Meet Team UPS

Q&A with Sydnee

What attracted you to UPS?

Some HR managers came and spoke at my university in one of my classes. They talked a lot about the culture and history of UPS and how much its grown, which really piqued my interest. I mean everyone kind of knows who UPS is, but I didn't know those things. After the lecture, I went up and chatted with them about internship opportunities. At the end of the day, it was just the company culture, the opportunities, and knowing that people have been with UPS for a long time and they rise and grow. I love that.

At a high level, can you tell us about your internship role?

I am with the HR strategic planning team which oversees all of the HR functions. As an intern, I've been working on contributing to the building of our Academy—which is our database for training other HR professionals. It helps fill in the gaps of training and professional development when transitioning roles. I do content gathering, help with the general design, talk to people in all the departments, and collaborate with team members to decide the best layout for the website. I also get a lot of random things thrown at me, like communications work, just whatever the team needs.

What has your internship/co-op given you the opportunity to learn so far?

I'm better at building slide decks, writing emails, presenting, and a lot of little things that I’ve learned how to do more professionally. My internship has taught me to be more agile in the workplace, willing to pick up wherever it's needed or pivot and accept projects that I don't know everything about or that feel a little over my head. Those are kind of the keys to success—you don't always have to know everything or be super qualified, as long as you're willing to work and figure it out.

Share some tips for making the most of your UPS internship, such as networking with other interns and learning about the company's culture.

Number one, just be willing to network with anyone and everyone. I've talked to some people who work in departments that I'm not really interested in, but they have taught me something new that really opened my eyes. Secondly, accept projects that maybe aren't within your realm and figure it out—don't shy away from those opportunities. Number three, communicate with people when something is ambiguous. Go get the help that you need. Ask people. That is totally within your control. It sounds so simple but sometimes it feels hard to go talk to someone. People recognize when you are asking for help and taking ownership rather than just sitting and hoping you figure it out.

What do you enjoy the most about UPS’s company culture?

Among a lot of things, I think one of my favorite things culturally is just the genuine interest in every single person who works here. There's a collective sense that you're a valued employee. A lot of people feel that there are opportunities for them here and there are people looking out for them. People who have your best interest in mind and want to help you get there. It feels almost like family and I really like that.

What separates UPS's internship program from the other internship opportunities you looked into?

One of the first things I noticed about the internship was that it was different in a good way. It felt like they were asking me, “What do you want from us?” It didn't just feel like I'm interning here, it felt like I'm interviewing UPS as well. I’m learning the company, figuring out what I do and do not like, and seeing what kind of fit I can have here.