Happy to work for one of the most mature startup companies in Silicon Valley - Software QA Engineer Apple Employee Review

5.0
25 Apr 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Apple is a large company, but often has a small company feel. Most project teams are very small - a few people at the most. Often there are only one or two key engineers directly responsible for features or key project areas. Because of how small teams are, it makes it very easy to approach key players and influence product direction. Conversely, key engineers don't have much bureaucracy to cut through to implement innovative new ideas. It is because of this culture of innovation, as well as a culture of excellence, that working at Apple has been one of the best experiences of my professional career.

Cons

Because of the small business mindset, and the decentralized nature of the decision making and product direction, Apple at times lacks the structure that other companies have set up. There are very few departments that are isolated from their customers - so the process and structure that each group attempts to establish can be heavily influenced or even ignored by those who need to use a back door method of getting work done. It is possible that project managers may pressure engineers or other staff to complete work faster than their managers agreed upon, where in larger companies this behavior would be frowned upon, or forbidden. Some structure is necessary to keep a happy medium, and at times Apple could use more structure.

Explore other reviews about Apple

5.0
4 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of opportunity. Best creative directors.

Cons

Can really eat up your life. Work life balance is non existent certain periods.

4.0
28 Aug 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

We work with geniuses - in every department, We create innovative products that thrill our customers and create new product categories - who else can say that?

Cons

ZERO ZERO ZERO work/life balance. Execs have been saying for YEARS that they understand and will make it better. But in actuality, it gets worse every year! It is obviously top management LIP SERVICE because if they meant it, they could fix it tomorrow. They have hundreds of BILLIONS in the bank. If they REALLY cared about employee work/life balance, they could bring aboard the right number of folks to make that issue dissolve. Sick of hearing the lies. Just don't lie about wanting to fix it, when they clearly DON'T care

1500
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