All of this happened - about 50 candidates present - in a big group first - then later smaller 8-9 groups with 2 managers/support staff heading up the small breakout sessions (where they took copious notes, I think) - and made up their minds on who shall proceed/who shall be rejected. HOW UTTERLY DISAPPOINTING this initial "group hiring" event ultimately was (and that was my exact sentiment as I left the event...BEFORE they sent me the rejection letter! It was disorganized; clearly slanted in some (obvious) appraisal - pro or con - of some of the potential hires - while ignoring (or silently dismissing) others. I truly can't say "how good or bad" my chances really were with Apple Retail before or right after that event, and coming from an extremely well-positioned, long-time free-lance association with Apple, Inc.; plus also being an up-to-date, highly experienced user, purchaser of $$$ of newest hardware and software that I learned with - and made a significant career from; and being a regular fixture on the Apple Retail Store scene *to this day* for a variety of training and other reasons - I got a rejection letter 2 days later (clearly a DB-culled form letter....no doubt). SKIPPING AHEAD: Right after the event was over....I rated the whole event a 5 or 6 out of "10" - and that is a poor - very lousy assessment: Apple's teams approach and handling of the event that night was awful. While people were certainly very friendly - things were too rushed.... noticeably disorganized....at times they made parts of the "event" awkward for us, even........I felt the event was merely a pro forma sham to pick out the youngest, or the most hip, or the most potentially "in-store appealing" individuals. But I'll likely never know the truth on any of that; or why I was just routinely rejected in 2 days time. I was not the only attendee/potential hire candidate to share similar thoughts, as when it was all over, privately discussed...similar ideas and concerns. So, I didn't get promoted to the next level of interviews, obviously. Now what? Honestly - I know did a fine job representing myself, and looked oh-so youthful - cool, even - belying my true age; dressed slickly in all-black business casual. This "event" was all about was: "YOUR PERSONALITY"; and do you "LOVE APPLE!" (which I do...) and "Why do you want to work for Apple?" Then finally, we were individually asked: "What - if hired - will YOU bring to Apple Retail, in particular?" So I did my thing: without being too pushy, or "too confident" : didn't ask more than two questions, didn't interrupt anyone at all. I didn't screw-up anything that was asked of me - EXCEPT, in the abstract, and this is only a MAYBE: While during the phony role-playing situation(s) that were tossed-out to my breakout group members of 8 or 9 - I did ask as instructed: (ME: in the role of "customer") TO: a young guy in my group who was selected to play the role of "Apple Store Specialist" - to answer a question I was instructed to pose to him: and while he had an immediate answer ready...when I asked him the next obvious question to keep things moving - he could NOT answer the SECOND half of my query to him at all.... he literally stopped the phony role-play - and admitted it - and THEN there was this uncomfortable silence - as if *I'd* done something terribly wrong. After that fiasco - I was actually SKIPPED in the final small-group "ask [you] a single question/response portion." Totally NOT EVEN LOOKED AT. They claimed "time" constraints prevented "us" from going any further. Right. At this time, I have little confidence in Apple Retail personnel's hiring methods, if what I experienced is "standard fare." It was down-right poor - and cheated God-knows-how-many of us truly worthy, potential employees out of a job with Apple. I wish I could find out more about how they decided on their "first cut" of rejects - and why.......but I suppose that will not likely ever happen, either. Before the initial "hiring event" - I had been carefully advised by Apple staff: both friends and workers alike that I know well....to just BE myself: keep cool don't overdo the reality of my advanced level of Apple training and professional experience...."LESS is MORE," I was advised... and I did just that....... (as some people actually did over do it a bit here and there and were ask to cut it off). But alas, it was not to be...not now...I got the rejection email today....so maybe never!