The United States Postal Service (USPS) has more than 31,000 offices in the United States. It’s also the core of the nation’s $1.6 million mailing industry which employs more than 7.3 million people. The USPS is committed to providing secure, reliable, affordable mail and package delivery, and can deliver to every address in America.
If you’re interested in working at your local post office, then you need to know about USPS’s pre-hire list. So, let’s get started!
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What Is The USPS Pre-Hire List?
As an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government, the USPS doesn’t just hire anybody. The process is quite selective, and there are requirements that you must meet if you want to work at your local office.
The “Pre-hire List” notifies you that you’re in the initial stages of the hiring process. You only get this notification after you’ve submitted your application and completed the postal exam. If you have a passing score for your postal exam and are a good fit for a particular position, you’ll be brought in for a series of interviews.
All the steps you need to take…
The pre-hiring process is quite an experience, from how long it lasts, to the actual hiring process, interviews, and when you can expect to hear from USPS. So, let’s find out how you can apply for a job and get a better insight into the postal exam!
What is the USPS Pre-hire Process?
You need to apply for a job first before you get on the pre-hire list. The best way to go about this is to go to the USPS Career page and fill out an application. The Postal Service offers a variety of challenging and rewarding job opportunities nationwide.
They have openings on a rolling basis throughout the year, and you can scroll through the page to see which ones suit you best.
USPS Pre-Hire List – How To Apply
The online application system is called eCareers, and it’s the only place where you can apply for USPS jobs! You could search for open vacancies by keyword, location, or functional group. Also, go through the technical and employment requirements before you start to apply.
Once you’re sure of which jobs you’d like to apply for, go ahead and create a Candidate profile that’ll save your progress. This profile will also show you your application status, and when you apply, you’ll get a confirmation email.
Screening and assessment…
An employment screening will be conducted, and the USPS will reach out to you via email, informing you of which steps to take next. Some positions require an assessment, meaning you’ll have to take a postal exam. This is where things get interesting!
The USPS Postal Exam
The Postal Exam is an online assessment that is required when applying for most positions. As of 2019, four new exams were launched. If you’re a mail system fanatic, then you probably know that the USPS used the old Postal Exam 473. This was replaced by the four new exams, which were named Virtual Entry Assessments.
Some of the exam sections have unconventional and even tricky questions. These are designed to make you, get this… think outside the box. It’s a way to assess if you have the right skills and characteristics to work for the U.S Mail.
You can only retake it in a year!
Even though the tests are untimed, it has been reported that it only takes about 45 minutes to complete them. The passing score for any of the four exams is 70, so any score above that is considered good.
If you fail the required assessments, your status will read as “ineligible.” The bad news is that if you don’t pass with the minimum score, you’ll only get a second chance to retake the exam after a year.
Get an interview faster than others…
Candidates are ranked according to their test scores, so if you have a high score, you’ll get an invitation for interviews faster than those who passed with lower scores. USPS applications and postal exams are free! If you pass your postal exam, you’ll receive an email or profile update stating that you’re on the pre-hire list.
What Can You Expect While You’re On The Pre-Hire List?
Once you are on the list, you’ll need to prepare for interviews. However, you might wait for weeks since the hiring office needs to see if each candidate on the list matches their online profile. But you might end up being one of the lucky ones if your local post office is having a shortage of staff members or if the position needs to be filled immediately.
Eventually, someone from the HR department will reach out and invite you for the interview screening and personal testing procedure. If all goes well, you’ll move on to the pre-employment orientation.
Impress during orientation…
During orientation, you’ll get a tour of where you will be working. You might even get your hands dirty and work a bit. You’ll put to practice the skills that you have listed in your application. In that case, it’s best to avoid telling any trivial lies about your skill set and qualifications when you submit your initial application.
This orientation is also the last step before HR decides whether you get the job or not. Here’s how their decision is partially influenced. At the end of the session, the hiring officials hand over your report based on adaptability, cooperation, customer service, and other skills related to the position applied for.
Candidates’ reports are compared, and if you’re right for the job, you’ll be removed from the pre-hire list and will get an offer!
How Long Do You Stay On The Pre-Hire List?
Since the interview and orientation procedures vary, you might find yourself waiting for a few weeks or even months. On your profile, you can check whether you can proceed to the “next step” of your application process. If you have access to proceed to the next step, then you’re still in the running.
Why not do a follow-up and kindly ask your hiring personnel for further information. If you haven’t heard from USPS in six months, it’s safe to say that you didn’t qualify for the interview stage.
If you’re removed from the list…
There are instances where you’ll be abruptly removed from the pre-hire list. This happens if the hiring personnel decides that you aren’t going to be a good fit for the position.
Working For The Postal Service
Do you think that USPS might be right for you? In that case, take a look at our in-depth guide to the USPS Application; you can also check out my USPS Mail Processing Clerk Job Description to see what the position entails. Or maybe you want to know What Does Offer Phase Ext Mean For USPS during the hiring process, and finally, Does USPS Hire Felons is worth a look if you have a criminal record.
Alternatively, learn more about other delivery options with our in-depth UPS Mission And Vision Statement Analysis, and if you’re interested, check out our UPS Application Online Jobs Career Info for 2023. Or, you might be wondering Does UPS Drug Test Package Handlers, and if you have a criminal record, please take a look at Does UPS Do Background Checks before moving forward.
USPS Pre-Hire List – Final Thoughts
The Pre-hiring list for USPS is compiled after candidates submit their applications and score at least 70 on the postal exam. There are no fees charged for applying or for taking the exam. If you make it on this list, you’ll be invited to interviews and, finally, an orientation.
Make sure that you have the skill set mentioned in your application. The hiring team will evaluate you based on that.
Whether you get to work for your local Postal Service or not, there’s a good chance that you use the service. So, why not download the USPS Mobile App available on Android and Apple? You’ll gain access to all the popular USPS.com tools, and you can sign up for text and email alerts too!
All the very best working at USPS!
