by 
Once a new hire makes it through the rigorous interview process to get a job at Apple, the real training begins. Not only that, but it goes on for as long as an employee wants to take advantage of the company’s in-house “Apple University” training courses.
Apple University was established by former CEO Steve Jobs in 2008 as a way to immerse employees in the culture of the company. Classes focus on the history of Apple. Classes aren’t required, but regularly fill up.
This week, the New York Times was able to get a rare interview with three Apple employees that were willing to talk about Apple University as long as their identity was not revealed. They describe the secretive training courses as a reflection of the image that Apple presents to the world. It is “meticulously planned, with polished presentations and a gleaming veneer that masks a great deal of effort.”
The training courses staff full-time faculty, including instructors, writers, and editors. Some staff comes from Yale, Harvard, UC Berkeley, M.I.T., and Stanford. Some still teach at their respective colleges.
Classes are taught on Apple’s campus in a special section of buildings called the City Center. Rooms are trapezoid in shape and have a graduated elevation so back rows are slightly higher than the ones above them.
The New York Times article describes some of the courses offered to employees at Apple University, like “Communicating at Apple,” which helps students understand the importance of simplifying a message so it can be delivered in a clear and concise way, or “What Makes Apple, Apple,” which explains the importance of minimalistic design.
Apple University has only been around for about four years, but has already helped new employees better understand the culture of design and simplicity that the company is known for. Consumber technology analyst at Creative Strategies Ben Barjarin told the New York Times that the training courses will become a focal point of the company as it grows.
“When you do the case studies on Apple decades from now, the one thing that will keep coming out is this unique culture where people there believe they’re making the best products that change people’s lives,” Bajarin said.
» Related posts:
Apple Reported to be Training Staff for iOS 7 Release in September
Who Needs NFL Training Camp When You’ve Got An iPad?
‘MLB.com At Bat’ Celebrates Spring Training With Complete iOS 7 Redesign
