Working for United Parcel Service: Employment, Careers, and Jobs

By | July 18, 2023
Working for United Parcel Service
UPS provides good benefits to its employees, including flexible schedule, decent pay and sociable and friendly work environment. Image source: Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images | cnbc.

This post provides complete information on working for United Parcel Service, including the employment, careers, and job opportunities you can find with the Company, to increase your ability of being hired there.

Please read on:

United Parcel Service Company Overview

United Parcel Service (UPS) is an American multinational Company that operates as a logistics and package delivery Company, providing supply chain management services.

The logistics services of United Parcel Services include distribution, transportation, ground freight, contract logistics, air freight, ocean freight, insurance, financing, and customs brokerage.

UPS operates through the segments:

  • Supply Chain and Freight
  • U.S. Domestic Package
  • International Package

The Supply Chain and Freight: This segment consists of distribution, transportation, brokerage services and International trade.

The U.S. Domestic Package: The United States Domestic Package segment provides a complete range of U.S. domestic guaranteed ground and air package transportation services.

The International Package: The International Package segment comprises package operations in Europe, Canada and Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, and Indian sub-continent.

UPS was established on August 28, 1907 by James E. Casey and Claude Ryan and has its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Why Work for United Parcel Service

UPS is great for a part-time job, with decent opportunities to advance. You will have overtime pay, 45 minutes or 1 hour Lunch Break, and Holiday Season Pay.

UPS provides excellent benefits for its employees, with good work compensation.

It is really a nice place to work with good hours.

There are no complaints in this renowned Company, but you can only witness things like “Hey! You lead and oversee product flow and management”.

UPS has a great team environment, with well-trained managers.

It is a place for those who want to work in unions.

With flexible schedule, decent pay and sociable and friendly workers to associate with, you can consider a career with this great Company that offers huge and amazing benefits.

It is a fast paced environment with free education and helpful people.

UPS Careers and Jobs

The types of jobs you will find at UPS include part-time jobs, full-time jobs, and seasonal jobs.

These jobs and career fields fall in different categories, such as:

Technicians and Fleet

  • Automotive
  • Automotive Fleet Supervisor
  • Air
  • Plant

Delivery and Warehouse

  • Package Delivery Driver
  • All Drivers
  • Warehouse (Full-Time)
  • Package Handler (Part-Time)

Corporate

  • Global Business Services
  • Customer Solutions
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • IT

Engineering

  • All Engineers
  • Engineering Internships
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Plant Engineering

Available Positions at UPS

UPS available positions include:

  • Package Handler
  • Truck Driver
  • Driver Helper
  • Package Delivery Driver
  • Fleet Mechanic
  • Truckload Driver
  • Dockworker
  • I.T. Associate
  • Technical Specialist
  • Intermediate Data Security Analyst
  • Programmer
  • QA Analyst
  • Sales Support
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Hub operations Manager
  • International Freight Specialist
  • Local Sort Supervisor
  • Package Data Supervisor
  • Shift Supervisor
  • Package Center Supervisor
  • Automotive Mechanic
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Technical User Representative
  • Inside Sales Representative
  • Distribution Supervisor
  • Order Processing Representative
  • Dispatch Associate
  • Customer Support Representative
  • Lead Technical Specialist
  • Plant Engineering Maintenance Mechanic
  • Inventory Control Associate
  • Road Driver

UPS Job Opportunities

The parcel shipping Company sorts and delivers millions of packages every day.

Applicants seeking UPS jobs regularly find possible employment in sorting, receiving, and delivery.

The physically demanding jobs need applicants to be in good health and possess the ability to lift as much as 70lbs. or more.

Sales

UPS offers a wide collection of sales jobs that provide advantage of inside sales representative positions, featuring competitive salary options and full-time hours.

Careers in management and other corporate fields exist with the international parcel shipping outfit, too.

Drivers

If you are interested in delivery driver jobs, you should possess a valid driver’s license.

Hours for delivery drivers and sorters may include irregular scheduling, overtime, and holidays, due to overnight shipping services.

Local Sorter

There are teams of sorters at each UPS warehouse to receive and organize shipments for delivery.

Sorters could stand, bend, stoop, and lift heavy loads for the whole duration of shifts.

With inclusive weekly schedules, local sorters work roughly 8 hours a day, 5 days per week, to make a total of 40 hours.

Package Delivery Driver

Package delivery drivers put on iconic brown uniforms while on the job; and they maintain good physical health, excellent interpersonal skills, clean driving records, and the ability to perform manual labor.

Package delivery drivers are required to be punctual, efficient and expedient.

Their job generally features full-time hours and overtime, especially during busy holiday seasons.

Inside Sales Representative

Inside sales representatives transact business with small, local companies, and keep old customers on a commercial level.

