camperforce newsletter february 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Camper
Check
List
Once hired, contact the
Campground of your
choice from our
approved listing to
make reservations as
soon as possible.
If necessary, obtain
education verification
and forward to your
CamperForce Team.
Welcome to the Amazon
CamperForce Program!
We’re excited about your
decision to join us for this
upcoming holiday season.
If you’re wondering
“what’s next?” we hope
you’ll find the answers
here. The CamperForce
“Veteran” as well as the
“Newbie” will find
valuable information as
we progress towards this
“Peak” season at Amazon.
Help us help you by
letting us know what
information you would
like to see. Our general
email address for all three
sites is:
Once again, Welcome!
As we grow the CamperForce
program, so are our processes
and expectations. In order to do
a better job at setting
expectations, put people in the
correct job functions, and in-
crease candidate experience,
we’re asking all returners to go
back through an abbreviated
interview process. This will help
you understand our needs and
help us to understand yours. For
Returners, we’re asking you to
contact the site of your choice to
advise them of your interest as
well as receive information on
how to apply. Once you’ve
applied we’ll contact you for a
short telephone interview. Once
the interview is complete and the
job offer accepted you’ll want to
make sure and contact the
campground of your choice from
our list of participating
campgrounds and make reserva-
tions..
PROCESS PATH OF THE MONTH: PICKING
Each month, we’ll focus on a different CamperForce process path. This month we’ll cover
Picking. Pickers receive information on their hand-held scanners regarding customer
orders. The Picker is directed by the scanner to a particular bin location to “pick” or re-
trieve the customer order. The Picker uses the hand-held scanner to remove the item
from the bin inventory and then places the item in a “tote” and places on the conveyor
system for further processing. All pictures in this issue highlight this process path.
Welcome to the Amazon CamperForce
Program
I N S I D E
T H I S I S S U E
Welcome 1
Contact Info 2
News from
the Sites
3
Meet the
Teams
5
On The Road 6
CamperForce
Comments
8
Around the
Campfire
9
What’s New about the Application Process for 2013?
Amazon CamperForce Newsletter
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1
P A G E 2
Our Mission:
“To be Earth's
most customer-
centric company
where people can
find and discover
anything they want
to buy online.”
The hand-held scanner
directs the picker to the
bin correct location.
Important Contact Information
CamperForce Benefits
If You’re New to the Amazon CamperForce program
If you are new to the Amazon
CamperForce program we’ll
ask you to contact the site of
your choice to indicate your
interest as well as receive
instruction on how to apply..
Once you’ve applied, we’ll
contact you for a telephone
interview. After the interview
and if the conditional job offer
is extended and accepted,
we’ll ask you to provide proof
of High School or GED
completion. Amazon requires
each of its Associates to
possess that minimum
standard. That proof can take
several forms: a copy of a
diploma, a school transcript
verifying attendance, or a GED
diploma or certificate. If you
did not have the chance to
finish High School, Amazon has
a program where you can
obtain your GED certificate at
no charge or cost to you.
Contact your CamperForce
Team for more information.
We’ll also ask you to contact
one of our participating
campgrounds and make
reservations for your stay.
Amazon does not make
campground reservations for
you, so you’ll want to contact
them as soon as possible. We’ll
pay for your campground
beginning 2 days prior to your
scheduled arrival and one day
following your scheduled
departure. Once you’ve made
reservations, contact your
CamperForce Team and let
them know where you've
made your reservations.
Amazon offers some of the best work camping jobs
out there!
We offer:
Paid Campsites
Great Pay
Employee Discounts
Completion Bonuses
Coffeyville Campbellsville Fernley
2654 N. Highway 169 1050 S. Columbia Ave. 1600 E. Newlands Drive
Coffeyville, KS 67337 Campbellsville, KY 42718 Fernley, NV 89408
(620) 464-2265 (270) 849-2604 (775)-575-8045
(206) 922-5813 fax (270) 849-2701 fax (206) 922–5818 fax
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Work hard. Have fun. Make history
A M A Z O N C A M P E R F O R C E N E W S L E T T E R
Then the
Scanner directs
the Picker to the
next bin
location.
News From Each Site
Campbellsville Corner P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1
Peak 2012 was another great experience as
our facility broke records and set many new
ones. Once again, this uniquely diverse
group, the CamperForce, was a big reason
why we were so successful! Many, many
thanks to the hundreds of you who made it
all possible!
