Pros
I worked on both the preload and unload shifts. I then became a shift supervisor. This is the best job for a college kid, as UPS will help with tuition and books if you become a supervisor. UPS is a crazy place to work. It is loud, dirty and incredibly unsafe despite everyone's best efforts. The pay is low, the benefits are great and after working there being in the corporate world was a breeze. A great job to teach someone patience, motivational skills, negotiation and how to suck it up and take one for the team. It kind of has a half high school clique/half paramilitary structure. All in all a great experience for a young adult. If you're over 25 you will probably hate it. During the holidays you can pretty much make as much as you like as a package handler. You hit overtime easily as a part timer and will be making a ton just riding in a truck running packages to doors. Be prepared to alter your lifestyle, as getting up at 3:00am takes some adjustment. The morning paid a little more then the evening, plus you were done for the week at 10am on Fridays. - benefits package (many people work there just for the insurance) - insane nutjobs that you will meet on this job - good workout without gym membership - free turkey at Thanksgiving - flexible hours (great for college)
Cons
- incredibly stressful when belts jam, people don't show up or during holiday seasons - very high Teamster dues and no benefits until you put in a certain amount of hours (about a year IIRC) - insane nutjobs that you will meet on this job (what kind of non-student gets up at 3:00am every day for a part time job!) - Union pay scale. I literally made the same money as a junior in college as a kid that was illiterate and couldn't split the belt and a mentally challenged guy who walked the mis-sorts the illiterate kid missed back to the start of the belt. - constantly yelled at by everyone (you get used to it). Teamsters will demand dues but don't expect anyone to go to bat for you.