I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Apple (Cupertino, CA) in Aug 2014
Interview
I started off with 2 phone screens (recruiter then hiring manager) and then was asked to come in for a portfolio review with half a dozen designers and then individual 1:2 and 1:1 interviews. During the portfolio, I was asked questions on why I made certain design decisions, what information did I use to inform my decision, and what would I have done differently.
The process involved multiple online interviews across six to eight rounds, stretching over several months, making it an unusually long and prolonged hiring experience with significant waiting periods between stages.
The interview process at Apple typically starts with a recruiter screening, followed by multiple rounds of interviews—including portfolio reviews, technical and design challenges, and behavioral/cultural fit discussions with team members and hiring managers. It’s known for being rigorous, collaborative, and focused on both creative problem-solving and alignment with Apple’s design principles and values.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Walk us through your portfolio. What’s the story behind [specific project]?
Tell us about a time you collaborated with a cross-functional team. What was your role?
Your past projects
• Your problem-solving style
• How you handle ambiguity and ownership
• For technical roles: basic technical questions or a light coding/system discussion.
• For non-tech roles: scenario or behaviour-based questions.