LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With Black Friday around the corner, Kentucky shipping and fulfillment companies are hiring in the thousands to keep up with the demand of holiday peak season.
“So we are processing literally millions of units in orders every day of the year and ten times those volumes in our peak period,” said Paul Papoutsis, Director of Operations of Radial.
Papoutsis said the e-commerce fulfillment center will hire approximately 8,500 staff between its operations in Louisville and Northern Kentucky.
Bill Geiger, the Workforce Planning Manager at UPS in Louisville, he’s looking to add approximately 2,000 seasonal workers. To boost the number hired, UPS hosted Brown Friday on November 1.
“Ideally, I’d like everyone to start by November 25 so we can roll right through Christmas season,” Geiger said.
Wes Bradley doesn’t hire for UPS or Radial, but the staffing and temp agency he works for, Kelly Services, hires seasonal workers for up to 50 Kentucky companies, from call centers to warehouses.
“It’s been tough compared to years past. It’s definitely been more of a challenge, based on the tight employment market,” Bradley, the Midwest Recruiting Manager for Kelly Services, said. Kentucky’s latest unemployment rate is 4.4 percent.
“Competition is pretty fierce and companies have to just do a little bit extra to stand out from the crowd,” Bradley said.
Papoutsis said while this year is a challenge, Radial will meet its hiring goals. The company pays up to $15 per hour and added something new for the 2019 season to stay competitive.
“Overtime is typically time and a half and so we’ve upped that anti and we’re going double-time,” Papoutsis told Spectrum News 1.
Geiger said UPS Louisville will also meet its hiring numbers. The hourly pay is $14 to $21, depending on the position. Plus, for 2019, Geiger said a $150 a week attendance bonus was added.
“So really we have a very attractive package in a very competitive environment, I think,” Geiger said.
Bradley said other factors also attract seasonal workers, besides pay.
“Companies that are a little bit easier to recruit for are those that have good reputations and have engagement programs and great work environments,” Bradley explained.
Papoutsis said Radial offers a flexible shift structure, and the company prides itself on creating a fun environment where people want to work.
Future opportunity is another incentive.
“I personally started as a part-time package handler and have worked my way up,” said Geiger.
With the demand high for workers, Bradley explained that candidates have an advantage. He recommends applicants use that position wisely.
“And what I mean by that is not just taking the job that is the highest pay,” he recommended. He potential employees to look at other factors, such as the job duties and location, to decide which job is the best fit for them.
Despite the competition, applicants still need to put their best foot forward. Here are some tips from Bradley when applying:
- Create and submit a professional resume
- Don’t submit the same resume to every job.
- Each resume should be tailored to the specific job.
- Pay attention to the job post to help customize a resume.
- A recruiter doesn’t want to see everything one has done in their career. They want to see specifics that relate to the job they are hiring for.
Bradley also recommends taking advantage of the opportunity once hired.
“Anytime you can get in front of a hiring manager, a supervisor, and show your work ethic and show your skills, that’s an opportunity to kind of create something [of] your own and start a career,” Brandley said.
Links to apply to the companies mentioned above:
- Radial
- UPS