John Gordon ’20, M’21 experienced Covid-related hardships this summer, like many of us. He became a Double Warrior shortly after graduating, giving him the time needed to further develop his career skills. But thanks to his extensive work experience, John was able to land a full-time HR internship with UPS in September. Today, he joins us to discuss the Double Warrior experience, his time at UPS, and what skills he’s learned to prioritize.
DAN ROUSSEL: John, congrats on your HR internship with UPS, and thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about the hiring process, and what you’re doing in your role?
JOHN GORDON: Thank you! I found this position through Indeed and was able to apply online with my resume. I then received a phone call to come in for an interview. When I arrived for the interview, there were also four other candidates that were being interviewed for the same position; I had to make sure that I stood out from them. The interview was done by two HR representatives from UPS, and it went very well!
In this role, I oversee the hiring process for personal vehicle drivers. I interview and select candidates for hire, then coordinate start dates and provide training to these new drivers. I also assist in hiring other roles such as package handlers and driver helpers. It’s given me a lot of great experience.
I’m glad you were able to find this valuable position, since you started this internship in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. How has that affected your experience? Did Covid disrupt your internship search in the summer?
Yes, the Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected my job search. I spent many months looking for full time employment, but unfortunately couldn’t find a position. So, rather than keep looking, I decided to further invest in myself by becoming a Double Warrior and found my internship with UPS. This has allowed me to further develop my skillset with soft skills like time management, multitasking, and maintaining confidentiality. I’ve also been able to work on more specific skills such as customer service and scheduling. Hopefully this will help me find a permanent position in the near future.
As you develop that skillset, what’s surprised you about the internship?
How fast paced it can be! I can hire many candidates in a day. As an example: today, I hired five candidates for UPS. The ability to multitask is very important! It’s necessary to meet the hiring plans for each week and each position. While you may be hiring many candidates at once, you still need to be focused on if the candidate has the correct qualifications for the position. This includes their availability, work experience and drive of the individual.
You mentioned being a Double Warrior earlier; how is that program setting you up for success?
Through my program, I have been able to further develop my skillset part-time while working full-time with UPS. I was also already familiar with the different resources available, such as the O’Brien Center, Academic Success Center and more.
During my undergraduate time, I met with my career advisor, Katie Fell, multiple times to develop both my resume and cover letters. This provided me with a great opportunity to learn, and to develop my network to open up more opportunities.
That’s great that you made so much of the resources on campus! What advice would you give fellow students? And do you have any shoutouts?
Some advice I would give to students: be open to different opportunities, as you never know what the future holds for you.
Shoutout to my sister Jenna! She’s a sophomore at Merrimack, and she’s been working very hard in her classes.
That’s so wholesome; I love it! Thank you again, John, and best of luck with the rest of your internship!
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Are you ready to secure an internship or employment for the fall and beyond? The O’Brien Center for Career Development is here to help you! Visit Handshake today to search for open opportunities, meet with your career advisor, and more.
