What is the hiring process like at The UPS Store?

If i every had a question it was always answered and HR made sure my hiring process was smooth and fast

Seats are not very comfortable but understandable with the room

Co-workers were solid, kind, helped me learn the job. As long as you do what you're expected and are serious about your work, you'll be fine. If you like the occaisional lunch/snack provided by customers/the shop owners, that'll happen, and was nice. It's nice that no one there takes themselves too seriously. We know that our work matters, but also that at the end of the day, we're people who play with cardboard, paper, and tape for a living. I liked that it's a community place. You'll get to know people from around town as they come in week after week, and there are opportunities to care for them that wouldn't happen in a bigger town. The work for international shipping is kind of complex, but you won't see a ton of it, so it will take time to get to know. Working with the local gallery is interesting, and you'll slowly learn how to quote packing and shipping for their high value pieces. I was given some opportunities to cross train on printing/graphic design on slow days, which was nice. From the perspective of a woman working there, one of the male drivers made inappropriate comments, and I was so grateful that my male manager nipped that in the bud, making a quip that shut the guy up without putting attention on me. That kind of back up is really good to have in the workplace. I also have to say that my more senior coworkers were really understanding. I was late a couple times for basic human reasons (overslept, not feeling well, etc), and also got sick a couple times, and they worked with me on scheduling and weren't mean about it. If you're on the LGBTQ spectrum, I'd say this is a pretty chill place. I got asked my gender in the hiring process and if I remember right nonbinary was an option.

No consistent breaks, regularly expected to just work through the day and snack if we got a lull in the action. No health benefits at all--literally was told to get on government health insurance because it was better than anything the shop was able/willing to offer. Don't expect your employee discount to be worth much--you'll know what things cost and 9 times out of 10 you'll know that the Post Office can send your small package cheaper. You'll be expected to gently lie about this to customers, and not tell them that the best pricing isn't through UPS unless they specifically ask. You'll also be told not to tell them that the store adds a fee onto USPS shipping costs unless customers asked. I didn't like this policy as it felt dishonest, but was also told margins were small in the business so do with all that what you will. Also, you will not get to spend Thanksgiving/Christmas/any major life events with your people during those times if you're scheduled, unless you basically make it a non-negotiable (not hard given how hard it is to fill positions in Vermont, it's a job seekers market and you probably won't get fired), but do know this expectation in advance, because your coworkers may be miffed if you try to take ANY time out during the busy holiday season. If you're immunocompromised or anxious about Covid, this is not the place to work. Masking and Covid weren't really taken seriously, and you're going to be in contact with a lot of different people's stuff. Corporate trainings are going to be boring has heck and often outdated to the systems we actually use. I'd suggest just grinning it and bearing it, and do it at work even if you can log on at home. Get paid for your training, use your off time to live your life.

Quick interview process Good location

Management lacked leadership skills Low pay

The regular staff are just great folks to work with. Conscientious, friendly, and always willing to help customers and other staff. Corporate reps are kind and helpful. Great business model.

The owners. (Husband and wife team). Wife is rarely at the store, but relies on a friend at the store who "reports" on all the happenings at the store. Unfortunately, if she has it out for someone, the "report" is distorted and downright wrong. The owner will then call the employee and scream obscenities at them, and generally makes them feel awful and useless. The owner "manages" the store remotely, but manages the people through fear. There is no people management, and the owner doesn't feel the store needs a manager since it's so small (although even fast food chains have at least a store team leader or supervisor on site. Performance is never rated or addressed. Everyone makes the same hourly wage even though it is well known that several workers perform way less than everyone else. I ended up hanging up on the owner during one of her phone tirades with me, and I never came back. This is no way to run any business, especially since the best assets are the ones getting screamed at. Please, go work somewhere else. Most of the employees who are worth anything are leaving in droves. ***NOTE: The previous owners are now in the process of selling the store. I've met the new owners and I'm hopeful the present situation for the staff will greatly improve.

easy retail experience and networking with different people

Stressful customers and management has lack of authority

Each store was franchised, so everyone's experience may be different, but I loved the store I worked at.

The Amazon return customers can be frustrating, and management had a very "customer is always right" attitude.