POST OFFICE JOBS INFORMATION
Explore and Find Jobs, Prepare for the 473 Postal Exam
and Locate ALL Post Office Job Opportunities

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

The mail carrier and clerk occupations that are presented here are excerpted from Chapter Three of "Post Office Jobs."  The job descriptions provided in Chapter Nine show the tremendous diversity that the U.S. Postal Service, a Fortune 500 company, offers. Many of these jobs are first offered to qualified postal employees. Anyone interested in these jobs should consider taking the 473 Battery Test or any one of the other tests administered by the Postal Service to get their foot in the door. Over half of all Postal Service workers began their career as a mail carrier or clerk after taking and passing an entrance exam.

For the majority of jobs, Postal Service employees get the first opportunity to bid (apply for) vacancies through what is called an internal merit promotion program. If the hiring manager determines that an insufficient pool of qualified applicants exists or no qualified bidders (applicants) are selected for a vacancy, the agency advertises the job to the general public on their web site and through classified ads. They also post job announcements at hiring postal facilities. Not all jobs are filled through written exams. A number of jobs, including corporate and professional positions, are advertised direct to the public. Resumes and the PS Form 2591 ( Application for Employment) are accepted.

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The job description for general delivery occupations is included here. The major Postal Service occupational job descriptions, over 30 total, are included in Chapter Three and Nine of  Post Office Jobs by Dennis V. Damp.  Chapter Three includes a comprehensive review of the Nature of work, working conditions, employment, training and other qualifications, advancement potential, job outlook, earnings, and related occupations. You can visit your local Library's Reference Department to review this informative book, call 1-800-782-7424 to order a copy by phone or order on-line.

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PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION & DELIVERY POSITIONS

General Qualifications:

A qualification for postal employment is to be drug-free. This is determined through the use of a urinalysis drug screen. Applicants who qualify on the examination and are in the area of consideration for employment will be scheduled for the drug test. All applicants will be required to take a written examination. The examination and completion of forms will require approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

At the time of the examination, the applicant may select any or all of the seven different jobs listed below.

Job Choices:

CITY CARRIER
CLERK
DIST. CLERK, MACHINE
FLAT SORTING MACH. OPER.
MAIL HANDLER
MAIL PROCESSOR
MARK UP CLERK

How to Apply:

Visit our "Resource" page for direct links to the Postal Services recruiting site and phone numbers. If you call you must first have the announcement number to apply by phone. You can now apply on-line for many entrance exams.

Applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination and will be sent material to prepare for the examination.

CITY CARRIER AND CLERK

The Jobs:

Clerks work indoors sorting and distributing mail. They may be required to work with the public selling stamps and weighing parcels, and are responsible for all money and stamps. May include irregular hours.

City Carriers collect and deliver mail in all kinds of weather, and walk and/or drive on their route.

Carrier and clerk positions require prolonged standing, walking, reaching and the ability to lift 70 pounds. Carriers are also required to carry a mail bag weighing as much as 35 pounds.

For positions requiring driving, applicants must have a valid state driver's license and a safe driving record. They must be able to obtain a Government Motor Vehicle Operator's Identification Card.

Applicants must have a vision of 20/40 (Snellen) in one eye and the ability to read without strain, printed material the size of typewritten characters, glasses permitted. Clerks working with the public must be able to hear the conversational voice.

Copyright © 2005 Bookhaven Press LLC
Last modified: 06/18/08