What Do Postal Service Mail Carriers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Postal Service Mail Carriers sort mail for delivery. Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. They also scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.

Other tasks include:

• Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
• Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
• 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.
• Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
• Register, certify, and insure parcels and letters.

We asked Postal Service Mail Carriers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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60% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 63% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Postal Service Mail Carriers return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes. They sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.

A typical day for a Postal Service Mail Carrier will also include:

• Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
• Bundle mail in preparation for delivery or transportation to relay boxes.
• Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
• Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
• Travel to post offices to pick up the mail for routes or pick up mail from postal relay boxes.

We asked some Postal Service Mail Carriers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	4% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	56% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	63% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Postal Service Mail Carriers also provide customers with change of address cards and other forms. They may also report any unusual circumstances concerning mail delivery, including the condition of street letter boxes.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Postal Service Mail Carriers Complete forms that notify publishers of address changes. They might also Sell stamps and money orders.

In addition, they Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.

To some Postal Service Mail Carriers, it is also their responsibility to Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postal Service Mail Carrier, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm

http://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm

http://www.nalc.org/