Applicants for this position need to possess excellent communication skills, sales abilities, and knowledge of UPS products and services.

The entry-level job requires Bachelor’s degrees, sound decision-making qualities, and regular travel.

Inside sales representatives endure 6 weeks of training at company-sponsored facilities before official hiring.

The Inside sales representative career usually features full-time hours. They work both independently and as part of teams.

Qualifications and Experience

In order for career hopefuls to work for the delivery Company, they need college education and related job histories.

Whereas entry-level jobs require meeting age qualifications and the physical demands of given positions.

Also, applicants must show willingness to relocate and/or travel, as required.

UPS Training and Development Programs

With the training and development resources available at UPS, the Company encourages their team members to be the best – and to make the most of their career, and provides powerful tools to shape the future of their employees exactly the way they want.

UPS is proud to have an exceptional workforce.

The Company has made major investments in regards to training, including building a state-of-the-art training facility.

In order to accomplish personal and professional growth over the course of your time at the Company, UPS has provided numerous tools and resources to make that possible.

UPS has made some investments in their employees, including UPS Integrad, the Account Executive Training Academy, and the investments in Driver CPC and license upgrades.

UPS Integrad

UPS has developed a high-tech, next generation training facility called the UPS Integrad Program for their employees.

UPS studied the way young people learn in today’s culture, through a grant received from the Department of Labor.

The UPS Integrad program provides a new, innovative way to train employees.

There are webcasts, 3-D simulations and traditional classroom teaching.

UPS employees are becoming more competent in the required skills necessary to perform their job, through this hands-on approach.

The Account Executive Training Academy

Employees who enter the Account Executive role have a tailored training program also provided by UPS for them.

This program is suitable for recent graduates looking for a professional business development role and those with few years of experience and that are willing to learn more.

During the 6 to 9 months training academy, the program will teach account management skills and how to negotiate; presentation skills, and more.

The training program will also help convert your skills into professionalism.

The investments in Driver CPC and license upgrades

UPS invests a lot in its drivers and their continued education and training.

The Company invests in driver upgrade programs as well as programs where drivers can receive a certificate of professional competence.

UPS Student Internship Program and Recruitment Process

The UPS Internship program experience is like no other.

Participating in the program will give you a chance to develop valuable team building, technical skills, and communications with what you learn from UPS mentors.

You are given assignments that have real impact on the Company as an intern.

The internship program offers unlimited opportunities for growth and exposure.

During events throughout your internship, you will network with experienced professionals and your fellow peers.

Taking a tour on one of the operations hubs at UPS or joining one of the many lunch-and-learns platforms will help widen your perspective on global business.

You can find out about UPS current internship recruitment and apply at UPS the same time.

You can get detailed information about the department you want to apply for when you review the application process for the internship program.

By doing an internship at the UPS, you will grab an opportunity to make a difference in your career.

Available Internship Positions

These include:

  • Summer Intern
  • Community Intern
  • Industrial Engineering Intern
  • Logistics Intern
  • Marketing Intern
  • Finance Intern

Major Skills Interns at UPS Need to Succeed

  • Willingness and ability to go the extra mile, work independently, and be flexible
  • General Skills, such as effective time management, oral and written communication skills, and the ability to deliver results
  • Education degree, such as Bachelor/Master in Operations, Commercial Engineering or related studies
  • Active graduate or undergraduate student or have graduated within the past two years
  • Exceptional ability to communicate in English and French languages or Dutch
  • PC Knowledge like MS Excel and Access
  • Period of minimum of 3 months to maximum of 6 months
  • Minimum working hours: 30h/week.

Activities You Will Perform During the Internship

The major goal of the internship program at UPS is to come up with fresh ideas and perspective of creating a dispatch plan in the Company against the traditional way of doing things.

You will need to assess the current situation and then look for improvements and innovative ways to improve the dispatch.

Here are some of the activities you will have to perform during the internship:

  • Create plans that maximize dispatch results with dispatch trends
  • Create and execute dispatch plans through collaboration with various departments
  • Review and scrutinize data to identify dispatch trends
  • Review and develop effective ways of troubleshooting inefficiencies in processes, and improve on proficiency.

How to Apply for Intern at UPS

To apply for intern at UPS, go here.

UPS Corporate Culture and Values

UPS loves what they do. The Company has culture of developing passion for the work they do which enables them to take ownership of their clients’ projects.

They continuously struggle to deliver the highest-quality products possible.

Core Values

Leadership: UPS is committed to providing leadership in the area of creative business products and Islamic card business solutions.

Achievement: The parcel service company has high sense of achievement in their driving force for offering improved services to their clients.

Excellence: UPS invests in all their resources to make sure there is excellence in everything they do through their commitment to a culture of innovation.

Responsiveness: The parcel service Company is responsive to the unique needs of their clients in a timely way.

