A fellow Soldier suggested I apply with the USPS. She said she's been a mail carrier for a few months and really enjoys it.

I followed her suggestion and applied.

I noticed that some of the positions reached their maximum number of applicants really quick. Jobs were typically posted on Monday mornings and the max applicants would fill the slots by 5pm or so.

I woke up at 6am yesterday to apply for an office in the town where we'd really like to live.

I took the 473 exam this morning, it was computerized.

I scored an 84 on the exam. The memorization part was somewhat difficult. I've been reading around and it seems that 84 is a respectable score. However, I also receive 5 points for veterans preference so my score will be boosted to 89 which appears to make me quite competitive.

I recall we have at least a couple of members here to work for the USPS.

What are your thoughts, good and bad?

I hope you get the job.

Can't imagine you won't get it. Many of the applicants won't follow through, or qualify in some way.
I almost suggested it when I read your LE application SNAFUs.

Doesn't Orguss?

The best of luck getting and enjoying your new career.

What out for the dogs, it's a jungle out there!

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
Doesn't Orguss?

ASKSmith too. I think Orguss has been there 2ish years and ASKSmith has been there 15ish years.

I worked as both a rural and city carrier for 4 years but that was about 8 years ago.

I enjoyed carrying mail, but the system and management is crazy. Good carriers get in trouble, pieces of shit get protected by the union. My advice is follow the rules and procedures at all times!

Yes, I've been thrown under the bus.

First, it is a fun job, if you don't mind walking around all day, in the cold, heat, rain, dealing with dogs, etc... But it is all in your perspective. I'm kind of a fitness goon, so I don't mind walking 12-15 miles a day. And that's not including my pre-work workouts, and soccer practice after work. I pretty much walk around all day listening to the radio (DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES!!!)

I will not lie, starting out is not a joke. Think of it as hazing. I'd say 1/3 of all people who take the job as a carrier, quit within the first year. Everything is based on seniority: routes, overtime, days off but getting forced to work, etc. And now with Sundays, you could work 7 days a week.

The main thing is to be safe, take your allotted breaks (two 10 minute breaks, and a 30 minute lunch). Do not let them push you to go faster. We have scanners with GPS capability, so they know exactly where you are. If they ask what took you so long, remember this, "I was trying to be as safe and efficient as possible". It's all about repetition, I can do my route with my eyes closed, but if I had to do another unfamiliar route, I might as well be blind.

You won't get rich in the PO, but the benefits are there. TSP (like a 401K), health, FSA accounts, paid government holidays, and 4 weeks vacation a year. Contrary to popular belief, the pension is a joke. 30 years of service with survivor benefits and health insurance might net you $700/month.

With your military time, that can be calculated into your retirement time, so don't pass that up.

PM me if you have any questions.
Smith

Take every exam you can take, the trick is getting your foot in the door.

I hired on as a mail handler which was weird because it's the test I scored lowest on (I think I took a total of five). I only did that for about 3 months before I was able to get into maintenance working on the sorting equipment.

Things might have changed but I doubt it. I retired in 2009.

quote:

I recall we have at least a couple of members here to work for the USPS.

What are your thoughts, good and bad?

There are a number of jobs with UPS, from carrier to window clerk to maintenance. What positions are you interested in?

I'm thinking a man of your experience, education and intelligence might be a great postal inspector-investigator, but I'm not familiar with that structure.

Best wishes to you.

Have you looked for other federal jobs? Here's a fairly new www site:

https://www.fedshirevets.gov/

There used to be a career intern program where you'd get hired as a GS-5 (or 7) and be promoted to 9 (or 11) after two years once you completed the training. That program is now called "Recent Grads," and vets have up to six years after discharge to get in the program:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-dat...uates/#url=graduates

Have you tried for Federal LEO jobs?

Don't take the Pine Hills (Crime Hills) Route when hired in Orlando.

I carried in Gary IN, I had 5 murxers on my route in 3 months at one point.

I tried to talk Orguss out of taking the job, but he wouldn't listen, LOL!

I retired 4/28 after thirty years and three months. The job is not bad if you don't mind repetition or the weather. The USPS has an antiquated fleet of delivery vehicles with no replacements in sight beyond the drawing board.

Upper level management does not have a clue and they take turns lying awake at night dreaming up unrealistic expectations to dump on the workers each week. The clerks and carriers are exhausted and supervisors and postmasters are stressed. It is not a good work environment.

There are rumors of an upcoming early out for employees nearing retirement. If this is true, it won't happen until after the Christmas holidays. Possibly you could hire on now and become a regular within a year. I wouldn't hold my breath.

quote:

Originally posted by Colby Bruce:
The USPS has an antiquated fleet of delivery vehicles with no replacements in sight beyond the drawing board.

