How to Become a Mailman

If you want a career that pays well, has job security and great benefits, then a job with the postal service may be just the career field for you. If you become a mailman, you will be responsible for delivering the mail.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Understand that if you become a mailman, you will be working for the federal government. Postal employees enjoy great benefits including regular raises in pay, paid vacations and sick leave, and life and health insurance.

2. Decide to be patient during the process of applying to become a mailman. It can take up to 2 years or longer to get hired. The process begins with a postal exam.

3. Check with your local post office. They can tell you the date of the next postal exam. You'll be provided with a phone number to call for an application to take the exam. You'll be notified by mail of the date, time and place for the exam.

4. Prepare and study for the postal exam. You'll receive a practice booklet in the mail. It's also a good idea to purchase a study book from your local bookstore to help you prepare. You must achieve a score of at least 70 percent in order to pass. The higher your score, the faster you'll get hired.

5. Make sure you can handle a bag of mail weighing up to 70 pounds. You'll be given a physical examination, including a drug test.

6. Ensure that you have a valid driver's license. A safe driving record is required as well. Some mailmen in the city deliver mail on foot. Many must drive a mail truck. If applying for a position that requires driving, you'll have to pass the Postal Service road test.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your local bookstore or library for a book called "Master the Postal Exams" by John Gosney and Dawn Rosenberg McKay, published by Thomson Peterson's.