I'm reposting this in its own thread here, rather than the more general part time jobs thread:

I have applied to UPS and gone through the tour, and frankly, the way the job was described, it sounded insane. The tour guide said that temperatures could reach 125 in the loading docks, that no breaks were allowed during the four hour shift (except for the generous allowance of time for you to reach down and take a drink from a water bottle to hydrate yourself) and 2 out of 3 people quit in the first couple weeks. What do those of you working at UPS think about this? The benefits are great, but I was wondering if the job would just wipe you out for much productive studying. Also, which shift do you think is best? It seems that the midnight shift would be cooler during the summer, but would I be able to then switch to twilight shift when the fall semester began? And how much do they pay for the overtime that was mentioned as frequent on the midnight shift, time and a half? I would appreciate some candid advice from the people actually working there, or who have worked there. Thanks!

6/21/2006 2:57:46 PM

I have heard that it is extremely hard work but definitely worth it.

6/21/2006 3:05:36 PM

My husband worked there for two years...benefits are kickass and he moved up rather quickly to supervisor, earning close to $1400/month before we moved. He loved the work, but always said that the work is physical and you get your hands dirty, so to speak. He worked midnight shift. Also, they wont switch your shift easily unless there is a position open. That's about all I know...If you would like, I can ask my husband to PM you when he gets home from work...just let me know.

6/21/2006 4:23:40 PM

$1400/month? After taxes I hope.

6/21/2006 4:27:04 PM

$1400/month for part time - working about 4 hours a night

6/21/2006 4:28:41 PM

My husband was Tab's husband's boss for a little while before Josh quit - he said the same thing, tough work getting started but they do move people up pretty quickly. My husband's been there 5 years, hasn't been in the hub for over two years, and is making significantly more than double the original $1400. Not to mention health benefits, flexible hours, and stock bonus.

6/21/2006 5:54:48 PM

Stuff I posted in the other thread:

Quote :

"I started at UPS about a year ago, I don't currently work there due to an injury which prevented me from doing the job (it also screwed me out of an entire year of school... but that's a whole different story). The job itself wasn't that bad, yes it's physical work, yes it gets hot... just don't be a pussy about it and you'll do fine. Benifits are great, pay is decent after 90 days (and if you make "skilled" labor, which is a no brainer it gets better). Go into the job expecting to work everyday, 5 days a week for however long you're there. I didn't have any problem taking a few days off here and there (long weekends, etc) as long as I gave them a healthy amount of forewarning. My biggest complaints about the company were some of the managers. They'll flat out lie to your face and ignore things you've told them (which really pissed me off since most of the stuff was about what doctors had told me about the level of work I was suppose to do with the injury). Most coworkers were really good, but a few abused the system and slacked off letting others do their work for them, that pissed me off too, and it always seemed to be the guys who have been there for years... anyway... if I hadn't gotten injured I would most likely still be working there today. I can't say I "enjoyed" the job, but it wasn't bad overall and what really kept me coming back were the other guys I was working with, it really was a team effort."

I worked Twilight, first on Purple belt then up in Secondary Sort.

Other stuff that they won't tell you about the job:

The hours for when you start and when you end change a lot. With twilight, the "regular" hours were 5:30 to 9:30. We'd normally start at 5:00 and wouldn't leave until 10:00 most days, the closer it gets to the heavier times of year (christmas especially) the earlier you'd start. 4:00 isn't unheard of and sometimes even earlier.

As far as productive studying goes, that's up to you. Yes the job is physically demanding but no more so than going to the gym for a few hours each day. Honestly you get used to it after the first couple weeks and that part isn't really a problem. A bit of overtime is frequent on all shifts although they don't like to hand it out if they can avoid it. I haven't heard of anyone getting turned down when they asked for a double shift (twilight/midnight, or midnight/preload), the second shift is pure overtime. The flip side to that is some nights you'll be sent home if they have too many people. Usually the managers will ask who wants to go home, but other times it's not a volunteer process. Be prepared to work anywhere in the building though. While working in Secondary Sort I spent the majority of my time power loading on other belts, unloading, retapes, pretty much anything that needed to get done they grabbed me or one of the other guys up there.

Pay rates are pretty standard:

$8.00/hr to start, +.50 after 30 days, and +.50 again after 90 days (I think I can't quite remember), then if you move from unskilled labor to skilled labor (take the sort test or qualify as a pickoff) then it's an automatic $1.00 raise no matter how long you've been there. After that it goes by the number of years you've worked there. Supervisors start at $350/week, but they have to be there earlier than everyone else and stay much later too. Pay was weekly instead of every 2 weeks.

