How to Get the Job
Learn what to expect for the UPS interview. Prepare by reviewing the information below, along with watching our videos of former employees.
Interview Questions
Question: Why Are You Applying for this Position?
Here is a general framework for answering this question. Be sure to customize your answer based on your experience.
“Firstly, I like the idea of bing very active and busy through out the day. A desk job is not for me, so Im drawn to the physical activity that comes with being a driver. I also like being outside in the fresh air no matter what the weather conditions are like.
Secondly, Im a people person and I like the idea of partnering with other employees to get the work done. Sharing in the responsibilities of the day to day tasks is appealing to me because I enjoy team oriented activities.
Also, Im interested in learning how UPS manages their logistics to ensure the seamless flow of goods and services in a fast-paced environment .
Finally, I have read that UPS is a good place for professional growth, and that they invest in their employees. That’s good for me because I’d like grow in this position. ”
Other Questions
More common inquiries used during the UPS interview process include:
- “Are you aware of the physical demands of this job?”
- Can you lift 70 pounds?
- “Did you play any sports in high school or college?”
Questions for Drivers
Driver candidates field UPS interview questions concerning:
- past commercial or delivery driving experience
- following directions
- interpreting maps
- computer and customer service skills
Popular prompts include:
- “Tell me about a time you drove/delivered a package in inclement weather.”
- “How well do you know the area?”
Questions for Managers
Interviewers often ask behavioral and situational questions like:
- How would you deal with a conflict between two subordinates?
- “Tell me about a time you disagreed with a decision from upper management; how did you move forward?”
- “How would you motivate an employee who seems depressed?”
Answer questions briefly, using professional tones.
Hiring Process
United Parcel Service, or UPS, operates as one of the largest and most successful logistics and shipping companies in the world. Job hunters find a plethora of seasonal, part-time, and full-time employment opportunities on the UPS website. Candidates request employment by creating profiles and completing hiring forms at the Careers section of the site.
1 on 1 or Group Interviews Depending on Position
Human resource representatives then contact eligible applicants to set up interviews. Entry-level interviews for positions like driver helper, truck loader, or package handler usually commence with a tour of the building and move on to 1:1 or panel meetings with hiring managers.
The UPS interview process includes interviews of 10 to 15 candidates at a time for part-time or seasonal positions, with hiring personnel spending several minutes with each applicant before making employment decisions. A single interview typically suffices for delivery applicants to gain hiring consideration with the logistics company.
Management Positions Interviews
UPS also interviews job seekers for a variety of management positions. The delivery company frequently uses the panel interview format, with multiple hiring managers interviewing managerial candidates.
Some hiring procedures for management positions require applicants to participate in multiple UPS job interviews.
Background check, drug tests
Drug testing and criminal background checks remain common formalities during the entry-level hiring process.
During group meetings, hiring personnel typically take a few minutes to outline job duties and company expectations before asking candidates a few questions one-on-one.
What should you wear?
Applicants vying for manual labor jobs like driver helper or package handler should dress business-casual for an interview with UPS. Due to the nature of the job, candidates who wear overly formal attire to the job interview may not necessarily improve chances of hire.
How to Behave
Show enthusiasm and interest in UPS operations during the tour of the building, and ask questions if given the opportunity. Refer to prior employment when possible to demonstrate experience and competency in management. Keep responses focused on company values, employee morale, and customer service, as well. Remain patient and consistent throughout each portion of the UPS hiring process and thank all hiring personnel for the opportunity at the conclusion.
Getting the Job
Recruitment staff usually makes hiring decisions at the end of the meeting. Hiring managers usually contact applicants with employment decisions via telephone and schedule starting dates for orientation and driver school within a week of the final interview.
Insider Tips
Watch Videos: former UPS employees discuss working for the company.
