What is your impression of the job thus far? Is it what you thought it would be? Is this something you would want to do (driver) for 30 years (or more)? Is your opinion of UPS drivers the same as it was before starting the job or has "walking the walk" changed that opinion?
I like the job thus far. However, the first week was pretty brutal. I expected it to be a physical job but I underestimated how much running/walking/stair climbing I'd be doing. My feet hurt, I kept getting random cuts and scrapes on my hands, and I was sore in muscles that I didn't even know existed. Plus I was never trained to use the board and it was a frustrating at times to learn it on the go. By the start of week two the pain subsided and I became confident with the board. Ever since then I've really enjoyed the job. People are always really friendly when they see me, and I kind of feel like a kid again when I'm running through yards to deliver packages.
I could possibly see myself enjoying being a driver for 30 years. I've got it easy right now though. I can tell that there's a lot more stress involved with being a driver. Plus I can't even imagine what the job is like on a hot July day or during constant rain in April or in winter snowstorms. After "walking the walk" for just a few weeks I already have a lot more respect for the UPS Driver. Like most people I never thought about it much. I thought it was just some la di da drive a truck walk a package to the door job but now I see it's hard work. Also I'm pretty amazed by how much these guys know about their routes. They know every person's last name already (and usually first too). They know what time people are usually home, what kind of car they drive, how long it'll take them to answer the door, whether or not they have a dog, whether or not that dog is aggressive, specific places each person wants their packages delivered, and the list goes on. It's cool to see the relationships they've built with people in just the brief interactions they get with them every couple of days. Sometimes it seems more like the guys are old college buddies instead of UPS Driver and resident. Anyways I think I might be starting to ramble so I'll end it here.