6/21/2006 8:46:36 PM

Quote :

" temperatures could reach 125 in the loading docks"

That's true, probably the worst part of the job. You're also breathing cardboard and dust all night. Makes it pretty miserable.

Quote :

"hat no breaks were allowed during the four hour shift"

Also true. But its a four hour shift. Man up.

Quote :

"2 out of 3 people quit in the first couple weeks"

Again, true. People aren't smart enough to listen when they go through training.



All in all, its not a bad job. Short, steady hours, good pay and benefits, and plenty of room for promotion. They tend to exagerate a bit on the tour to scare off the weak of heart, but alot of what you've said is the truth. If you aren't a whiny bitch, go for it. I worked there for a little over a year and it was one of the better jobs I've ever had.

6/21/2006 8:55:49 PM

Pretty much all of that sounds about right. I worked in the Charlotte hub years ago, and I lived with a dude who's now a supervisor in the Raleigh hub.

6/21/2006 10:07:37 PM

Its possibly the best high school job you can have.

In College, try for an internship.

6/21/2006 11:31:32 PM

I have heard that it is extremely hard work but definitely worth it.

6/21/2006 11:33:49 PM

I worked there about 7 years ago. The pay was decent but there came a point where I realized that the wear and tear on my body from the non-stop tetrising of packages for 4 straight hours in 100+ degree temperatures really wasn't worth what they were paying at the time.

The only real pros... short hours. The shift is 4 hours but rarely lasted the entire 4 hours. Plus it was the one part time job that had guaranteed weekends off.

The cons... it's physical work. It depends on the job you are doing but all of them will have you tired and sore at the end of the day. I say I was always tired and sore but I'm a small guy so maybe that was unique to me. There came a point where I did get used to it but that didn't stop me from having sore muscles every night. It wasn't the weight of the packages as much as it was the volume. They will more than likely start you out loading - which means you'll probably spend the entire shift running between two trucks with not one second to catch your breath. While you are filling up one truck that is backed up with packages the other truck you are assigned to will be a wreck by the time you're done. So yes, no breaks whatsoever.

6/22/2006 7:27:20 AM

Thanks for your detailed responses everyone. I'm still seriously considering this job. I have some more questions:

1) Since the tuition assistance is only given at the end of the semester, and you have to pay for it yourself first, do they offer loans at the Raleigh location that you can apply for to cover the $1000 they will reimburse you at the end of the semester?

2) How much do they pay for overtime?

3) A number of you have talked about moving up from package handler fairly quickly. About how long would this typically take?


(That image of tetrising packages made me laugh )

6/23/2006 8:17:45 PM

1) I dont know for sure but I remember reading about some sorta loan deals to cover school expenses through them, probably best to call them up and ask for sure though. I guess they want to make sure you actually work a semester and pass the classes before they shell out the 1 grand, imagine that lol.

2) OT is time and a half and kicks in after 5 hours. They try to avoid letting your work OT unless they really need the help, but come xmas time you can pretty much get it every night if you want it.

3) Well, if you can memorize zip codes and are not a slowass you can move to the sort aisle fairly quickly, believe me they need the help some of those people there are morons i swear. As far as supervision it really is hit or miss, I think kissing ass, or getting help from 'quotas' really helps in this process.

6/23/2006 8:30:30 PM

bttt

7/16/2006 11:43:32 AM

i told my stepdad i was thinking of going there

he told me he did and quit after the first couple weeks cause it sucked THAT bad

[Edited on July 16, 2006 at 12:22 PM. Reason : he later went into like the airforce and had to live in north dakota, the end.]

7/16/2006 12:21:55 PM

I worked the preload (around 3am-8am) shift for a few months last year. I started out on unload, and in about a month moved up to secondary sort. Both were demanding jobs, but if you're not afraid of hard work they can be rather enjoyable. I'd usually stay a little while after my shift and work the sort isles that actually load the trucks for delivery, overtime is the standard time-and-a-half. Within about a month and a half I was up from the 8/hr starting to 10/hr, and then with all the overtime I was making a decent amount of money. The trick is getting trained in as many areas around the plant as possible. Your pay will go up faster and you'll be a lot more useful.

Of my two primary jobs there (unload and secondary), I didn't really have a favorite. On the sort isle you have to memorize a lot of zip codes and their associated belts (though while I was there they adopted the new system that actually tells you what belt to put it on...where's the fun in that? ), but it's a little less strenuous. Unload is pure gruntwork, but the simplicity of it is a nice change from the monotony of sorting.

