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The shipping news; Holiday rush results in new opportunities for delivery companies

By Priya A. Shah, Source: Tribune Media Services

As the holidays start creeping around the calendar, college students, unemployed workers and anyone looking for a few extra bucks may start feeling overwhelmed, overanxious and broke. Right about now, a few extra bucks would certainly come in handy.

The beauty of seasonal jobs is that they’re convenient, temporary and sometimes, dare we say, fun. And if pushing sweaters isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options for seasonal employment.

Consider companies like UPS, which is currently hiring seasonal employees across the country. Frank Barre, workforce planning and public relations manager of the UPS office in Hodgkins, Ill., says seasonal driver helpers make at least $9.50 an hour for riding along with a driver to make sure that the packages are safely delivered to their correct destination. During the holiday season, UPS also hires part-time package handlers to work in the company’s warehouse. Package handlers earn a starting salary of $8.50 an hour.

Although the seasonal jobs usually last from early October to Christmas time, Barre encourages job seekers to go to the job interview as if it were an opportunity for full-time employment at UPS. He says it’s all about the job seeker’s attitude.

“You want to approach the interview like, ’I’m interested in being a permanent, stable employee,’” says Barre. “There is potential for the employee to become permanent after the first of the year.”

Other options

FedEx also hires during the seasonal season.

“Thousands of FedEx employees and contractors (from FedEx Ground and FedEx Express) at FedEx hubs around the world will help to ensure that packages reach their destinations on time,” says Carla Boyd, spokesperson for FedEx.

Interested job seekers should note that FedEx Ground facilities will be recruiting temporary workers during November and December. However, FedEx Express gives their yearly workers first dibs to work extra hours for the holiday season. Job seekers can still try to apply with FedEx Express.

Many companies are in the hiring process right now, but one service people highly depend on, especially during the holidays is not hiring seasonal employment. According to Jim Mruk, manager of corporate communications of U.S. Postal Service in Great Lakes Area, they do not recruit seasonal employees because the reduction of mail volume is declining.

“The seasonal employees we do hire have either worked for us in the past or are referred to us by our employees,” says Mruk.

© 2009, Tribune Media Services