Unless you're really, really dense, chances are, you're going to be able to tell something's a little off between you and your significant other in the weeks before you get dumped. 

And, it seems Apple ($AAPL) is as smart as the rest of us. 

The company doubled job postings for its design division, likely in anticipation that Jony Ive - the man behind the iPhone, and so much more - would leave Apple. Last month, Ive did exactly that, departing Apple to launch his own design company not too far from the tree of its shiny new Cupertino HQ. 

Ive has been as influential to current-day Apple, perhaps only outmatched by Steve Jobs himself, having worked on versions of Macs, the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch - and had a hand in designing the company's new flagship headquarters in California. 

Apple job postings rose an impressive 22% in the most recent quarter - but the company seemed to have a "fewer suits, more hoodies" strategy about its hiring. Here's what the alternative data found: 

Apple posted fewer jobs in roles like Marketing and Corporate Functions over the course of 2019. At the same time - and over the same timeframe - the company added more jobs in categories like Machine Learning and AI, and also increased postings in the Hardware category over both Q2 and 2019. 

Then there is the chart that may matter most to investors: Sales and Business Development job postings at Apple skyrocketed, particularly in the second quarter, rising 72% from 313 to start the quarter to 531 by July 1 (and, adding dozens of additional posts in the days since).

Apple reports earnings on Tuesday, July 30 and analysts tracked by Zacks Investment Research are looking for $2.10 EPS from the company. 

About the Data: 

Thinknum tracks companies using information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales. 

Further Reading: 

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