Delivering letters and packages to people and watching their facial expressions can be fun. However, how to become a Mailman may pose a challenge. No worries, let me be your mailman; I deliver good news.
I want the best for you and would love to see you have fun while working. So, I will explain in detail what you need to become a mailman, the job description, and how to be a professional at what you do. Relax and board this ride with me; I promise you will want another ride.
Information dissemination is a vital part of life. While there are modern ways to do this, mail carriers possess this aura that makes their information relay enticing, comforting and appealing. So, how about being a harbinger of good and bad news?
Table of contents
- Who is a MailMan?
- What is the Post Office?
- Can a woman be a Mailman?
- What is my Job Description as a Mailman?
- How much do I make as a Mailman?
- Do I need a license to become a professional Mail Carrier?
- What educational requirements do I need to become a Post Carrier?
- What skills do I need as a Mailman?
- How do I Become a Mailman In a Short time?
- Becoming a Mailman FAQs
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendation
Who is a MailMan?
A mailman, whom you can call a postal carrier or postman, works for the post office or postal service. A post carrier’s job is to deliver mail and parcels to residences and businesses.
Also, there are three types of mail carriers in the United States. They are:
- City letter Carriers: National Association of Letter Carriers
- Rural Carriers: National Rural Letter Carriers Association
- Highway Contract Route: Independent Contractors
What is the Post Office?
The post office is the public department or corporation responsible for postal services and, in some countries, telecommunications.
Cambridge dictionary defines it as a place where stamps are for sale and where letters and parcels are received to be sent.
In addition, the business dictionary opines that a post office is a facility in charge of sorting, processing, and delivering mail to recipients.
For instance, the U.S. postal system was established in 1775, and Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster general. Benjamin laid the foundation for many aspects of today’s mail system.
Currently, the United States has over 40,000 post offices, and the postal service delivers 212 billion pieces of mail each year to over 144 million homes and businesses in the United States.
Interestingly, the postal service is the nation’s largest civilian employer with over 700,00 career workers. These people handle over 44 percent of the world’s cards and letters.
Can a woman be a Mailman?
Oh yes, a woman can be a mail carrier. Don’t be dismayed if you’re a woman. You can join these sprees, fun professionals, in delivering mail and parcels to businesses and homes.
Women have been transporting mail in the United States since the late 1800s. The first known appointment of a woman to carry mail was on April 3, 1845.
Cave Johnson appointed Sarah Black to carry the mail between Charlestown, MD P.O., and the Railroad for $48 per annum.
So, the term” mail carrier” is now a gender-neutral substitute for mailman since women also carry mail.
What is my Job Description as a Mailman?
Well, the first thing you must know is your job as a mailman entails spending time outside. It is physically demanding, and you can start work right out of high school once you pass the appropriate exams.
Your day as a post carrier starts with the officer as you begin sorting out mail by street and address. This may take about three hours.
Then, you will spend the rest of your day delivering the mail. Also, note that while providing the mail, you may carry up to 35 pounds on your back as you work what is known as a “Park and Loop” route.
This means you will simultaneously park the mail vehicle and loop 100 to 200 blocks. So, eat good food before setting out for the day’s job.
In addition, you will answer customers’ questions about postal services and provide the change of address cards or other postal for on request/demand.
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Furthermore, if you live in rural areas, you may send postal products too. Now you know what your job entails, remember the goal is to be a professional at what you do.
So, find a hack to deliver parcels, making them pleasing and endearing to your customer. See below for how much you will make doing this job.
How much do I make as a Mailman?
How much a mailman makes is practically influenced by years of experience. While you will likely make more money through overtime and Sunday premium pay, Mail carriers have better income as they gain experience.
According to Work chron, the average annual salary of mail carriers with less than five years of experience is about $35,000. While most carriers with 5 to 10 years of experience earn $45,000 on average, mail carriers with 10 to 20 years of experience earn $55,000 on average.
Also, over 20 years of experience fetches a mail carrier an annual pay of $58,000. However, the average per-hour income for a mail carrier is $17.25.
Sadly, the job growth for letter carriers is expected to decline by 12 percent following automated systems that sort mail directly.
But trust me, there is this vigor and excitement that makes the delivery of post carriers different and enticing. Get that poise, and you won’t be out of a job.
Do I need a license to become a professional Mail Carrier?
To be a licensed mailman in the U.S., you must be a citizen of the States or a legal permanent resident with a green card.
Nevertheless, if you’re not a citizen but reside in U.S. territory, you must study English and U.S. civics.
In addition, you must have a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record. For a state’s license, contact your state’s Department of Motor vehicles or state police for assistance.
Furthermore, you must pass a driving exam and a written rules test. Usually, education requirement includes behind-the-wheel practice using a learner’s permit and a study of your state’s rulebook for safe driving practices.
Finally, if you want to have mail delivery as a career, you must take Exam 473 online. Also, you need to study publication 60-A Test 473 Orientation Guide for Major entry-level.
Click the button below to write the practice exam and apply for exam 473.
What educational requirements do I need to become a Post Carrier?
The minimum educational requirement for the work of a Mail Carrier is a high school diploma or General Education Diploma.
However, you must pass a written exam once your application is accepted. This exam will cover address-cross-comparison forms completion, memory, and coding. Also, the exams will cover personal characteristics and experience.
In addition, once you get an appointment, you’ll undergo a criminal background check and must pass a physical exam alongside a drug test.