Dynamic: UPS is very dynamic in coping with changes in their industry so as to be ahead of others.

Service Quality:

Customer Service is the United Parcel Services’ central point in business. They guarantee quality at all times they serve their clients.

Ethical Values: High ethical values and principles are what UPS uses to control their business practices.

United Parcel Service Job Application – How to Start a Career with the Company (the Hiring Process)

The United Parcel Service (UPS) opens up many positions to fulfill their needs the month leading to the holidays.

These jobs usually become the only way to get a foot in the door and are almost always for part-time package handlers.

As UPS promotes their employees from within, the only way to become a delivery driver is to start out first as a package handler.

If you are a package handler, you are required to work about 20 hours a week, and must have the ability to lift up 70 pounds with the average package being 30 pounds.

The Application

UPS only accepts applications online.

You will be required to put in your social security number and be prompted to set up a personal pass code before starting the application journey.

When filling out the application, ensure to add your email address and phone number for easy contact by the UPS recruiter.

The recruiter will either call or email you if your application was selected for an open position.

The application is due for sixty days, after which you will be required to start the application process over if you are still interested in employment at UPS.

Status of Your Application

Each year UPS employs as many as ninety-thousand employees for the holiday season.

This makes the Company to sieve through thousands of applicants.

Avoid being impatient and calling to check the status of your application as this won’t help in any way.

However, you can keep tab on the status of your application by logging on the website using your social security number and your pass code.

Receiving the Call

The recruiter will give you the location and time of your interview once you are contacted.

Most times, you will be given a tour of the UPS facility and the recruiter will let you know what to wear and what not to wear.

Log on to your account with your social security number and pass code if you don’t know the location of the facility where the interview is holding.

You will find the date and time of your interview there, including the location of where to go.

The Interview/Tour

Some UPS facilities may give you a tour prior to the interview – some may not.

According to some, you might get interviewed first and then taken through the facility to let you have a feel of what a package handler does.

You will need to bring along a government picture ID and social security card to whichever the UPS location you visit.

During the interview, you may be interviewed by a member of Human Resources or a supervisor, sometimes both.

You will meet simple and easy questions and the interview usually lasts no more than 10 minutes.

You will usually be informed when to report back for orientation/training when the interview is over.

The Orientation

Orientation usually takes place in a classroom atmosphere, takes up to 5 hours and is instructed by a Human Resource member with other new hires also attending.

You will be shown a few videos to watch, and will be taught proper lifting skills.

This is the time you will need to fill out all your employee paper work at the interview if you haven’t done that, and also when you will receive your work schedule.

You may be given the opportunity to work out on the floor and get some training at the end of the orientation class.

Read more about the UPS hiring process.

UPS Benefits and Compensation

UPS offers a full range of options for you to live your life in balance with work, education, family and friends.

Health and Wellness Programs

UPS offers various benefit plans to meet the health and wellness needs of different employee groups.

The following is an overview of the Company’s award-winning benefits, while there are differences in available plans:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Prescription Drug Program
  • Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Group Universal Life Program
  • Business Travel Accident Insurance
  • Sickness & Accident Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability with Inflation coverage
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Healthcare Spending Accounts
  • Cancer Insurance
  • Work-Life Balance Programs
  • Employee Assistance Programs, which include Financial, Legal, and Medical Advice Support
  • Private Medical Insurance for Professional Roles

Compensation and Rewards Program

  • Competitive salaries
  • Other Benefits
  • Managers Incentive Plan

United Parcel Service Work-Life Balance

Weekend is the only time for family if you work at UPS. They have long work week, as the Company demands long hours of work.

Drivers at UPS are often scheduled for 10+ hour days and disciplined for small breaks that happen throughout the day.

There are hours of overtime, and you may miss almost all after-school activities of your children.

Doctor appointments will require a whole day off, except if requested 8 days before.

Once you are a part of management, there is little balance.

The work load is greater and the Company demands are higher.

UPS lays a lot of emphasis on safety but not enough on employee retention, causing the divorce rate to go high.

Package car drivers leave their home 7 am till 9pm or10 pm.

The job can be tough for full time employees.

Drivers are required to work overtime, which means they have little or no time for other things.

Non drivers work at night, which makes everyone to feel tired.

Most jobs at UPS are very physically demanding, which leaves employees tired after work.

Some employees complain that they get stuck on late night shifts for years, to prove the fact that shifts are determined on seniority.

This makes them to only see their family early morning except on weekends.

Conclusion

If you are planning to start a career with UPS, this post will help you get the knowledge you need to actualize the dream.

If you find this post helpful in learning about careers and employment at UPS, kindly leave a comment in the box below.

You can also share any experience you’ve had with UPS if you are or had been an employee of the company.

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