It's definitely one of my best work experiences. I have worked at a lot of different places, from construction to sales to serving, and I look back on my time at UPS fondly. Everyone there treats you very well, and while it's very demanding and not exactly the safest job, they take care of you. You'll make some friends, the comradery and morale is generally pretty good. And as an added benefit, if you're a little dull around the edges it'll put some muscle on you pretty quick.



[Edited on July 16, 2006 at 12:55 PM. Reason : point being, if ~10/hr works for you, it's a good job. I recommend it.]

7/16/2006 12:46:44 PM

I was on Red on midnight for 5 months and then blue for 4 on the midnight shift. it takes alot more time than you think including that long ass walk down the hill. the southeastern seminary students that were managers were bitches, Jason Forehand was cool. Its hot as hell during the summer and equally cold in the winter. the fall is ok. I made alot of money out there but it hurt my college career. The reimbursement thing can be kind of tricky, its only for tuition so you have to fight the cashiers office to get an itemized bill, and if you get a scholarship that covers tuition they wont cover something else. found that out the hard way.

I made more on campus after i didnt have to drive out there and eat like a horse.

7/17/2006 7:52:11 AM

[Edited on September 14, 2006 at 12:37 AM. Reason : a]

9/14/2006 12:31:43 AM

I'm looking for a job right now, and I'm considering UPS. How many girls are there? I have met one girl who loaded trucks, she's shorter than me but she's kind of a beast. Last summer I worked for the Forest Service building hiking trails, which was pretty physically demanding and there was a lot of lifting heavy things. So I'm somewhat confident in my ability to do the job. Although I'm not a fan of the late hours and long drive.

9/15/2006 10:46:32 PM

I'm currently a supervisor on the Midnight shift.....

Nerdchick, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask. Same goes for anybody else, but I'd prefer a PM.

As a female, you'd be one of maybe 3-5 on the whole shift who actually load, unload, or sort. There are many more there, just in less physically demanding jobs that aren't available for newcomers.

If you're willing to sweat, be sore, work with a good deal of independence and be helpful to those around you, anybody can be a good loader. Period. By knowing the nature of the work and still being interested, I'd say you don't have anything to worry about.

9/15/2006 11:36:43 PM

i would rather work it mickeyDs

9/16/2006 12:42:56 AM

IGOR- What about the afternoon shift? I heard it was harder.

9/16/2006 1:59:39 AM

"IGOR- What about the afternoon shift? I heard it was harder."
I meant ot address that to TULIPlovr

9/16/2006 2:00:29 AM

you are IN COLLEGE. use your NEWLY AQUIRED skills. anyone can work at UPS. you will need somthing to put on your RESUME when you are ready to graduate. I'm saying that cause i FUCKED UP and didn't choose my part-time jobs that would compliment my CAREER. now i feel like a DUMBASS.

i guess you can move up the ranks if you stay there long enough. but really, there are better options i would think.

9/16/2006 2:12:06 AM

"you are IN COLLEGE. use your NEWLY AQUIRED skills. anyone can work at UPS. you will need somthing to put on your RESUME when you are ready to graduate. I'm saying that cause i FUCKED UP and didn't choose my part-time jobs that would compliment my CAREER. now i feel like a DUMBASS.

i guess you can move up the ranks if you stay there long enough. but really, there are better options i would think."
-IGOR


From everything I've read, UPS promotes only from within the company. This includes Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plant Engineering jobs. Also, most of their TSG and other computer related jobs are occupied by former part-time college students. I've spoken with an HR Representative out there and he said he started as a part-time loader and has moved up to an HR Supervisor (his major at NCSU) in less than 3 years. Seem like good job opportunities after college... that's probably why Money Magazine has rated it the #1 Part-time job in America. (https://ups.managehr.com/life/employerofchoice.html)

9/16/2006 1:16:31 PM

^Yep.

And, not to be biased , part-time supervision is #1) Not a joke at all, and is real, tangible management experience in a challenging environment and 2) Far more respected by your future employers than you may now realize.

And for the right people, there is more than enough room to move into one of those slots.

And TheTabbyCat was right.....the salary, etc. is amazing, at least to me.

Even if not a PT sup, it really does look better than you think it does, and pays pretty darn well, too.

