I want to work for the USPS

Improvolone

I want to work for the post office.
I like the idea of working for the city, they seem to have well paid entry level positions, there is room for advancement, good benefits, job security (lets face it, USPS isn't going anywhere), and it seems like something I can enjoy.

So where do I start? I've found out that some of the post offices in my area are hiring, and my prospective googling shows that there is a test that I need to take. I'm not even sure whats on the test, is there a book for it that I can buy?

I have a college degree, I'm a fast learner, I enjoy customer interaction... but where do I go from here?


short: Help me be the post master general.

VThornheart

Okay, head over here to find out more:

http://www.usps.com/employment/welcome.htm?from=home_footer&page=careers

It looks like it gives you links to find out how to take the exam for each possible position.

It also looks like there's an exam for any given position, so you're going to need to delve into that site to figure out where and how to take the exam(s) you need.

Hopefully this helps!

Shogun

The test is difficult. Incredibly memory intensive. Currently unless you live in a rural area you need to make a pretty damn high score to be considered for a position immediately. Something like 95+. A passing score is acceptable but you can sit on a waiting list for six months to two years. It is free to take both the 473 exam and the 460 exam but be aware of the companies that post ads in local newspapers. They say something to the effect of, "Your local USPS is now hiring for all available positions! Call this number for more info!" and they will sell you a study guide kit thing for $130 or so. Make sure anyone you speak to about registering for these exams actually works for USPS.

So decide if you want to be a carrier or work behind the scenes. From there contact your local USPS and find out about where you can register for the exams and where you can get study guide material. I believe USPS can help you out there for around $20-40 unlike those scammers. From there study your ass off, seriously, and see how you do on the exam. At that point it is pretty much a waiting game. I hope you have something else to do for income because you could end up waiting a while. Hundreds of thousands of people go for these jobs every year for the same reasons you are so just be prepared for the competition.

Reckless

Just as a bit of motivation, carrier gigs are pretty excellent if you've got the work ethic for it. My neighbor's been a postman 20+ years and still loves it. Just the other day we were talking about how he thinks the old Army Jeep-style trucks were so much more fun to drive than the newer models. He's the type that hates vacation time and loathes the thought of retiring, though, so your mileage may vary.

MrDelish

VThornheart wrote: »

Okay, head over here to find out more:

http://www.usps.com/employment/welcome.htm?from=home_footer&page=careers

It looks like it gives you links to find out how to take the exam for each possible position.

It also looks like there's an exam for any given position, so you're going to need to delve into that site to figure out where and how to take the exam(s) you need.

Hopefully this helps!

The online application is how we handle employment now. I could get you the hiring & testing phone number for your area (or you could just e-mail/call requesting it) if you feel you need to call someone, but I'm pretty sure they don't do much else for you than the website would.

I work at the USPS "customer service." Basically when you e-mail or call anything USPS that isn't an actual Post Office, you're calling me :P

Improvolone

I guess I saw one of those bullshit ads online, because the USPS website doesn't list any openings in my area.
Still, this is something I am interested in. I went ahead and made my profile, now I'll look into those tests. Thanks for the help so far guys!


edit:

Currently there are no examination openings for Florida

Whoo...
Does anyone know how often these tests come up, or is it based on job availability?

Thanatos

Just FYI: working for the USPS is working for the federal government, not the city.

That may come up on the civil service exam. :P

Improvolone

I knew that, it just came out wrong!

MrDelish

what

we're not federally funded at all, so no, you're not working for the government

haven't been since '86 or so

Thanatos

MrDelish wrote: »

what

we're not federally funded at all, so no, you're not working for the government

haven't been since '86 or so

I didn't say it was federally funded, just that it's part of the federal government.

It's technically an independent government agency, but the board of directors is appointed by the President of the United States, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Yes, it's self-funding, but that doesn't mean it's not a part of the federal government.

brandotheninjamaster

Improvolone wrote: »

I want to work for the post office.
I like the idea of working for the city, they seem to have well paid entry level positions, there is room for advancement, good benefits, job security (lets face it, USPS isn't going anywhere), and it seems like something I can enjoy.

So where do I start? I've found out that some of the post offices in my area are hiring, and my prospective googling shows that there is a test that I need to take. I'm not even sure whats on the test, is there a book for it that I can buy?

I have a college degree, I'm a fast learner, I enjoy customer interaction... but where do I go from here?


short: Help me be the post master general.

From the stuff that I've heard the US Post Office is going through some really tough times right now and are planning to lay off some of their workforce (haven't had to yet). From what I gleaned from the radio news story is that when the economy is bad; businesses are bad and when business is bad the volume of snail mail they send out is considerably less then when the economy is healthy. Plus everything going online is still hurting the USPS to this day.

Odds are that if you land a job at the USPS it will be pretty secure (but in this economy what job is really recession proof?), but I imagine it would be really tough to initially get in there.