KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It's almost busy season for companies like UPS and FedEx. As they start their seasonal hiring, it'll be more important than ever for Americans struggling to find work.
Overland Park resident Paul Burnett said he has been unemployed since his job was eliminated in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You've got to keep taking each day for what it's worth and hope that one day you might get the phone call of, 'Hey, we want to hire you.' That's what I'm hoping for," Burnett said.
Burnett said he has been applying for jobs but he worries he needs more experience in his field to beat out the hundreds of others gunning for the same spot.
"Right now the applicant pool is huge so employers can be more selective on who they want to hire," Burnett said.
People like Burnett are just who companies like FedEx and UPS want to help with seasonal hiring.
UPS Human Resources Director Chelsea Allison said that company is currently hiring 1,000 seasonal workers in the Kansas City area.
"We have a flexible schedule, we have part-time and full-time work, there's so many different opportunities, we even have seasonal management opportunities as well for office work," Allison said.
Allison said more than a third of seasonal employees are later hired permanently.
"If you come to UPS even as a seasonal employee you have an opportunity to come back and work for us with a great wage, benefits and an opportunity for advancement," Allison said.
Allison said UPS has positions ranging from loading in the warehouse to delivering in a package car, helping a driver deliver or even delivering out of personal cars.
"Everything from $14.50 to $30 an hour, and we also have attendance bonuses for our inside jobs right now as well," Allison said.
FedEx expects to employ more than 1,300 seasonal workers at its ground facilities in the Kansas City, Lenexa, and Olathe areas.
Open positions are available for package handlers.
The company said many of its package handler positions become full-time positions in the future.
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