Anyone here work at the US Post Office? This is a serious question!

I took the several tests a couple of years ago because they were offered, and then got a notice in January for interviews, had some training scheduled etc.

I know this isn't the Monster Job Board (!) but I wanted to know if any of you work for/have worked for/know someone who worked for/ the PO because I suspect they expect the career employees to work a lot of hours, etc. I am pretty much thinking this won't be in any way compatible with my farm schedule (and I retired already). It definitely doesn't sound part time!

Any thoughts? I would appreciate hearing all of it!

BTW, this was for PTF City Carrier in a western city of around 100,000....

Thanks!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), February 16, 2000

Answers

Been there, done that. In 1997 I took a deferred retirement from the USPS after 15 years as a letter carrier. Does that qualify me to answer your questions? Never "went Postal" and I left of good terms, so I guess that I can give you the good and the bad.

First off, let me congratulate you for doing so well on the civil service test and interview. I don't know how many were on the roster that you were hired from, but I live in a city of about 45,000 and was hired from a roster of over 1500. A 5 point veteran preference helped me, and I scored well on the test. To enlighten those that might wonder about the civil service postal test, the test is for score only, not a pass/fail test. It is based on memory, speed, and accuracy. For each opening, the top 3 or 5 (I think it changed.) are interviewed.

USPS 101. PTF stands for part time flexible. There are several other categories of employees such as casuals, transitionals, etc. but we will look only at PTFs. Excluding the other categories all letter carriers start as PTFs. Only through attrition or as new positions are being made do you move up. You move up based on seniority. The flexible term means that you may be assinged wherever you are needed. However, routes that are vacant because of vacation, etc., are posted for assignment bid, again determined by seniority. Anyway, understand that you will probably be assigned to whatever needs carried for quite a period of time. You may wind up carrying what is known as handoffs, which are portions of routes that cannot be completed by regular or relief carriers. When you are assigned to carry handoffs, you probably won't be scheduled in until 10 or 11 AM, after the mail is sequenced by the regular carrier. Probably too much detail for you, really just trying to convey that you will be getting the least desirable jobs and areas of the city. You asked about hours. Typically PTFs get lots of hours during the choice vacation periods, and are lean on hours during the fall and winter when the regular employees tend to be on the job. When I say lots of hours, 12 hour days are the maximum due to safety, but you may wind up working 6 of those 12 hour days every week, for weeks at a time. Getting two days off together can be a real treat sometimes. Remember too, that as a PTF you will probably be working on the holidays delivering express mail and special deliveries. Large offices deliver 365 or 366 days each year. I've worked many Christmas days. Because of the hours, pay is good. Pay for up to 8 hours is straght pay, 8 to 10 hours is time and a half, and 10 to 12 hours receive double pay. If you work overtime 5 days in a row, anything over 8 hours on the sixth day is at double pay. We country folk should have such a good contract eh? Benefits are pretty good too, especially compared to other industries. A down side to letter carrier work is the physical demand on your body. The job requires that you stand in front of a sorting case for several hours sequencing the route's mail, then you may wind up walking the rest of the day delivering the mail. A lunch break and two 10 minute breaks are allowed. On my last route I used a pedometer to measure it for a two week period to get a good average. It averaged 8.9 miles per day, and the homes were in an old flood plane, so I had literally thousands of stair steps per day on the possible 650 plus deliveries. Now the benefit of this was great stamina during bicycling, and bicycling was easy because of leg strength. Snow skiing was also a breeze even at the much higher altitude. Because of all of the steps, I began to experience some mild knee pain so left while I still had my health. Many carriers experience foot problems, and also many have back problems because of the load that is carried on one side. A maximum of 38 pounds is allowed. Again, good contract but 38 pounds concentrated on a 2 inch by 5 inch strap pad for hours on end gets heavy. Also I think in the future there will be hand problems because of the way mail is now carried due to bar code sorters giving an extra bundle to carry. The worst part of the entire job is putting up with Postal Management and their way of doing things. Things aren't as bad as they used to be, but as an example at one time we could only have a black pen, a red pen, and a lead pencil in the carrier case drawer. You couldn't have an extra pencil or a green pen even if they were your own. What the heck difference does it make? Control, I guess. Perhaps I should have said mental stress, for you have the customer on you too, not just Postal Management. One more thought, in a city of 100,000 you may not even work out of the same office every day. Bottom line, it pays good, has good benefits, and if you can handle the physical and mental stress of the job--go for it. Also, you are represented by the letter carrier union whether you join or not. Your choice. I don't know just how well you will be represented, but you will be. You may also be treated like whale snot by some if you don't join. lol. If any of you have more questions feel free to email me.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), February 17, 2000.

Thanks for your answer!!!!

I have not had such a straight explanation since I started talking to any of these folks! Glad to know that I must have scored well on the test, too, as nothing was said about it.

I will really reflect on your comments before moving much further into the process.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), February 17, 2000.

Sheepish, Greenbeanman is telling you like it is. Both my father and father-in-law retired from the USPS, as well as one brother in law. All had foot and shoulder problems, etc. Guess it boils down to whether the good pay and benefits outweigh the rest of it. Every job has its good and bad, so up to you, but he is pretty much telling you the straight scoop. Good luck, whatever you decide on. I think if I were going to go that route (no pun intended), I would prefer a rural route in a small post office. I'm sure even that has its down side. Jan

-- Jan Bullock (Janice12@aol.com), February 17, 2000.

Hi, Congrads also on passing the test! I'm a PTF career employee with USPS. I was hired as a clerk 6 years ago. I work in a very small office in my home town. When I was hired in, I was told I'd be only be getting about 5 hours a week. Saturdays being required. Some weeks I only work 2 or 3 hours, other weeks I work 30 to 35. I love where I work. The people are great (all 4 of them). I was "loaned" to another office for a time when they were short handed and I hated it. The office was much larger and it seemed more like a factory. That office was farther away from my home and they always wanted to give me a 2 1/2 hour lunch. Not long enough to get home and get anything done, but too long to hang around the city and do nothing. I finally asked not to work there anymore. Management gave me a bit of a hassle, but my boss back me up (which is rare). I don't mind a split shift at my own office, as it only takes me a few seconds to get home. You may want to clarify what hours you will be asked to work and if you will be "loaned out" to other offices and where those offices might be. (you will be paid mileage, but not travel time). Good luck!

-- Peggy (adkinsonthefarm@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.

Thanks for all the good, solid information.

I just wanted to let you know that I have decided not to make a career with the Post Office. I have too many times in my year when I don't wish to be flexible with my schedule: i.e: lambing season, vacation season, etc. It will take me many, many years to get the time off that I want when I need it (we book our vacations 2 years in advance usually and they're always prime time summer weeks) and with a system of seniority, in an office with over 160 carriers, it will be an eternity to get the choice.

I do have a much greater appreciation for what our friends at USPS do and have really had my eyes opened. A lot of those folks deserve more reward than they are getting.

Thanks again. Guess I'll just stay retired!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), February 20, 2000.