Mail attendants sort and handle mail for USPS and other organizations. A high school diploma is preferred, but not required. Passing Postal Exam 473 is necessary for USPS jobs. On-the-job training is provided, and computer and customer service skills are beneficial.
Mail Attendants sort incoming and outgoing messages and provide customer service for the US Postal Service (USPS) and any number of businesses, organizations, and institutions. While a college education is typically not required for the position as a result of on-the-job training, you will need to have the right skills to do the job. If you want to become a postal worker for the USPS, you will need to pass an exam demonstrating your ability to verify addresses and address encoding and memorize address ranges. Some positions will require math skills as well as customer service skills, data entry skills and record keeping skills.
While you don’t have to go to college to become a mailroom clerk, many companies will want you to have a high school diploma and some mailroom experience. This is not a requirement, however, and you may be able to get a job as a mail clerk without finishing high school as long as you can get the job done. If you plan on becoming a postal worker as a stepping stone to advancement within a company, you may want a college degree for the advancement opportunities it will offer.
If you want to become a postal worker for the USPS, you will be required to pass postal exam 473. The exam has several parts and tests you on address verification, form filling, address coding, and memorized address ranges. The longest part of the exam is an inventory section that reviews your experience and personal characteristics. Once you pass Postal Exam 473, you can apply for most entry-level USPS jobs and will not be limited to clerk positions.
Some postal workers also perform other tasks, including answering phones, performing data entry, and maintaining company records. Computer and customer service skills are a huge benefit for positions that require these additional tasks. Duties related to email organization include everything from sealing envelopes and using letter openers to sorting emails and ensuring they reach their intended recipient. Knowing shipping schedules and being able to assess shipping rates for specific items can also be beneficial. Math skills are also very useful if you work for a company or the USPS.
You will receive on-the-job training if hired and will need to learn how to use office machines and how company departments are structured. You’ll need details to learn how to distribute messages throughout your organization. If you end up working at a post office mail counter, you’ll need to learn how the checkout system works, how to print labels, and how to pack items according to postal rules and regulations.
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