UPS Driver Helper Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
UPS Driver Helper: I was a driver helper. Basically, you are with the driver and his route for the day, assisting in the package delivery, organization, and making sure everything is where it needs to be.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
UPS Driver Helper: You’re pretty much exposed to the elements, whether it’s a hot day, cold day, whatever it may be. You’re out there, you’re outside. You’re moving a lot, you’re lifting packages on and off the truck all day.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
UPS Driver Helper: My favorite part about was it’s just you and another person. It’s not really the whole coordination between a whole lot of different moving parts. It’s just you, the driver, the packages, and just kind of get the job done. It’s a partnership and real easy team effort.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
UPS Driver Helper: For the driver helper position, you usually have a set spot in the area where you meet your driver every day. And from there, you’re hitting him mid-route, just continue the rest of the day with him, and when you get to a neighborhood, he’ll give you packages to hit these houses while he’s over here doing this. So you’re working independently from him, until you run out of packages, and then just get back on the truck and go to the next area and just kind of repeat.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
UPS Driver Helper: For UPS, you usually have an online application. If you get accepted, you’ll be called in for orientation. It’s a group interview initially, so there’ll be 15-16 people sometimes. You get the background for what the position is. Then, if you decide to stay after being presented with all of that, you’ll be offered an individual interview. They pretty much ask about your job history and general things, like job history, interests, experience, anything that will be related to the organization or physical ability related to the job.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
UPS Driver Helper: Pretty much they just want to know that you can work with the driver, that you’re going to be kind of in that subordinate role, you can work under superiors, that you’re going to be able to lift over 75 pounds, that you kind of have your wits about you and the environment and the main focus, and that you’re cognitively capable of performing duties.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
UPS Driver Helper: I think initially I felt that I had a good interview and good organization. I think that’s really one of the biggest things they were looking for, that you’re organized and that you have experience working with other people. Because if you’re very introverted, then it’ll be kind of difficult to have that partner relationship with you and the driver. That’s what they’re really looking for is that kind of extrovert personality that you’re able to get out of yourself. That’s kind of what helped me get the position.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
UPS Driver Helper: I think for anyone looking for a job with UPS as the driver helper position, really be prepared to work rain, shine, whatever it may be – because whether or not the weather is good or bad, you’re going to be out there regardless. It’s really about physical preparedness. Working in the winter sometimes and if you don’t have your gloves, you’re going to be freezing all day. It’s really about being prepared, but it’s nothing too difficult or too daunting. It really is a fun experience if you go about it in the right way.
UPS Package Handler Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
UPS Package Handler: I was an inbound package handler. We took boxes into the truck. Basically, all we did was load them into the truck.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
UPS Package Handler: The environment is going to be the elements of outside. It could be very cold in there, or it could be very hot in there. You better watch out because there’s a lot of things you can bump your elbows and knees on.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
UPS Package Handler: A typical workday, you go in, I guess you wait until the belts come on. Once you’re in your truck, boxes begin to come in. You just load them up as so. The boxes will probably start off pretty slow, then the volume will pick up. Then you’ll work a little bit harder.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
UPS Package Handler: As you start off, it’s always good to know somebody there. I actually had a friend who worked there. Basically, you just go online, fill out your application. Maybe a couple weeks or so they’ll give you a call. Come in for the interview. Then they give you an overview as well. That lasts about a few days, to go in there and watch the videos. After that you’re training with someone in the truck. Someone else is actually helping you load the boxes in the truck. After they feel that you’ve got the hang of, because there’s kind of a technique to stacking the boxes, once you get the technique down it’s pretty simple. Then they just leave you on your own.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
UPS Package Handler: They asked, obviously, if you can lift at least 50 pounds, because the boxes are pretty heavy. Some actually are more than 50 pounds. There’s obviously, “What’s your schedule look like?” “Are you working part time? Full time?”
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
UPS Package Handler: My determination, because I was in school while I was doing this. If you’re a dedicated worker that would probably be the best way to be distinguished.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
UPS Package Handler: If need a good part-time job, UPS probably could work out because the hours are reasonable. The workload’s a little heavy, so you’ve got to be prepared to work if you’re really going to go there. You can’t really be too lazy. I guess it’s a pretty secure job. So long as you just continue doing your job, you can move up. If you’re looking for some kind of advancement then it actually would be pretty good too.
UPS Call Center Associate Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
UPS Call Center Associate: With UPS, I basically just worked customer service; did a lot of phone and working with people who couldn’t track their package. It’s just basically very simple. “Hi, thank you for calling UPS. This is Kayla. How may I help you?” So, that kind of person.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
UPS Call Center Associate: It was fine. It was just kind of like a call center kind of thing. Yeah, you know, your supervisor walking around making sure everything’s okay – “You got any issues?” – mainly just to make sure people weren’t texting or doing something they’re not supposed to be doing during the time. Sometimes, it was very slow. Other nights or other days, it was very fast.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
UPS Call Center Associate: Working for UPS, my favorite part, basically my job. It was because it was so simple and it wasn’t like I had to get dressed up or anything like that. It was just really relaxed environment. Being a college student, I think if you’re going to class you don’t want to be in a suit and tie, so you can just go to class, go to work, and then be done. It wasn’t, I think, where you had to make sure you looked… I mean, you had to be presentable anyways, but you didn’t have to look like… you weren’t in front of people, in front of customers. You were just over the phone.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
UPS Call Center Associate: The interview process for me, because I was in customer service – have I ever worked in customer service before, which I had. Basically, you know, how would you handle this situation? Like, they might give you a mock phone call kind of thing. Really nothing besides the general questions about yourself and the company, they’d explain a lot of things to you and mostly, like them telling you things about the company and what you’d be doing, your job duties, and if you feel like you can do that or not.
