Postal workers provide customer service functions, including sorting mail and selling stamps. Requirements vary by country, but most need a high school diploma and pass skills exams. Education and experience in customer service jobs can help. Background checks are extensive, and a criminal history can hurt chances. Successful candidates must pass written exams and undergo training before working independently.
Postal workers work behind the desk at the public post office. They provide a wide range of customer service functions, from inspecting and sorting mail to selling stamps and packaging material. Requirements to become a postal worker can vary by country and region, but most hopeful workers need to be at least 18 years old, possess high school diplomas, and pass general skills exams. Most post office managers conduct extensive background checks on prospective employees to ensure they hire honest, hardworking individuals.
A person who wants to become a postal worker can gain many of the skills needed to be successful on the job from high school courses. Math and computer classes are important to help students develop the technical skills they will use, such as calculating postage costs and entering customer information into electronic files. Communication courses prepare an individual to deal with coworkers and customers clearly and effectively. Some post offices hire high school graduates with no previous work experience, but most employers prefer candidates who have demonstrated their skills in other customer service jobs. Working in a retail store, supermarket or call center can be very helpful in preparing a person to become a postal worker.
With the proper education and experience, an individual who wants to become a postal worker can put together a resume and start submitting applications to the local post office. Many large cities have central offices that handle hiring for all local branches, and a candidate can find out how and where to submit resumes by contacting the main office or searching government websites. It is essential to be complete and honest on a resume, as all reported information is verified before a hiring manager contacts a candidate for an interview. The resume must include the candidate’s education level, all previous jobs and dates of employment at each.
The background check process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to complete; therefore, a person who is trying to become a postal worker should not worry if he is not immediately called. Managers must confirm dates of employment, school and citizenship information. In addition, an extensive criminal history check is performed to ensure the applicant does not have a record. Due to strict government postal regulations, even a petty criminal history can potentially hurt a person’s chances of getting a job.
An individual who successfully lands an interview can expect to speak with several managers, take a drug test, and receive a basic course outlining key job responsibilities. Most countries require respondents to pass written exams that test math skills, basic job functions and reading comprehension. Once a person lands a job, they can expect to spend several weeks in formal on-the-job training. After a trial period of supervised work and ongoing training, an individual is given the chance to begin working independently.
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