Postal Service Clerks Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Postal Service Clerks

The main tasks and work activities of Postal Service Clerks are to maintain financial or account records, calculate shipping costs, weigh parcels to determine shipping costs, obtain written authorization to perform activities. In general, for the Postal Service Clerks, active Listening, speaking, reading Comprehension, service Orientation and other 5 skills are required.

Postal Service Clerks Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Postal Service Clerks jobs. 67.56% of Postal Service Clerks have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 6.80% of Postal Service Clerks have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

7.76%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

67.56%

Post-Secondary Certificate

6.80%

Some College Courses

17.88%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Postal Service Clerks

Keep money drawers in order, and record and balance daily transactions.
Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage.
Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail.
Register, certify, and insure letters and parcels.
Sell and collect payment for products such as stamps, prepaid mail envelopes, and money orders.
Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing.
Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes.
Complete forms regarding changes of address, or theft or loss of mail, or for special services such as registered or priority mail.
Provide assistance to the public in complying with federal regulations of Postal Service and other federal agencies.
Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.
Cash money orders.
Rent post office boxes to customers.
Put undelivered parcels away, retrieve them when customers come to claim them, and complete any related documentation.
Provide customers with assistance in filing claims for mail theft, or lost or damaged mail.
Respond to complaints regarding mail theft, delivery problems, and lost or damaged mail, filling out forms and making appropriate referrals for investigation.
Receive letters and parcels, and place mail into bags.
Feed mail into postage canceling devices or hand stamp mail to cancel postage.
Transport mail from one work station to another.
Set postage meters, and calibrate them to ensure correct operation.
Post announcements or government information on public bulletin boards.

Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Maintain financial or account records.
Calculate shipping costs.
Weigh parcels to determine shipping costs.
Obtain written authorization to perform activities.
Prepare outgoing mail.
Arrange insurance coverage.
Collect deposits, payments or fees.
Sell products or services.
Verify shipping documentation.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
Assist individuals with paperwork.
Sort mail.
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
Store items.
Respond to customer problems or complaints.
Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
Receive shipments.
Load materials or equipment.
Deliver items.

Skills and Abilities for Postal Service Clerks

Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Automatic postal or mailing machinee.g. Automated mail processing equipment
Bar code reader equipmente.g. Barcode scanners
Sorterse.g. Barcode sorters
Bin handlerse.g. Bin stackers
Sorterse.g. Doubles detectors
Sorterse.g. Electronic mail sorting devices
Material handling rackse.g. General purpose mail containers
Rubber stamping stampse.g. Hand stamps
Hand trucks or accessoriese.g. Hand trucks
Mailing bagse.g. Mail bags
Postal scalese.g. Mail scales
Cartse.g. Mail transport carts
Cash box trayse.g. Money drawers
Optical character recognition systemse.g. Optical character readers
Box sealing tape dispenserse.g. Packaging tape dispensers
Point of sale POS terminale.g. Point of sale workstations
Franking or postage machinese.g. Postage meters
Security tag detachere.g. Security device removers
Security tagse.g. Security devices
Sorterse.g. Sorting machines

Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Postal Service Clerks Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Postal Service Clerks

Skills and Abilities for Postal Service Clerks