Interviewer: Did you earn any benefits or other job perks?
UPS Call Center Associate: Working at UPS, I know, like my position and because I was temporary help, like I said I was hired for, which was fine. I know UPS has offered tuition assistance for those who work in the warehouse. I have friends who actually take it, you know, work at UPS and love that part about the company. UPS is very supportive of college students, thus again tuition reimbursement. After you work there for a year, you can get healthcare benefits and paid vacation time, which I think is great for college students to be able to get, because they usually don’t get that until they get into like their big job after graduation. So, they’re a company about their workers and taking care of the workers, and making sure their workers are advancing in their personal life.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
UPS Call Center Associate: Applying for UPS, I think you want to check, like see what job opportunities they have, because there’s different departments, and see what you feel would work best for you. If you’re not good on a phone, you could also work in the warehouse and do a lot of packaging, things like that or vice versa. If you know you can’t lift heavy things, you might want to do clerical work. And interviewing for UPS, again, when you go apply, dress nicely because they might interview you on the spot, which is nice, but it can be a shock to some people and they don’t feel prepared. Know a little about the company, too. That always helps.
UPS Truck Loader Interview Video 2
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
UPS Truck Loader: My job title was a truck loader, and I loaded and unloaded large boxes off of freight trucks.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
UPS Truck Loader: The atmosphere, it was very crowded, very busy, fast-paced.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
UPS Truck Loader: I did the application online. The interview process was… first, you go in. They go over the application that they pulled offline, and then they schedule you to come back, and you might be in a 40-minute, I would call it maybe a, training session just right off. If you make it through that, then that tells you whether if you are going to be hired or not.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
UPS Truck Loader: What they want to know… if you’re in good physical condition, because you do lift boxes more than 30 pounds, so they want to know if you’re physically able to lift real heavy things. That seems to be the question that comes up a lot there, because they want to make sure daily that you are able to do that work.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
UPS Truck Loader: I would tell them if you’re planning on working at UPS, be strong minded. Be in your best physical condition, because it’s going to take it. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very physical, so when you are ready to go to UPS, be ready to work.
laura says:
how long does it take for ups to call you back after the interview? THey just said they were going to check everybodys background check>
Jeanremyfleurimond says:
Im seeking a UPS application job driver position service. What does the UPS job interview process involve?
Robby Spires says:
While UPS employs a lot of drivers and advertise open positions all the time, it is important to know that we do not hire drivers off the street. I have been employed at UPS for over ten years and can count on one hand the drivers I know that were hired off the street. Those few people have had influential family at UPS or in the union. Most, like myself, start as a college hire throwing packages. At the risk of sounding like a jerk, I always laugh when I hear people state they “Applied at UPS as a driver” only to find out they have never worked for UPS. Those people have no clue how this place works. If you are not a college student you will likely not get hired at all. If you are a college student and need a job, apply. Just be sure NOT to over dress for the interview / informational meeting. I have known a lot of good people over looked for a job because they looked to polished. This is a rough and dirty job; no suit and tie please. UPS can be a good place to work, but don’t come here with the idea that you will start as a driver or even be full-time for that matter. If you have completed a college or vocational school driving course (NOT ROADMASTER TYPE DRIVING SCHOOLS!!) you may very well get hired to drive… AFTER you have worked dock for 6-12 months. Regular hires, may take years and years to become a driver here. Currently, UPS is struggling to figure out the future due to problems in their benefits system. In past years, companies like Swift Transportation and others have been contracted to pull over flows rather than hire additional drivers. Swift will hire and train you; earn 25 cents a mile and home 34 hours every two weeks. I hope this helps to dispel some myths about the UPS hiring process.
gerard says:
Does UPS Store drug test? And how?
Susie A says:
Going in for a part time supervisors position online testing this AM… I am So nervous. mathematics my downfall even if we are able to use a calculator. I seem to always over antalize online questions and blow it for myself each time. I have the skills, I have the knowledge, But those online entry consistency /math questions blow my mind. Any advice?
Felipe Sanchez says:
Does UPS drug test part time seasonal workers during peak season once they are already hired? I already got the job I’m just wondering if their going to do random testing
CHRISTINA LOPEZ says:
What types of I.D.s and info do you need at your interview?..