[Edited on September 16, 2006 at 5:25 PM. Reason : v]

9/16/2006 5:24:38 PM

when i worked sort there was a girl with a really nice ass who sorted in front of me

it was pretty much the only thing that kept me coming to work every night

9/16/2006 6:23:08 PM

Firepower - The Twilight shift is really more like an evening shift (530ish-930ish).

I've worked Twilight a couple dozen times in a lot of different areas, and no, there's really no difference in difficulty. They process substantially more volume than midnight, but there's also proportionately greater staffing, so it all evens out. There are areas on the Midnight shift that are typically worse on average than Twilight, and vice-versa but, in general, they're about the same.

And most of the time, when one person works a double-shift, their non-regular shift will be in an easier position than their regular job, even if in the same area. That makes people on both shifts think theirs is more difficult.

But Twilight and Midnight people can both agree that Preload is a joke in comparison

[Edited on September 16, 2006 at 7:15 PM. Reason : a]

9/16/2006 7:12:28 PM

I worked at ups for 5 days. 3 were training, 1 was working and 1 was quitting. the work is insane during christmas. For every package that you scan, check the zip and stack, the track feeds you 2 more. Taking a leak is out of the question.

But, I was working at the Greensboro hub too, so i'm sure there is a bit of a difference.

[Edited on September 17, 2006 at 9:08 PM. Reason : mi]

9/17/2006 9:05:56 PM

nope, that's pretty much the way it is at every hub

9/18/2006 4:47:12 AM

got an interview there tomorrow...somebody wish me luck/convince me not to work there.

10/17/2006 8:15:47 PM

GOOD LUCK, WIGGUM!

10/17/2006 8:29:13 PM

I might be interested in doing the driver helper stuff this year to pick up some extra $$ during break


What is that like.....

10/17/2006 8:35:02 PM

10/17/2006 8:37:29 PM

Quote :

"somebody wish me luck"

you don't need luck to get a job at ups

you just need arms and a self-loathing mentality

10/17/2006 8:39:29 PM

addendum...somebody wish me luck that I'll survive it. I already have an internship that requires 40+ hrs a week.

10/17/2006 9:17:51 PM

Working in the hub is terrible. 8 bucks an hour might sound good, but in the end, it averages out to be about 4 per hour. I don't know where all the money goes. But for 25 hours a week all I ended up with was 100 dollars. And the work is a bitch. Definitely not worth it. Unless you can toughen up and last through the promotions. Benefits don't kick in until 5 months.

10/17/2006 10:45:43 PM

For anyone who shows up late, you aren't GUARANTEED to be paid for 4 hours - you only get paid for while you're there, which could mean anything from 0-2.5 in most cases. 2.5 hours is ~$100/week before taxes.

You can't really fault them for not having heat or AC - a lot of warehouses/DC's are like that. In the summer the volume's usually low so the pace is slower and most people get used to it - a good way to judge is if you can't stand working outside in the summer then you probably won't do well. In the winter the pace is faster so your body heat/movement will keep you warm and I think they do have some space heaters around.

If you show any kind of initiative (even if you're slow, as long as you're actually trying and not being a thorn) they do promote quickly. If you whine and slack a lot, they will get rid of you. If you show up when you're told to, you get paid for your full 4 hours even if you're not there that long. If you show up late there are no guarantees. Getting promoted to a PT sup isn't that hard, although it is more or less the bitch-work of management ... at least they still get OT ... they'll promote the good ones to FT pretty fast as long as there's a space - fastest I've heard is 3 months



Driver helpers ... You basically ride with the driver and when he/she makes a stop either you help unload if there are a lot of boxes at one stop or you'll get your own diad and you go in two separate directions, such as two houses next door to each other. They try to let you work in your neighborhood so the driver can pick you up and drop you off, but it doesn't always work

[Edited on October 17, 2006 at 11:14 PM. Reason : DH]

10/17/2006 11:13:11 PM

Quote :

" As a peak season hire, I acknowledge that my employment is temporary, that I have no guarantee of full-time or part-time employment with United Parcel Service ("UPS") and that my employment may be terminated on or before December 31, 2006 . I further acknowledge that as a peak season hire, I am an at-will employee, and, as such, my employment may be discontinued at any time. "

being that its seasonal work I doubt I'll be even kept long enough to get benefits...which would translate into more money in my check. Which means I'll still make next to nothing...yay.

[Edited on October 17, 2006 at 11:45 PM. Reason : nice policy]

10/17/2006 11:42:13 PM

^^sounds like someone who's confident in what they're saying.

The only problem is that almost every sentence in that post is just plain wrong.