You will work alongside an experienced carrier, who will help you receive job training upon resumption of duty.
What skills do I need as a Mailman?
Since the goal is to be professional as a mail carrier, it is important to know that you need skills to aid your efficiency while carrying out your daily tasks.
Firstly, you need customer service skills. This is because you must retain your customers. Remember that other automated systems are more accessible and faster in disseminating information.
So, if you must remain in business, you will need this skill to keep and grant customer satisfaction.
Secondly, you must pay attention to detail and be very thorough. Needless to ask, why is this important?
Now, imagine sending a commiseration letter to an older adult throwing a welcome party for his son in the force because you didn’t check the number of the building well.
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Imagine the uproar you will cause. So, you must get that skill to excel as a postman. Also, learn to work on your own with little or no supervision.
In addition, you must be patient and have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Furthermore, you must have excellent verbal communication skills, good knowledge of English and be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
How do I Become a Mailman In a Short time?
To become a mail carrier quickly, you may need to assess your skills, especially proficiency in English and how you relate to others.
You need to be sincere with your assessment. If you think you need some furnishing and don’t have a high school diploma or GED.
You may need to return to school for continuing education programs or credit recovery strategies to complete high school requirements.
Now, let’s see a full guide on quickly becoming a Mail Carrier.
#1: Get a High school Diploma
This is the basic requirement of becoming a mail carrier. While it may not be so important, employers always ask for one during the Interview.
Aside from that, going to high school and completing to earn a high school diploma will help build self-confidence. It will also furnish your communication skills and give you solid ground in English grammar.
#2: Apply for vacant positions:
Now you have a diploma, you must be sure that mail-carrying is your job. You may scroll up to see the job description of a mail carrier.
The next thing to do is apply. You need to look for open letter carrier positions in your area. Also, most applications are made online, even though some listings are kept at the local post office.
To aid your job hunt, try the Royal Mails webpage under careers and other government-sponsored websites like universal Jobmatch.
#3: Be Certain you meet the mail carrier’s job requirement
Generally, the essential requirement for the position of a mailman is an educational qualification, physical fitness, driving record, and reading ability.
However, there may be other requirements based on your locality. For instance, the US Postal Service requires that candidates who show interest in this vacancy must be citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Also, they opine you must be 18 or 16 with a high school diploma. You should be physically fit t lift about 30 kilos at once. Then have a driver’s license and a good driving record.
Well, this depends on the position you’re applying for. In addition to the above, you must pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and medical assessment.
Furthermore, suppose you’re applying to be a mailman in Canada. In that case, the Canada postal service opines that you must be able to lift packages weighing up to 22.7 kilos, and you will pass evaluation on organizational and customer service skills.
To become a Postman in Australia, depending on the specific mode of transportation, you must have excellent interpersonal communication skills. In addition to this, you must be able to lift packages weighing 16 kilos.
In summary, by becoming a post carrier in the Uk demand, you can lift to 16 kilos and have a driving license with no more than six penalty points.
#4: Prepare to pass the pre-employment Interview
Upon application, if you meet the requirements, then be sure you will receive invites. Well, the journey just has begun. So, begin preparation as soon as you can.
Firstly, get familiar with the question in Exam 473. Scroll up to the license section to see websites where you can write a pre-test and solve past questions.
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Secondly, schedule and complete your exams. If your application is accepted, you will get an invitation to write an online test for Exam 473. This will take about 90 minutes to complete.
Interestingly, if you do well in the online test but have yet to be given an employment offer, don’t worry, your result is valid for six years, and you will not have to retake the exam within this period.
However, if you score below 120, you may need to retake Exam 473 within 120 days.
#5: Pass your drug Screening and Criminal background check
This is the last step to becoming a mailman. Prepare to pass your Interview. Generally, appear physically fit and look body healthy.
You must stay away from illicit substances and heavy alcohol use, not just weeks before drug screening but forever.
Also, avoid food such as poppy seed and cough syrup. This is to ensure the correct detection during drug screening.
Furthermore, inform the physician if you’re taking any form of false positives like antidepressants or controlled substances.
Yippee, get your job and become a professional mailman. Tip to always remember, never forget to wear a smile while delivering parcels and letters; smiles can help heal the world. Congratulations, you are now a postman.
Becoming a Mailman FAQs
Well, it depends on your definition of hardness. However, you may become a mailman within a short time; all you need to do is meet the requirements and apply.
Most post carriers get their pay per hour. Usually, they work six days a week during regular business hours.
It takes a short time to become a postman. Becoming a postman may take two years if you don’t have a high school diploma. However, with a high school diploma, landing your first job as a postman may take at least three months if you’re reasonable with your search.
Conclusion
Well, here we are with full details on how to become a postman and be excellent at it. This post is vital if you love spending most of your day outside.
Also, if you love meeting and interacting with new people daily, this post is for you. It is a fun spree profession. You know you make some cash while smiling at people and delivering packages.
However, it is more challenging than it sounds. But don’t worry; you must be physically fit, meet your location requirements, and cheer well while working to excel.
In summary, all the information you need to become a mailman within a short period is correct before you. Slowly, calmly read up while paying attention to details.
I would love to know what happens on your first day at work. Send me details in the comment box, and I will reply.
References
- Wikipedia: Mail Carrier
- Recruiter: Post service mail carriers’ salary
- Work Chron: Mailman work pay
- National Careers: Postman or PostWoman
- Wikihow: How to become a Mailman
- History.com: Postal System Established
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