How to get internship at Apple: interview tips, internship salary + reflection on my experience

Summary

In this video, Katya, an incoming PhD student at Harvard and former intern at Apple, shares her internship experience in the Advanced Computation group. She discusses her preparation for interviews, including the technical and non-technical aspects, and emphasizes the importance of networking. Katya highlights the supportive culture at Apple, her engaging research project, and valuable lessons learned about software engineering practices. She also provides advice for high school students aspiring to work at Apple, such as participating in the Swift Student Challenge. Overall, Katya's journey reflects a rewarding opportunity to learn and grow in a leading tech company.

Takeaways

• 😀 Katya is an incoming PhD student at Harvard, having graduated from Princeton University.
• 💼 She interned at Apple in the Advanced Computation Group during the summer of 2022.
• 💰 Katya earned $41 per hour, received a relocation allowance, and enjoyed free housing during her internship.
• 🔗 Networking played a crucial role in securing her internship; she reached out to an Apple director after a talk he gave at Princeton.
• 📝 The interview process included five interviews, testing her math knowledge, Python programming, and machine learning skills.
• 🤝 Katya highlighted the importance of a respectful and growth-oriented team culture at Apple.
• 📊 She learned the significance of outlining a project before diving into coding, which improved her coding efficiency.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Her program manager emphasized work-life balance, showcasing a positive perspective on balancing work and personal life.
• 🏠 Katya appreciated the excellent living conditions provided by Apple, including a gym and other amenities.
• 🚀 For aspiring interns, she advises building genuine connections and demonstrating value to increase chances of securing opportunities.
• 📈 High school students can engage with Apple by participating in initiatives like the Swift Student Challenge to showcase their coding skills.

Q & A

What was Katya's position during her internship at Apple?

Katya interned in the Advanced Computation group at Apple.

How did Katya secure her internship?

She reached out to a director of design at Apple after attending his talk at Princeton, who then connected her with a recruiter.

What was Katya's hourly pay and what additional benefits did she receive?

Katya was paid $41 per hour, received a relocation allowance, and was provided with free housing in a nice studio.

How many interviews did Katya go through, and what topics were covered?

Katya went through five interviews that covered math knowledge, Python programming skills, and machine learning concepts.

What did Katya find important to demonstrate during her technical interviews?

She emphasized the importance of explaining her thought process while answering questions, even if she didn't know the right answer.

What aspects of the team culture at Apple did Katya appreciate?

Katya appreciated the respectful, safe, and welcoming environment created by her program manager and the emphasis on personal and career growth.

What was a key lesson Katya learned about project architecture during her internship?

Katya learned to outline the structure of her code and the necessary components before diving into coding, which improved her coding efficiency.

What advice does Katya offer for finding internships?

She advises developing connections with company employees and demonstrating value instead of just sending out resumes.

How can high school students get involved with Apple according to Katya?

High school students can participate in the Swift Student Challenge to showcase their coding skills and potentially attend WWDC.

What overall impression did Katya have of her internship experience at Apple?

Katya found her internship to be a great opportunity to learn about working at a large tech company, expressing that she enjoyed her time there.