How to Apply for a Job at the Post Office
Though "going postal" might have some lingering negative connotations in the public perception, for thousands of Americans, deciding to work for the U.S. Postal Service was one of the best decisions they ever made. Federal government jobs provide reliable health and retirement benefits, as well as steady pay, overtime and holidays off. The broad range of jobs, from mail carrier to processor to clerk, means people with all kinds of skills can find their place at the Postal Service. About 40,000 postal workers are hired every year, with average starting pay of $20.94 per hour, or $43,555 per year, for part-time mail carriers in 2009. Mail handlers start at $15.65 per hour, or $32,553 per year, and clerks start at $19.19 per hour, or $39,915 per year.
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Instructions
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Meet the initial qualifications. Postal employees must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen or legal resident, possess a state driver's license, be able to pass a drug test and meet physical requirements. All employees must pass a vision and hearing test and must be able to carry out the duties of their position. Some positions have more strenuous physical requirements; mail carriers, for example, must be able to lift 70-lb. mail sacks.
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Check for "casual" work. The easiest Postal Service jobs to get are temporary part-time jobs called "casual" positions. These pay $9 to $12 per hour and are a good way to become oriented with the Postal Service, sometimes leading to full-time work. Postings for casual positions can be found at individual post offices and the USPS website.
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Search for vacancies online. Through the USPS website, linked below in the Resources section, potential hires can search postal job listings by region and job type. Each opening announcement that appears in the search results will contain information on how to apply for that particular position.
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Take the exam. The most challenging part of the process for most applicants is passing the postal exam. The entry level positions of city carrier, mail processing clerk, mail handler and sales, services, and distribution associate require passage of the 473 Postal Examination. The score on this exam will directly affect hiring and placement with the U.S. Postal Service.
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Tips & Warnings
While study books for the postal exam can be purchased or ordered online, most public libraries will have free resources for test prep.
Resources
- Photo Credit U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo
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Comments
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coolsrinath
May 10, 2009
Wonderful post. Gives a clear and detailed instruction and information about the jobs at the post office. Information about the starting pay and the pay for the part-time mail carriers, Mail handlers, clerks is noteworthy and will definitely help people to decide whether to apply for the job or not.Overall, the instructions how to apply for the job can't be clear than this. Thanks!.