The mail carriers around here are driving new Sprinter vans.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Colby Bruce:
The USPS has an antiquated fleet of delivery vehicles with no replacements in sight beyond the drawing board.

The mail carriers around here are driving new Sprinter vans.

No one is doing curb side delivery out of a Sprinter van.

Even if it's something to get me through the next 2 years of school, then I would be fine with that. Never know what types of networking I could do on a route. Fellow Soldier said she's working a lot of OT. I have class for 10 weeks and have 2 weeks off between semesters. Ideally I would work more those 2 weeks. I'm only going part time now with 2 classes and they're online classes at night. I might have to take the semester beginning July 2018 off as I have to wait for the annual cap for my Post 9/11 GI Bill to set. That essentially means I would be off school from June-September of next year; that means my availability to work would be great.

After having not worked for nearly 3 months now, I would definitely like to take any opportunities to not just work but work OT.

Financially we are doing fine as we have savings and I've been day trading. We've cut our expenses and have some sort of income coming in with reserve duty and the BAH for going to school. All is not lost. I used to read about people not working for months and wondered how they made it but we're making it.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Watch out for the dogs, it's a jungle out there!

I've read about the dogs and that it's not just some sort of rehashed hyperbole. The threat of dogs is very real. One guy was saying how dogs are chasing him and all he has is dog spray. LOL.

quote:

Originally posted by ASKSmith:
Yes, I've been thrown under the bus.

First, it is a fun job, if you don't mind walking around all day, in the cold, heat, rain, dealing with dogs, etc... But it is all in your perspective. I'm kind of a fitness goon, so I don't mind walking 12-15 miles a day. And that's not including my pre-work workouts, and soccer practice after work. I pretty much walk around all day listening to the radio (DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES!!!)

I will not lie, starting out is not a joke. Think of it as hazing. I'd say 1/3 of all people who take the job as a carrier, quit within the first year. Everything is based on seniority: routes, overtime, days off but getting forced to work, etc. And now with Sundays, you could work 7 days a week.

The main thing is to be safe, take your allotted breaks (two 10 minute breaks, and a 30 minute lunch). Do not let them push you to go faster. We have scanners with GPS capability, so they know exactly where you are. If they ask what took you so long, remember this, "I was trying to be as safe and efficient as possible". It's all about repetition, I can do my route with my eyes closed, but if I had to do another unfamiliar route, I might as well be blind.

You won't get rich in the PO, but the benefits are there. TSP (like a 401K), health, FSA accounts, paid government holidays, and 4 weeks vacation a year. Contrary to popular belief, the pension is a joke. 30 years of service with survivor benefits and health insurance might net you $700/month.

With your military time, that can be calculated into your retirement time, so don't pass that up.

PM me if you have any questions.
Smith

No headphones for situational awareness? I've seen a lot of carriers wear headphones. Didn't know if it was a policy or something to maintain situational awareness.

I won't mind the physical aspect. Seems most around here are going with the centralized boxes instead of delivering to each house (besides packages).

I'm used to walking and carrying weight around. The benefits seems nice.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
There are a number of jobs with UPS, from carrier to window clerk to maintenance. What positions are you interested in?

I applied for the carrier positions.

quote:

Originally posted by 0658:
Don't take the Pine Hills (Crime Hills) Route when hired in Orlando.

I think they should have an Infantry platoon deliver the mail there.

quote:

Originally posted by Colby Bruce:
I tried to talk Orguss out of taking the job, but he wouldn't listen, LOL!

I retired 4/28 after thirty years and three months. The job is not bad if you don't mind repetition or the weather. The USPS has an antiquated fleet of delivery vehicles with no replacements in sight beyond the drawing board.

Upper level management does not have a clue and they take turns lying awake at night dreaming up unrealistic expectations to dump on the workers each week. The clerks and carriers are exhausted and supervisors and postmasters are stressed. It is not a good work environment.

There are rumors of an upcoming early out for employees nearing retirement. If this is true, it won't happen until after the Christmas holidays. Possibly you could hire on now and become a regular within a year. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Kind of sounds like the military...

I don't mind the weather as we do get a few months of heavy rain here but the winter months are awesome. I'll be sure to wear the shortest shorts I can find.

I've seen older fleet vehicles around here as well as some of the newer vans. Our mailwoman has one of the newer vans.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
The mail carriers around here are driving new Sprinter vans.

Seems that's what is common here on this side of town though I've seen some of the older vehicles.

No advice here, but best of luck to you!

Most of the carriers here are in the new Chevrolet City Vans, none have the USPS logos on them, just unlabeled white vans.