Editor's note: This story was updated with new information from UPS . (Oct. 9, 2023)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The holidays are quickly approaching and UPS is seeking more employees to get through the season. 

31-year-old Alex O’Daniel has worked for UPS for the last 13 years. He started out as a package handler in 2010.

“I started really two weeks out of high school. As soon as I graduated high school, I started two weeks later,” said O’Daniel.

Now he is a talent acquisition manager and his team looking to hire thousands of employees for the busy holiday season.

“Here locally, we are looking to hire more than 2,600 seasonal employees. Now throughout the U.S., UPS is going to recruit and hire over 100,000 this peak season,” said O’Daniel.

That’s down from last year’s seasonal hiring needs by about a thousand. However, every year at this time, UPS still has to increase its staff to properly serve the community.

“Every year for our peak season, volume projections go through the roof and goes a lot higher than what we’re typically used to. So because of that, that requires additional workforce,” he said. 

O’Daniel said they are hiring many positions with an application process that takes approximately 20 minutes.

“We’re really just looking for someone that’s going to work hard and is going to be able to commit to the schedule. We have something for everybody, whether it’s a package handler or a driver,” O’Daniel said.

O’Daniel worked his way up the ranks and although he was never a seasonal employee, he said, it’s possible for some of this year’s seasonal employees to do the same.

“Some seasonal positions can lead to a permanent position, but that’s going to, you know, be on a case by case and it varies also by year,” he said. 

Applications can be found on UPS’ website.