As we begin the process of preparing for
Peak 2013, some changes are in the works
while other processes are still the same. Just
as last year, Start Dates will be finalized later
in the year, probably very close to Septem-
ber/October. We’ll let you know as soon as
possible. As many of you know who have
asked for specific jobs and shifts in the past,
we’ll make every effort to accommodate
your request, but we ask for your under-
standing as well. Jobs/Shifts are assigned
based upon business needs at the time of
your arrival. In other words, there may
be a more critical need for you to be
placed in a different job or shift than the
one you requested based on customer
demand. If you want to be placed on the
same shift as other friends, it’s best for
you and your friends to plan to arrive
together for the same start date. That
way, it’s much easier to place you to-
gether. This year we’ll ask you once
again to be like Gumby! One of the
greatest attributes of our
CamperForce associates is their
willingness to be flexible! Thanks to
you, we’re able to staff areas where
the need exists on a moments’ notice
so our customers are satisfied. One
thing that will not change is our com-
mitment to making the CamperForce
program as successful as it can be! The
CamperForce team here at
Campbellsville is excited as we begin
preparations for yet another peak
season here at Amazon where once
again we’ll “Work Hard, Have Fun, and
Make History!”
are in for a treat, we have great activities if you love the indoors or the great outdoors. Fernley is just an hour and 30 minutes from the beautiful Lake Tahoe which is breathtaking during any season and 35 minutes from Reno which has all the casi-no and attraction entertainment you could want. Fernley has a peaceful small town feel with local flair and beauty. In September, Reno holds the Great Reno Air
Hello to all our interested candidates for Fernley Peak Season 2013! Your points of contact for Fernley, NV are Heather Maye and Mirna Bogdanovic. We can be reached at [email protected] .We are excited to start the planning for our next peak and cannot wait to reach out to our interested candidates. If you have not been to Northern Nevada, you
Balloon Races, the world renowned Air Races, and a giant food festival called the rib cook-off. We hope to see you during peak season 2013!
while. I worked in Crisplant for
approximately 2 years and was
fortunate enough in September of
2012 to get the opportunity to
join Amazon HR and start working
with the CamperForce program.
Sherri Vega is a Sr. HR Business
Partner here in Coffeyville. Sherri
joined Amazon in October 2012
and we are fortunate to have her working on
the CamperForce program. She jumped in with
both feet at the end of the 2012 peak season
and brings a great deal of HR experience to the
program.
Sherri and I are both excited to be a part of
CamperForce and are looking forward to the
upcoming season! We consider this a rebuilding
year and are working very aggressively to
ensure you have an awesome experience in
2013.
Hello Campers!
I want to take this opportunity to
introduce our Coffeyville
CamperForce points of contact for
2013. My name is Michael Cross
and I have been with Amazon
since September 2010. I came to
Coffeyville as a camper and
decided to stick around for a
Coffeyville Chronicle
Fernley News Flash
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 4
Amazon Acronyms If you are new to the Amazon CamperForce program we want to help you become familiar with the language we speak!
There are some words we use that have very specific meanings and can seem like a foreign language. We’ll introduce them
to you now, so when you arrive you can speak like a true Amazonian!
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): The Fulfillment Center is an industrial work environment, where safety is our num-
ber one responsibility. PPE is a term used to describe the equipment, such as gloves, safety vests, safety glasses, and other
items used to protect our associates. You’ll be briefed on the safety precautions and be issued the PPE needed for you to
safely do your job.
AM (Area Manager): The Area Manager is the supervisor responsible for production in a specific process path. Each area
(Receive, Stow, Picking, etc.) has an Area Manager assigned. The Area Manager is the person you’ll see daily leading the
“Start Up” meetings at the beginning of each shift, as well as after your lunch break. He / She will provide information spe-
cific to your shift and department, as well as keeping you informed about our production progress.
Referrals
Did you know that Amazon paid out thousands of dollars last year in Referral Bonuses? The process is very simple:
1. To refer a potential candidate, please fill out the referral form you received in your new hire packet and return it via email or fax to the location you’ll be working at this season
2. You are eligible for a referral bonus when you refer a potential candidate that hasn’t previously worked for Amazon before and is not currently interviewing for an open position.
3. If the candidate you refer is hired and indicates during the interview process that you referred them, you will re-ceive a $50 bonus after the new associate has worked for Amazon.com for 30 days. You must completely fill out the CamperForce Referral Form at the time of referral and be employed by Amazon.com at the time the referral is eligible to be paid in order to receive the bonus.
4. Employees involved in the hiring decisions are not eligible for a referral bonus.
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 5
2013 CamperForce Team
We’d like to introduce you to our team!
Pamela Petruschke
National Program Manager – Amazon CamperForce
Hello everyone! I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Pamela Petruschke and in 2013, I moved into the role of Program Manager for
the Amazon CamperForce Program. Prior to taking on this role, I worked for Amazon as the Recruiting Manager for US & Canada in hiring
all Area Managers and Operations Managers for NAFC Operations.
Prior to Amazon, I was the North & South Americas Director of Recruiting for The Body Shop, a subsidiary of L’Oreal and my most recent
experience in retail and fulfillment centers. I have worked in many different industries, from insurance to biotechnology, real estate to
avionics. I love working at Amazon because there is always something new and exciting to look forward to as we grow and grow.