Not trying to be an ass, but nobody listen to ActofGod.

[Edited on October 18, 2006 at 12:22 PM. Reason : s]

10/18/2006 12:21:15 PM

Quote :

" In the summer the volume's usually low so the pace is slower and most people get used to it - a good way to judge is if you can't stand working outside in the summer then you probably won't do well."

i'm not trying to hate on ups, it isn't a bad job, but this statement is fucking silly

working in a trailer is absolutely nothing like working 'outside' during the summer

and the pace isn't so slow that is makes things easier

unless you get lucky, you'll be in a 120 degree trailer full of dust, buried in boxes

i mean packages, never call them boxes

10/18/2006 12:30:35 PM

Yes. You will get bruises, cuts, etc. every day.

10/18/2006 6:02:34 PM

Quote :

"Not trying to be an ass, but nobody listen to ActofGod."

Hey ass, my husband has worked there for 5 years. I know what I'm talking about.

10/18/2006 6:48:17 PM

Your husband, not you.

And 350 bucks a week as a "supervisor" is a fucking joke. Dear lord I'm glad I went to college.

10/18/2006 7:12:12 PM

1. he did too - he started working there part time before graduation and has moved up quick
2. I know his job almost as well as he does since for starters I've been around it the entire time and being realistic I've asked him the questions being asked in this thread - he doesn't peruse tww

10/18/2006 7:21:13 PM

The statement you get paid for 4 hours if you show up on time is completely false by the way, you are only guaranteed 3.5 hours a night if you show up on time, and you have to actually work that many. If you show up late and they are overstaffed they can send you home is basically the gist of it. Believe me I have showed up on time and left an hour into the shift because of staffing and i only get paid for an hour.

10/18/2006 7:45:47 PM

Quote :

"Yes. You will get bruises, cuts, etc. every day."

i worked there for about a year in 2003-2004

i still wake up in the morning with my hands so stiff and sore i can't move them

10/18/2006 8:26:18 PM

As others mentioned....

1)No, you do not get paid for 4 hours of work just because you showed up on time. You get paid for what you work - if that's 2.5, then you get paid 2.5. You are guaranteed 3.5 hours, in that sense that if you want to work that long, they will find something for you to do until 3.5. There's plenty of people that leave well before 3.5, and only get paid for what they work.

But, you're allowed to leave, essentially, any time the sup says you can.

2) No, summer volume is NOT lower. June/July this year, and in the past, are two of our heaviest, outside of peak.

3) Even if volume was lower, the minimum acceptable standards for work pace do not change just because of low volume. The pace is the same.

4) As someone mentioned, being able to work outside in the summer is not even close to a good indicator - not because UPS is worse, just very different. Low-lighting conditions, noise, heavy dust in the air, etc. all factor into it. And the heat is certainly worse.

5) PT Sup is only the bitch-work of mgt if you don't know how to do your job. Good supervisors won't get stuck with bitch-work, because a)they can train and motivate their people to accomplish the task, leaving no bitch-work for the sup...and b) there is very real responsibility for PT Sups...along with the power to do something about most of it.

6) Never seen or heard of a space-heater in the Hub, and neither has anybody else I work with.

7) If you whine and slack a lot we will not get rid of you. We will train you and hold you accountable....insubordination, theft, dishonesty, and not showing up to work are pretty much the only ways to get fired. But do those, and the door will shut quickly behind you.

moving on to other things....

Quote :

"And 350 bucks a week as a "supervisor" is a fucking joke. Dear lord I'm glad I went to college."

$14/hr + free, awesome benefits for me and my family + $4000/yr in tuition reimbursement + >2 weeks paid vacation, while working 25 hours a week in college???? With real management experience on your resume for later?

Show me ANY other job that comes remotely close to that, and I'll concede that my job sucks.

Our responsibilities and job description no doubt, on the surface, would appear to deserve more than that....but good grief, I know how unusual such a good deal is, even as it stands.

[Edited on October 19, 2006 at 1:12 AM. Reason : g]

10/19/2006 1:05:59 AM

^I don't doubt its good experience, I've had plenty of friends who work or have worked for UPS/Fedex.

But 14 dollars an hour for a management position is a joke, part time or not. The rest of it is definitely a good deal for a part time job, but unless you are a business major looking to go INTO management, it's a complete waste of time for real technical co-op opportunities.

Not to mention you dont even GET to that pay rate or position until you have been there for a considerable amount of time.

10/19/2006 2:00:15 AM