Just curious if there are any current or former U.S. postal employees here. I am considering changing my line of work and want info about postal jobs. Any help is appreciated.

Give Redrum a shout. He's a GS-nine bazzillion with the USPS.

My brother has been one for about 2 years after retiring from the Army. He is on a delivery route, I think that is where you start and eventually work to an indoor job. He works 6 days a week and for a while had pretty long days because he was on a long rural route. Now hes in town but still puts in pretty long hours. His big motivation is to piggy back a PO retirement with his military one. Good job for him, he likes the routine and being outdoors and relatively autonomy. Don't have any idea what it pays....

asbill,
I was thinking of posting the same question!! lol I just sent off my info to learn when the testing will be. Here, they test every few years. I would send them an email asking about their hiring practices there and if they know when the next test will be. If you find out that there will be testing soon, I've been told there is a "Postmans Test For Dummies" (something like that) book available to see the kinds of questions that will be asked and helpful tips.

I sure hope this comes together for me. Gotta get out of the hospitality industry.:sad:

Good luck, guys. I would think it would be a great career. There is NO higher honor than serving the public.

there is no piggy backing or double dipping retirements with the feds anymore when you hire in you will be a fers employee,csrs system is being phased out when you get out of the service if you go to work with the feds you will have to buy your military time back if you want it to count towards retirement.any federal time you have that you did not pay social security on has to be bought back to count towards retirement.I work for the Corp of Engineers and I had to buy my 2 years that I worked for the PO and my 4 years that I had in the Marine Corps to go towards my retirement. there is a federal almanac that tells you everything you want to know about federal employment. Mike

Rick, out in Abiline, works for the post office. He posts here frequently.

Watch out for loose dogs and angry coworkers.

Here's a link to info about postal jobs. You're going to have to take an exam. http://www.usps.com/employment/welcome.htm?from=home&page=employment

The pay and benefits are what make gov't jobs sweet, how do you think I manage to afford the luxury of being in the Chevelle hobby? :D

10 paid holidays and generous annual leave and sick leave. The gov't matches some of what you put in toward retirement in your TSP (Thrift Savings Plan, it's a 401K) in FERS (Federal Employee Retirement System). OPM.gov and USPS.com can answer your questions. We are on the FERS system in the Defense Dept, I'm not sure about the Postal Service though, they use their own pay system. Check out this link for the retirement info. http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/RI90-1.pdf

Rick, out in Abiline, works for the post office. He posts here frequently.

Maybe I can get some advice from him.

I have already taken the postal exam. I had checked 3 books out from the library that were made for helping take the postal exam.

I was kinda depressed when I got the test results

When I left the test I felt like I made a mid 90's or better score. I got my results and made a 78.3 plus my 5.0 military points for a total of 83.3. I started to question my confidence and the fact that the books I studied said you need to make a 95-100 to get hired. I did some research on-line and found that the scores are lower everywhere. here is a link to one discussion over this :http://www.7milesdown.com/wp/?p=114

I did get a notice that I am on the list. I guess they start at the highest score and work down.

I have heard that postal work can be very hard work. I am looking to get out of my line of work (Law Enforcement). I want a job that pays a little better and carries less risk of death or serious bodily injury. I have worked for my current employeer for 7 years (4yrs as Jailer-3yrs as Deputy Sheriff) and I make less than 30K a year. Kinda hard to get projects on the Elky going without funds. We do not get overtime so that makes my paycheck very predictable and I am looking for something different. I like MOST of the guys I currently work with, but imagine the person with the worst attitude in your workplace, now put a badge and gun on him and imagine what happens to his attitude, I work with them to.

I appreciate all the input, keep them coming.

I think a postal employee stole my wife's bank card info and opened a QVC account and ordered stuff... Whoever opened the account was having stuff shipped to our PO box. I only check it once a month or so which makes us a great target well knowing we aren't there often.... The supervisor didn't want to hear that I suspected one of their employee's.