Shipt Is Hiring 50,000 More Shoppers Ahead of the Holidays
Grocery stores and delivery companies have seen a massive surge in demand throughout the pandemic — and especially so for grocery-delivery companies. Shipt, an app-based grocery-delivery service owned by Target, plans for that surge to continue the rest of the year.
To meet increased holiday demand, the company is recruiting 50,000 new shoppers nationwide. That’s in addition to the 100,000 shoppers it hired in October.
“We’re excited to add even more shoppers to the community and reward them for their work in helping American families prepare for holiday meals, delight loved ones with gifts and everything in between,” Shipt CEO Kelly Caruso said in the hiring announcement.
Shopping gigs are available across the country, but shoppers are especially needed in certain major metro areas: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Minneapolis-St.Paul area, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Shipt operates across more than 5,000 U.S. cities, reaching an estimated 80% of all households, according to the company.
Shopping Gigs at Shipt
With traditional job opportunities shrinking, many Americans are relying on flexible delivery work in the gig economy. Like most popular gig apps, Shipt provides 1099 independent contractor positions that have a very low barrier to entry.
No working experience or resume are needed. You will need to meet a few requirements, though:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You need a valid U.S. driver’s license and proper auto insurance.
- You own (or have consistent access to) a reliable vehicle from 1997 or newer.
- You can lift or carry 40 pounds.
- You have an iPhone or Android that runs on a recent operating system.
To get started as a shopper, apply online. The recruitment process is completely virtual.
As a shopper, you will receive orders through the Shipt app. Using your own vehicle, you’ll drive to the grocery or convenience store, shop for the order and communicate with the customer for any substitutes and then deliver the haul to the customer’s door — now contactless during the pandemic.
Shipt does not provide a minimum wage. Instead, pay is based on a per-order basis, not per-hour. Its website states that shoppers can earn up to $22 per hour, though that’s not realistic in all areas. According to dozens of self-reported wages on Glassdoor, shoppers typically make between $10 and $17 an hour. Wages are largely dependent on your location and tips.
As an independent contractor, you won’t qualify for benefits.
Shipt’s latest hiring blitz adds to the slew of jobs available this holiday season. The Penny Hoarder tallied more than 700,000 seasonal job openings at major employers.
Adam Hardy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. He covers the gig economy, remote work and other unique ways to make money. Read his latest articles here, or say hi on Twitter @hardyjournalism.
