Damp - Post office jobs: the ultimate 473 postal exam study guide and job finder

6th Edition

The Ultimate 473 Postal Exam Study Guide and Job Finder

Apply For Post Office Jobs
Pass the 473 Postal Exam
Explore ALL Job Options

DENNIS V. DAMP

Copyright 2015 by Dennis V. Damp
First edition 1996. Sixth 2015, completely revised

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

ISBN Print: 978-0-943641-31-7
ISBN Ebook: 978-0-943641-33-1
ISSN: 1947-6671

BOOKHAVEN PRESS LLC
302 Scenic Court
Moon Township, PA 15108
http://bookhavenpress.com and http://postalwork.net

Cover design by George Foster
Editing by Nancy Ledgerwood

Printed in the United States of America

Disclaimer of All Warranties and Liabilities

This book provides information on post office employment and preparing for the 473 postal exam. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, general counseling, or other professional services. If expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The author and publisher make no warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the information contained herein. The author and publisher shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the use of material in this book. This book and its companion web site at www.postalwork.net are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Postal Service.

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication
(Provided by Quality Books, Inc.)

Damp, Dennis V.

Post Office jobs : the ultimate 473 postal exam study guide and job finder / Dennis V. Damp. -- 6th edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-943641-31-7

1. Postal service--Vocational guidance--United States. 2. Postal service--United States--Employees. 3. Postal service--United States--Examinations, questions, etc. I. Title.

HE6499.D18 2014 383.4973023
QBI14-600161

Distributed to the trade by Midpoint Trade Books, 27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011, 212-616-2020, http://midpointtrade.com .

Chapter One
The U. S. Postal Service

Chapter Two
The Hiring Process

Chapter Three
What Jobs Are Available

Chapter Four
Postal Exams

Chapter Five
The 473 & 473-C Postal Exam

Chapter Six
The Interview Process

Chapter Seven
Veterans Preference

Chapter Eight
Job Descriptions

Chapter Nine
Postal Inspectors

Chapter Ten
Civil Service Job Options

Appendix A
Job Hunters Checklist

Appendix B
Corporate Positions

Appendix C
Customer Service District Offices

The U.S. Postal Service in 2013 employed 617,714 workers and generated $67 billion dollars in revenue. They paid their employees over $1.5 billion dollars every payday! On a typical day, postal workers process and deliver 523 million pieces of mail, travel over 4 million miles, and 3.6 million people visit their usps.com web site.

Over the past three years, the postal service reduced employment, offered early outs to tens of thousands, and streamlined operations as best they could within their current mandate. Even with billions in revenue, there are challenges ahead and they are working to reduce costs and reorganizing to address potential shortfalls.

The postal service has remained a reliable employment option, even under these challenging conditions, for those who know how to apply for job vacancies and prepare for postal exams. Additional opportunities will be created as those who are at or beyond retirement age opt to retire. Each day 10,000 baby boomers turn age 65 and this trend is projected to continue for another 15 years. Hiring will be driven by retirements and the need to maintain staffing throughout their extensive network that includes over 33,000 facilities.

The all-new sixth edition provides an overview of what is available, including many jobs that dont require written tests and how to apply for them. An updated 473/473E study guide provides helpful test-taking strategies that could dramatically improve many applicants exam scores. Seven other sample postal exams for maintenance, clerical, technician, and other major occupations are included in this new edition.

Most limit their job search to mail carrier and clerk positions and are unaware of the many other career opportunities that the postal service offers. Even with mail carriers and clerks making up over 50% of the workforce, the postal service still employs hundreds of thousands in other occupations. They employ 30,000 building and equipment maintenance workers, 5,000 vehicle maintenance employees, thousands of motor vehicle operators, postal inspectors, accountants, administrative staff, human resource personnel, and professionals across a broad spectrum of fields.

Post Office Jobs is the only post office career guide that includes a comprehensive 473/473E exam study guide, sample exam questions for 7 other careers, and job descriptions for the top 24 occupations. It provides guidance on how to explore alternative civil service occupations and includes a chapter on how to apply for postal inspector positions. Nancy Ledgerwood, our editor, worked for the postal service for 22 years. She provided an insiders perspective of their eCareer recruiting system and testing processes.

Postal employees are interviewed prior to appointment by the selecting official. provides sample questions and detailed guidance on how to successfully handle this often nerve-racking face-to-face encounter.

Professional and administrative occupations do not require written examinations. Your background, work experience and education determine your eligibility for the job. Youll learn how to locate vacancies and apply for these positions nationwide. describes how to prepare your resume and includes examples of Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA) statements that must be submitted with your application for many of the corporate positions.

provides an updated list of Customer Service District Offices that you can contact for test results and to learn when jobs will be advertised in your area. Many who apply forand takepostal exams misplace their paperwork and do not know who to contact. These offices can direct you to the right department when you have questions or have to reschedule an exam.

Visit www.postalwork.net , the companion web site for the new Sixth edition, for up-to-date guidance on postal service job options including direct links to the postal services recruiting site. Also visit www.federaljobs.net to explore related civil service jobs. These sites include extensive assistance for job seekers and cover many topics for people interested in exploring all federal careers.

If you are seeking a job with the postal service, you should also be aware of postal employment and testing scams that charge excessive fees. The postal service does not charge application fees and no one can guarantee you a postal or federal job. All jobs are filled competitively.

The average pay and benefits for all postal employees was $75,614 per year in 2013. The largest postal service pay system is predominantly for bargaining unit employees. There is also an Executive Administrative Schedule (EAS) for non-bargaining unit members where pay ranges from $23,279 up to an authorized maximum of $120,617.