a letter of termination waiting on me. I was “using inappropriate language” in the workplace, he claimed. Never mind that management themselves used words I hadn’t even heard of, or described sexual conquests in graphic detail. Never mind that he didn’t tell me what I said or when I said it.

I called Apple HR; they investigated, but of course, it became his word against mine. Guess who they believed?

The funny thing is, I really didn’t get upset. I was tired of that place anyway. When you’re 32, have a college degree, and work the same schedule as the girl from Smoothie King, it can get degrading. I found another job in a week and half making $10K more than I did there, under better conditions.

I still love the company, but they seriously need to examine who they hire for management.

*Note: Since I left, at least six others are looking to leave; one already has.