Norman Hall - Norman Halls Postal Exam Preparation Book: Everything You Need to Know... All Major Exams Thoroughly Covered in One Book

NORMAN HALLS
POSTALEXAM
PREPARATION BOOK
T HIRD E DITION
All Major Exams Thoroughly Covered in One Book
Norman Hall
Avon, Massachusetts Copyright 2008, 2005, 1994 by Norman Hall. All rights reserved.
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ISBN-10: 1-59869-853-2
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For information, call 1-800-289-0963. Table of Contents
Preface In my twenty-plus years of preparing people to take various postal tests, it never ceases to amaze me how a large share of applicants make minimal investments toward their test preparation. Make no mistake, these are highly competitive exams. An extra one or two percentage points will make a pivotal difference in getting an interview and being subsequently hired. Top-step postal wages are close to $25 per hour. When other benefits are included such as medical, retirement, life insurance, vacation and sick leave, to name a few, employment with the United States Postal Service is extremely desirable. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people will apply for these positions.

Your use of this study guide will give you a distinct competitive edge over others. You will be able to approach the exam with complete confidence and have the ability to achieve a high test score. Well over a million people have successfully used my test preparation manuals and it will work for you. My confidence is shown through my written GUARANTEE. If, after using this material, you do not score 90 percent or higher on your postal exam, you will be entitled to a full refund from the publisher. () That should demonstrate how committed I am to helping you achieve your goal of employment.

Once hired, the job satisfaction for these positions is very high and the services provided are considered to be among the most trusted and dependable in both the public and private sectors. Congratulations on your first step toward a new career! Norman S. Hall Introduction The United States Postal Service, although usually thought of as a tax-supported governmental agency, in fact, has been a private self-supporting organization since 1982. The Postal Service is the eighth largest corporation in this nation, with annual revenues of almost $65 billion. This amounts to approximately 1 percent of the total U.S. economy.

With over 700,000 career employees in more than 39,000 post offices that service 146 million delivery points daily, the Postal Service is this nations largest civilian employer. According to recent statistics (published in area updates), the types of positions within the Postal Service are as follows: EMPLOYEES
(Statistics as of September 2007)

Total Career Employees:.....................................	701,130
Headquarters / Field Support Units................................	5,952
Inspection Service (Field).......................................	3,049
Postmasters..................................................	26,203
Supervisors..................................................	32,013
Professional / Administrative / Technician....................	11,955
Clerks.....................................................	214,802
Motor Vehicle Operators / Maintenance...........................	14,730
Mail Handlers................................................	54,980
Rural Carriers................................................	66,212
Building and Equipment Maintenance............................	39,903
City Delivery Carriers........................................	225,419
Transitionals..................................................	5,912

Total Non-career Employees...................................	66,708
Substitute Rural Carriers.......................................	50,853
Postmaster Relief and Leave Replacements.........................	9,763
Transitionals..................................................	6,092

As shown by this chart, city and rural carriers, clerks, and mail handlers comprise the largest percentage of the work force. The annual personnel turnover rate can range anywhere from 515 percent, and is attributable to retirements, promotions, transfers, disabilities, or employees leaving the service for unspecified personal reasons. The Postal Service, therefore, keeps active registers of qualified applicants to fill vacancies as they arise. The frequencies of exams to the public vary. Ordinarily exams are open to the public once every one to two years.

Up until recently, however, some area registers were closed for a period of three or more years due to the advent of automation and the desire to downsize the work force in compliance with leaner budgetary mandates. The Postal Service, however, did not resort to layoffs for a reduction in work force. Instead, downsizing was accomplished through early retirements and normal attrition. The post office is in fact, one of only a few corporations that have never laid off workers. Job security is tantamount to this organization. When an area register does open, public announcements are made several weeks in advance of the exam in the local media (newspapers, TV, radio) specifying when and where individuals can apply for the test.

Test applications can be picked up directly from the post office, completed, and returned to the post office prior to the announcements closure date. Job postings are available via the Internet at www.usps.com/employment. By following the prompts given, you can check nationally which areas are currently accepting applications. This information is continually updated so it is to your advantage to look into this at least once a week to find new openings. Once you have found an opening that is of interest to you, you can apply online to take the exam. You will receive a test announcement number, exam type, and city/state designation along with a short list of questions that relate to basic requirements of the job.

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