I am in my junior year in college. I have made preparations to obtain my PPL by the end of this summer. I am also looking for a new job. One of them is UPS and I just got off talking to them. If I worked for UPS as a package handler for at least an year is it going to be beneficial for me by the time I meet their minimums? Would I get a guaranteed interview with no internal recommendations or "swimming in the pool"? Plus UPS pays a substantial amount for college assistance. I know the job is going to be tough with school, but I am going to do it because I think it's going to be worth it in the long run. Any thoughts?

 

I am wondering this myself. I am a package driver with UPS now and am going to try to get my ratings and meet mins, but I will probably have to quit my position at some point to get my turbine pic. I can get good recs from my supers, my numbers are the best in the center, but I want to make sure that I can get in if I meet the quals. I LOVE working for UPS and want to be able to continue. I am going to see what I can find out, it would be nice if there was some internal program to do it, I know UPS policy is to promote from within and they really encourage this. I just got a letter the other day trying to get me to apply for management, but I think it goes out to all employees.

 

I have thought of it myself before, dont think that it could ever hurt. The more people you know, the better.

 

working for UPS on the graond side will not help you. I have asked this before and the only thing it might do is impress the person conducting you pilot interview, if and when you get it, but no extra points.

The ground and air side of things here at UPS are not as harmonious as you may think. I know that many of the mid level managers resent the pilots. You have to be careful, UPS is a difficult place to work and on the ground side, the possibilities of getting a negitive review are more likely than you may think. Not saying you would get one, but if you did, you'll never get hired here with a neg review in your file...

I had a friend who befriended a ground manager and he (the ground manager)went out of his way to help my buddy get hired here. There are always positive stories out there and it really depends on your personality and who your boss is on the ground side...

I hope this helps.
BBDC8

 

Yes it does and thanks. Plus on the negative side a lot of people quit all the time so they are hiring constantly. Plus they have some really odd shifts. Plus right now I am in the process of acquiring sums for my PPL and if I ended up quiting soon that might not be good. I am in a sensitive position especially with college, since I already gave them the word, I am going to go for the tour and let them know if I am interested or not. It all depends on the working environment/managers/co-workers. who knows I might just like it.

 

Don't go work for UPS as a ground runt. I worked there when I was in college and during that time my car's transmission went out. So, I had to choose between going to school or making it to work at UPS for $8/hr.. Needless to say, I chose school, gave UPS a letter of resignation and management told me, to my face that he was going to put me as, "re-hireable." Well, turns out that he lied and my file states that I'm not rehireable there at UPS.

The management at UPS (ground side) treat their "hourlies" like dirt! It's a militant environment and they try to get away with as much as possible without breaking any union rules.

I initially thought this would help my chances of getting on at Brown in the future as a pilot, but that plan backfired on me and now I will never be given the opportunity to even interview there. Oh well.

Seabass

 

College Kids out there????????? Advice!!!!!,,, I said it once and I'll say it again. GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL!!!!!!

 

I wish I was still in college then I would finish my engineering degree(about 40 credit hours left), get my ratings, build time and would'nt feel like time was running out for me. I'm 37 and changing careers and decided that I'm tired of saying that "I wish I had done this" and have decided to just do it.

 

thanks all for the responses. one of my friends worked at Fedex package handling for 8 months and was forced to leave for a very unfortunate reason. I get similar responses from some of my peers as well so I think I am going to pass on the job. Find something more easy and long lasting while I am in college.