In the months to come I look forward to traveling and meeting as many CamperForce associates as I can. Please join us on Facebook as
we will be posting all kinds of new information there – you will also receive this information in your newsletters for those of you who
don’t have Facebook access. You can contact me at [email protected] at any time with questions or comments.
Let’s have a spectacular 2013!
Coffeyville, Kansas CamperForce Team
Sherri Vega Michael Cross
Sr. HR Business Partner CamperForce Administrator
[email protected] [email protected]
620-464-2665
Fernley, Nevada CamperForce Team
Mirna Bogdanovic
HR Business Partner
775-575-8045
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 6
Campbellsville, Kentucky CamperForce Team
Ashley Graham Stephanie Clenney Jenifer Carney Kelly Calmes
Sr. HR Business Partner CamperForce Admin CamperForce Admin CamperForce Admin
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (270) 849-2561 (270) 849-2657 (270) 849-2602
CamperForce On The Road Florida RV SuperShow—Tampa, Fl.
It was great for the CamperForce Team to hit the road and revisit with our CamperForce friends as well as meeting
hundreds of folks who stopped by to learn more about the Amazon CamperForce Program! We look forward to hearing
from you!
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 7
CamperForce On The Road Quartzsite RV Show—Quartzsite, Az.
If you visited Quartzsite, we hope you stopped by to say hello to us. We attended this event to find new recruits for all of
our CamperForce locations. With the attendance this year at about 150,000 we talked to literally thousands of attendees
and found lots and lots of new interested campers. For all of our veteran CamperForce folks, we hope you are talking up
our opportunities everywhere you go and sending those referrals into us by the fistfuls!
We also got to meet Andy, arguably the most mellow Chihuahua we’ve ever met. The dry wind in AZ was causing him eye
problems so his human bought him these fabulous (and helpful) doggie goggles. He gets voted “Most Stylish Pup”!
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 8
CamperForce Comments
Here’s a few comments from our CamperForce associates regarding their
2012 Amazon experiences:
“A rejuvenating, high intensity experience with lots of fascinating people. What could be better?” “Communication from HR was wonderful - the fruit and cookies were so nice!”
“Everyone is friendly and glad to see us when we arrive!”
“You kept your word - I worked hard, had fun and made history!”
“Everyone was very upbeat and positive “
“Enjoyed our experience, no hidden surprises”
“Impressive operation! Managed workflow well and kept associates engaged. Good Metric management.”
“Appreciate the personal attention in training! Very friendly to camper workers. You made us feel welcome
at Amazon.”
“My experience at Amazon was very rewarding and enjoyable.”
“How better to add to retirement income and meet new friends??”
“Maintained a professional environment yet encouraged a friendly atmosphere under pressure situations.”
“Felt useful and appreciated. Good communication, incentives and rewards.”
“This is such a wonderful opportunity for those of us who roam full-time. Thank you for offering us so much! I look forward to returning
for many years to come!”
“Pay is good, site paid for and we have always had fun even though we worked hard. Have made
many new friends, both with campers and fulltime employees.”
“Great place to work. Atmosphere is good. People are great. Good place to make money in a short period of time.”
“Organization and everything was very upfront and transparent. Very enthusiastic and
friendly workamper staff.”
“It was refreshing to work with caring people.”
“Friendly staff. We feel very welcomed!”
“Thanks to the whole Amazon team. Everyone from management to PA’s to Ambassadors to regular
employees have been very nice. Great bunch to work with! “
“Listened to and acted on safety and other issues pointed out by campers. WE NEVER FELT LIKE OUTSIDERS.”
V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 1 P A G E 9
Okay CamperForce It’s time again to submit your biographies for our “Around the Campfire” page! Share your tips with our other CamperForce associates as well as those who will be joining us for the
first time this season.
What was that special “something” that helped you though your shift? Was it a particular pair of shoes, or maybe it was a suggestion that had been passed along by others? What are the reasons you come
back to Amazon? Is it the friendships you’ve developed in the work camping community or is it a great place to work before settling in for the winter? Over the course of the last few years many have
learned tips that have helped other along. Here’s the place to share those tips and reasons you keep coming back with others!
Last season’s response to the “Around the Campfire” was overwhelming so we want to include it again this season. Please send us a photo, a SHORT (1 brief paragraph) bio including years/locations of
Amazon service along with your tips and suggestions for others. Each month we’ll feature a CamperForce associate (or couple) from each of our locations, Campbellsville, Coffeyville & Fernley!
Send those pictures and suggestions to:
We’ll see you next month around the campfire!
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 1 P A G E 1 0
Make Plans to Join Us in 2013!!
Peak 2012 was challenging but we made history as we set new records in
meeting our customer’s needs. Along the way, we had a little fun as well!
There’s a place for you at the CamperForce table this season!
More information about the Amazon CamperForce Program is available on
our Facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/amazoncamperforce