How to Apply for USPS Jobs

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USPS Career Paths

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Permanent Positions

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Special USPS Employment Programs

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Q&A

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Warnings

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the second largest employer in the United States and provides a variety of career paths for its employees, including office-based jobs such as finance, marketing, and administration and delivery and operations staff who handle and deliver the mail. The USPS also offers special employment programs for current students, recent graduates, members of the military, and veterans.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

USPS Career Paths

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1
Verify that you meet the basic requirements. While the USPS has many different kinds of positions available, all employees must meet the same base set of requirements.^{[1]XResearch source} All USPS employees must be:
- At least 18 years old, or at least 16 years old with a high school diploma
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Able to pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and medical assessment
- Have a safe driving record (if applicable)
- Be registered with the Selective Service (if applicable)
- The USPS does not have any general education requirements - you can apply for many positions, including postal carrier, without a high school diploma.^{[2]XResearch source} However, some corporate positions require a four-year degree.^{[3]XResearch source}
- The USPS is particularly interested in employees with a stable, continuous employment history. The postal service is also unlikely to consider applicants who have been fired for misconduct or excessive lateness or absence.^{[4]XResearch source}
2
Choose between a corporate and a delivery/operations position. While all USPS employees must meet the same basic requirements, different positions have specific requirements. Corporate positions are generally office-based positions, while delivery and operations positions tend to involve physical labor, including letter delivery.
- Corporate careers at the USPS include accounting, business, finance, logistics, marketing, sales, and human resources.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Delivery and operations positions include automotive mechanic and technician, postal carrier, custodian, engineer, mail handler assistant, and tractor trailer operator.^{[6]XResearch source}
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3
Search for vacancies by location and/or by job function. All USPS jobs are made available on the online database so this is the only place you need to look to discover vacant USPS positions. For example, you could look for any jobs in Alabama, any jobs in administrative support, or jobs in administrative support in Alabama.
- You can also search by keywords if you have a specific job title in mind.
- Many of the positions listed on the USPS website do not include job descriptions. However, these descriptions are available on the American Postal Workers’ Union’s website.^{[7]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Permanent Positions

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1
Create an account on the USPS website. You must begin your application for all USPS positions online. ^{[8]XResearch source}
- To register you only need to supply your name and email address, a username, and a password.
- Once you have created your account, you will be able to update your candidate profile with your demographic information, education, skills, and work experience. ^{[9]XResearch source}
- The application requires you to provide the last 7 years of work history. If you have any gaps in employment during this time, you will have to indicate that you were unemployed.
2
Take the appropriate exam. Applicants for many positions with the USPS must take a civil service exam. You must achieve a qualifying score on the exam to be offered a position, but scoring well on the exam does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
- The majority of USPS workers - city carriers, mail processing clerks, mail handlers, and sales, service, and distribution associates - must take Test 473, which tests your ability to check addresses, complete forms, use and assign codes, and remember information.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Test 473 takes about 2 hours to complete. The USPS provides sample questions on its website. Printed study guides are also available at a bookstore or library.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Veterans are granted preferential treatment for this exam, including an automatic 5 or 10 point addition to any test score and priority access to exams not open to the general public.
3
Apply for a position. When you are completing the application, make sure that you have adequately indicated how your skills, education and experience meet the specific criteria for the position you are applying for.
- The USPS also recommends that, when you complete the section marked "Summary of Accomplishments," you include a separate document describing how your skills specifically match the position for which you are applying.
- You should upload a resume along with your application.
4
Make your way through the hiring process. Once you have successfully completed the necessary exam and applied for a position, you may be invited to a group interview, followed by a personal interview.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If the USPS chooses to offer you a position, you will be contacted to complete a drug screening and criminal background check.^{[13]XResearch source}
- For the final step in the hiring process, you may be called in for a final interview before being offered a position.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Special USPS Employment Programs

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1
Include your status as a veteran on your application to receive preferential treatment. The USPS treats military service as prior employment. To receive credit, you must submit official documentation showing the details of your discharge from a branch of the Armed Forces.^{[14]XResearch source}
- The USPS employs 85,000 current and former members of the military.
- Veterans are also given preferential treatment on the postal civil service exam.
2
Apply for the Management Foundations Program. The USPS offers an 18-month long, full-time internship program for recent graduates.^{[15]XResearch source}
- This program is designed for graduates with 4-year degrees in an applicable discipline, which includes Engineering, Human Resources, Accounting/Finance, Supply, Sales/Marketing, and Information Technology.
- Applications must be submitted by the late winter deadline, which varies from year to year. Interviews take place in April, positions are offered in May, and new interns begin in July. Check the USPS website for details.^{[16]XResearch source}
3
Join the USPS for the summer. The USPS offers a 10-week summer program for current high school and undergraduate students.^{[17]XResearch source}
- Internship positions may be converted to permanent positions once the student completes his education.^{[18]XResearch source} The intern must meet all of the requirements for employment before he is hired permanently.

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Question
How long after you take the 473 exam do they contact you?
Jomyel Bondoc
Community Answer
It took 3 weeks for me to get an email back from them. It's a waiting game after you've taken the exam.
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How can I explain a seven year gap between two jobs I have held?
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Your cover letter is the best place to explain this. For example, "After being employed with Company X for 3 years, I spent the following 7 years (insert reason here) before working for Company Y". Whatever your reason is, try and phrase it in the most positive light possible, such as devoting that time to your family, gaining life experience, or doing volunteer work.
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What should I do if I paid the registration fee and received a confirmation email, but didn't actively create an account and now I can't proceed without paying the fee again?
Community Answer
What registration fee? You don't have to pay any fees to apply for jobs at USPS.
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Beware of online scams guaranteeing USPS jobs in exchange for compensation.
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Working with USPS can be extremely stressful, but if you want to quit, you need to consider the consequences of leaving. If you are absolutely sure that resigning is necessary (for example, to save your own mental health), fill out this form, make a copy (one to keep for records), and give it to your supervisor. Do not feel bad for doing what you believe is the right thing.
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If you are hired as a carrier, know that the agency is trusting you will not tamper with other people's mail as it is their property. It is a federal crime to throw out or vandalize mail, you will not only be fired, but also arrested.
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If you are applying as a carrier, be alert if you see an animal or a child when making deliveries. When you enter your vehicle, always check your mirrors (and backup camera if applicable) to see if a child or an animal is there before leaving the spot.
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If you are applying as a carrier, be very careful with dogs. If you see a dog on the property, do not deliver the mail! Return it to the office and inform your supervisor. If an angry dog comes running at you, use your bag as a shield or spray the dog.
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