USPS jobs offer competitive pay, stable employment, and excellent insurance and retirement benefits. In recent years, the United States postal service has gone through more than one employment freeze, but still openings for rewarding jobs and careers exist. The process of applying for post office jobs involves a long process of submitting an application online, testing, and an interview. Exam and qualification requirements vary with each position.
A Few USPS Jobs and Careers
Mail carrier:
Full time USPS jobs for mail carrier are not always easy to obtain. A mail carrier usually starts off as a part time rural carrier, filling in for full time carriers or taking temporary work. Mail carrier post office jobs require the traditional mail man outfit to be worn at all times.
A carrier sorts mail for the route every morning and either uses the USPS truck, or a personal vehicle to deliver the mail. Mail is distributed and collected from residential homes and businesses, obtaining signatures where necessary. Mail carrier USPS jobs may also require loading and unloading mail from a vehicle. The benefit of the job is fresh air, daily exercise, and no direct supervision.
Mail handler:
Mail handler USPS jobs are labor intensive and require frequent lifting of heavy mail into trucks. The work hours vary, but most involve the night shift. If you have a problem lifting 70 lb packages, it's best not to apply for the job. A mail handler also operates a mail sorter. Mail handler post office jobs are expected to decrease in the future, due to automated sorting equipment replacing manual work.
Postal clerk:
Postal clerks deal directly with customers at the front desk. They sell stamps, post cards and office supplies. Clerks help customers track packages and approximate arrival times. USPS jobs for clerks require little physical labor, but it does involve frequent standing throughout the work day. Additional duties involve weighing packages for proper postage, filling out money orders, and dealing with customer claims.
Exams for Post Office Jobs
Most mail processing related USPS jobs require an exam and a passing exam score of at least 70 to qualify for a job. Each post office job has its own exam and qualification requirements. For example, mail carriers must pass a Civil Service Exam, or Carrier Exam, which is a timed memory test consisting of nearly 250 questions total. Since there are numerous types of exams, you'll need to visit the USPS website to find out specific exam requirements for the position you want.
It is also possible to find USPS employment without taking an exam. Some temporary workers are not required to take exams to get postal service jobs. Visit your post office, or ask in person about temporary work such as a rural carrier for example. A temporary position allows you to learn the job and eventually obtain a full time job in the future when an opportunity comes around.
Benefits of USPS Jobs
Post office jobs provide competitive pay, excellent overtime opportunities, pay raises, and great benefits through the federal government. USPS employment gets you the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which provides excellent coverage mostly paid by the post office. Postal service jobs also include the federal retirement program, sick leave, paid vacations, and several other benefits.
Applying for USPS Jobs
Find interesting openings for postal service jobs online and follow the directions for the application process. If you don't see USPS jobs of interest, check back every week for new openings. Consider part time work to get your foot in the door. Find out the exam requirements for the job.
Complete an online application for the post office job, and then apply for the exam as well. You might have to buy a practice exam, depending on the test. If you're taking the exam for mail carrier, you'll definitely need to order a copy of the practice exam because only 70% of applicants pass the test.
If you pass your postal service job exam, you'll have to pass a drug screening test. After passing the drug test, you'll be scheduled for an interview. The entire process for applying and obtaining post office jobs does not happen overnight and it could take months before you receive a call. However, applicants with the highest exam scores are the first to be contacted.
Sources
Federaljobs.net: "Post Office Jobs: Benefits" (Accessed January 7, 2011).
USPS.com: "Employment Requirements" (Accessed January 7, 2011).
Matt Goetz - Matt began freelance writing in 2007. Matt is a blogger and a freelancer writer for Demand Studios. He also runs a small residential house ...
