Seasonal working at UPS during Christmas rush..??

[carl2591]

Was looking through local, Raleigh NC, paper this morning and see ad from UPS about temp jobs.

www.upsjobs.com/print

they are needing Part Time package handlers at $10-11hr

Seasonal Driver Helpers as well.. it appears the driver will or can pick you up at mutually convenient location.. they show on website hrs range from 8 am to a pm.. you do not drive the truck, just help take packages to doors and such with regular driver..

wondering is anyone has done this as a camper or if it is a good place to do temp work over say the amazon deal..

[dblr]

If you have not started at UPS by now I doubt they will work you, at our location all the seasonal drivers and helpers are in place and working, inside might add some workers but very doubtful. Even if they do call you by Christmas Eve they let the seasonal workers go.

[HappyKayakers]

carl2591 wrote:

please keep us up with your deal with UPS.. its nice to get an inside prospective to this opportunity.

Not much more to tell. No callback yet despite documented experience in seasonal positions. I suspect I've hit that gray ceiling.

[carl2591]

guess that kinda show you in how little regard they hold you vs the beet harvest and amazon..

That is the problem with large companies it seems the personal touch gets lost over time.. unlike Southwest airlines the owner/CEO treats the employees better than customers..

Amazon is still young in the seasonal help dept and i hope they will continue to keep that sense of community with campers at least if not all employees. But to hear some stories amazon is as bad as walmart to employees, guess it depends on who is telling the story.

please keep us up with your deal with UPS.. its nice to get an inside prospective to this opportunity.

[HappyKayakers]

To the OP: after going through the UPS interview I have a few more answers. Starting pay down here for driver helper is 8.50/hr. That's lower than Amazon and no campsite included.

A group of 25 of us got briefed on the requirement for the job. Yep, it's physical. Yep, the hours can vary based on daily needs. Men are allowed conservative sideburns and mustache. Women are allowed earrings and can put their hair in a ponytail. Men are not allowed earrings and must cut their hair. Neither sex is allowed visible tattoos or piercings.

As far as the initial briefing went, it was very company-centric. I've also worked the sugar beet harvest and Amazon Christmas rush. Both of those companies went out of their way to tell us how much they appreciated the fact we were there to work. UPS - not at all. I guess since their greatest need for help is in cities/towns with large labor pools, they can afford that attitude.

[HappyKayakers]

I just finished the online application for UPS (driver helper). The last step in the process was giving me a date/time/place for an interview. I looked at the info twice before realizing that it wouldn't take place at a UPS facility. Instead, it will be at the county job force office. So, I can only assume that there will be a packed house at the appointed hour. We'll see if my Amazon experience helps me to stand out from the crowd.

BTW, part of the online app mentioned that any seasonal hires interfacing with the public would have to adhere to UPS appearance guidelines. For me, that will mean shaving the beard if I get hired. Not a biggie since I keep it short anyway and it won't take long to grow back.

[dblr]

Most of what has been posted is correct, inside package handlers will work weird hours, early am & maybe even a chance at evening hours. Driver's helpers work during the day and it can be hard, cold and maybe even wet work, it all depends on the driver also some are good and some are not. If lucky enough to be hired as a driver by now you would be in place and training. I retired after 37 years there and go back for the Christmas rush but am lucky enough to be paid at a higher rate because of it, and also as a tractor trailer driver so I don't even touch a package.
I also help out at Amazon doing the same type of job, I see the inside operations at Amazon and do not think I would like the jobs they offer. I only do this to fund my RV addiction to travel all summer

[jbrad13]

I worked as a UPS driver helper last year in Metairie, LA. Think I made $7.00 or $8.00 per hour. Definitely busy and fast paced and helps if you are in reasonably good physical condition. (Yes, there is running and heavy lifting involved.) Due to scheduling you may not work every day and if you do, the day can be very long. I worked until 9 P.M. Christmas Eve. Although the helper positions are usually done on Christmas Eve a group of us were asked to stay on until mid January. I was contacted last month by UPS and offered a position for this year but because of travel I couldn't take it but gladly would if my situation was different.

[Tachdriver]

carl2591 wrote:

Tachdriver wrote:
Seasonal driver helpers are much different than package handlers. The hours may be long but only they can tell you what the job really entails. Depending on the locale the hours may be very different for a package handler (i.e. night hours). If you are looking for a job that is seasonal and don't mind the physical activity the drivers helper would be better.

Either way you will be busy.

Don't ask me how I know.

OK i give .. I will not ask you how you know.. 🙂

I would think being a driver assist would be a better job for a lot of reasons.. They did not say what the pay was so maybe you can shed some light on that??

I know my local ups driver does not run but he is a fast walker for sure. that would be fun no matter how many hrs a day you worked. just being out side riding around in a brown truck :B

I am not directly associated with the ground operations and yes I believe being a driver assistant would be a better position, I am not sure of the pay however it may be "starting" pay.

Here is a start:

ups-jobs.com

[carl2591]

Tachdriver wrote:
Seasonal driver helpers are much different than package handlers. The hours may be long but only they can tell you what the job really entails. Depending on the locale the hours may be very different for a package handler (i.e. night hours). If you are looking for a job that is seasonal and don't mind the physical activity the drivers helper would be better.

Either way you will be busy.

Don't ask me how I know.

OK i give .. I will not ask you how you know.. 🙂

I would think being a driver assist would be a better job for a lot of reasons.. They did not say what the pay was so maybe you can shed some light on that??

I know my local ups driver does not run but he is a fast walker for sure. that would be fun no matter how many hrs a day you worked. just being out side riding around in a brown truck :B

[Tachdriver]

Seasonal driver helpers are much different than package handlers. The hours may be long but only they can tell you what the job really entails. Depending on the locale the hours may be very different for a package handler (i.e. night hours). If you are looking for a job that is seasonal and don't mind the physical activity the drivers helper would be better.

Either way you will be busy.

Don't ask me how I know.

[carl2591]

wrgrs50s wrote:
I dont know this from personal experience but I have had several friends through the years that tried seasonal work for UPS. They reported that it was very fast paced and expectations for the number of packages handled were very high. They didnt recommend it unless you were used to a really fast paced environment and in excellent physical condition.

that sorta sounds like the amazon deal as well.. was trying to see if someone from amazon might chime in but i guess they are all working hard..

I follow a couple of people that are at campbell amazon location and report is been hectic but not like the coming up week before and after black friday.. http://www.rikerrvdays.blogspot.com/

at least at amazon they have a break in period you can go through which UPS may not do.. they, UPS, might want you to come in and hit the ground RUNNING..

[wrgrs50s]

I dont know this from personal experience but I have had several friends through the years that tried seasonal work for UPS. They reported that it was very fast paced and expectations for the number of packages handled were very high. They didnt recommend it unless you were used to a really fast paced environment and in excellent physical condition.

[mail2us]

Never done UPS but if the job involves loading, the loader part of the job involves loading UPS truck before the drivers report. That could start in early AM hours say 3 or 4 AM. It maybe a separate job description. Good work from an aspect you get outside everyday and get exercise as well.