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Postal Service Mail Carriers Occupation Detailed Description

Postal Service Mail Carriers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Postal Service Mail Carriers

The main tasks and work activities of Postal Service Mail Carriers are to collect deposits, payments or fees, obtain written authorization to perform activities, sort mail, deliver items. In general, for the Postal Service Mail Carriers, critical Thinking, speaking, active Listening, social Perceptiveness and other 1 skills are required.
Postal Service Mail Carriers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees 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.
ExampleThese 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 Mail Carriers jobs. 78.21% of Postal Service Mail Carriers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 1.3322676295502E-14% of Postal Service Mail Carriers have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
14.57%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
78.21%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
7.22%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Postal Service Mail Carriers

  • Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
  • Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
  • Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
  • Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
  • Turn in money and receipts collected along mail routes.
  • Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
  • Record address changes and redirect mail for those addresses.
  • Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
  • Bundle mail in preparation for delivery or transportation to relay boxes.
  • Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.
  • Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
  • Return incorrectly addressed mail to senders.
  • Maintain accurate records of deliveries.
  • Answer customers' questions about postal services and regulations.
  • Provide customers with change of address cards and other forms.
  • Report any unusual circumstances concerning mail delivery, including the condition of street letter boxes.
  • Register, certify, and insure parcels and letters.
  • Travel to post offices to pick up the mail for routes or pick up mail from postal relay boxes.
  • Enter change of address orders into computers that process forwarding address stickers.
  • Complete forms that notify publishers of address changes.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Collect deposits, payments or fees.
  • Obtain written authorization to perform activities.
  • Sort mail.
  • Deliver items.
  • Route mail to correct destinations.
  • Maintain financial or account records.
  • Package objects for shipping.
  • Provide notifications to customers or patrons.
  • Record shipping information.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
  • Prepare outgoing mail.
  • Arrange insurance coverage.
  • Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
  • Enter information into databases or software programs.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
  • Sell products or services.

Skills and Abilities for Postal Service Mail Carriers

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • 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.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Portable data input terminalse.g. Delivery unit computers
  • Portable data input terminalse.g. Handheld computers
  • Storage racks or shelvese.g. Mail distribution cases
  • Mailboxese.g. Mail relay boxes
  • Non metallic basketse.g. Mail sorting trays
  • Automobiles or carse.g. Passenger vehicles
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. Portable barcode scanners
  • Safety chainse.g. Postal vehicle tire chains
  • Storage racks or shelvese.g. Route cases
  • Light trucks or sport utility vehiclese.g. Small trucks
  • Time card machinese.g. Time clocks
  • Cartse.g. Wheeled carts
  • 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.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • 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.