My opinion on hiring:
The last hiring wave (2004-2007) was all about growth. When the wheels started coming off the track in DEC 2007 with age 65 we began the massive backwards slide culminating in the nasty furlough of 109 IPA brothers and sisters.
Although we don't know much about this current round of hiring, one thing is for certain, retirements are taking place at a rate of around 40 per year (and increasing significantly in about 3 years from now) for an indefinite period of time. So a new hire now shouldn't have to spend 7 years on the bottom of the list like a pilot hired in 2007.
Any amount of growth would be very fortunate for us all, but that is nothing but rumors, and the first thing one needs to learn at UPS is EXPECTATION ZERO!
Good luck to those applying!