‘A position for every type of person’: Postal Service holds job fairs around state, including four C.O. post offices

(Update: Adding video, comments from USPS employees)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The U.S. Postal Service welcomed job-seekers to job fairs at dozens of post office locations throughout the state Thursday, including post offices in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and Madras.

The USPS is trying to fill thousands of openings for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs. Salaries range around $19.94 to $24.05 an hour, depending on the position.

There are job openings for mail carriers and clerks at the main Bend post office.

Whether you are an early-riser or night owl, the Postal Service has positions to accommodate varying schedules.

"It does vary. This office is pretty much a 24-hour office here, so it could be any time of the day," USPS Bend Acting Postmaster Paul Jackson said Thursday.

USPS Supervisor for Customer Service Support Elaynea Redd has been working for the Postal Service for eight years. She said the agency is seeking employees with diverse skills and backgrounds.

"There’s literally a position for every single type of person." Redd said.

According to Jackson, there is lots of room for advancement within the company.

“I’ve worked for the post office for 33 years. It is a very good job. It has a lot of opportunity to grow, especially if you are looking for upward mobility.” Jackson said.

Here's information from the USPS announcement:

Our goal is to fill thousands of positions all over the state. In most areas, the need is especially urgent for mail carriers, clerks and mail handlers. However, interested applicants should always check with their local Post Office for information on available positions.

The Postal Service continues to aggressively hire in many locations across the country. With a workforce of more than 635,000, USPS is one of the nation’s largest employers with ongoing attrition needs. And combined with the ongoing nationwide challenges faced by most employers, we are hiring for the holidays -- and beyond.  

A postal job offers employees the ability to work where they live, good pay, stability, lifelong benefits and career advancement opportunities throughout the entire agency. 

Our employees are our greatest asset, and we are investing in our new personnel by providing robust training and on-the-job support. The Postal Service offers stability, competitive wages and benefits, and career advancement opportunities.

Starting pay varies depending on the job. But starting pay for carriers ranges between $19 and $20 per hour paid bi-weekly. Applications are accepted online at www.usps.com/careers. 

Applicants must be 18 years of age and be able to pass drug screening and a criminal background investigation. Although in some instances, interested candidates can also be 16 with a high school diploma.

Applicants must be available to work weekends and holidays. Refer to the job announcement for full details, duties, responsibilities, job requirements, and benefits information. Job postings are updated frequently, so check back often for additional opportunities.

For additional information regarding available positions in all areas, applicants can go to our website at www.usps.com/careers. Jobs are uploaded every other Tuesday until filled. Potential applicants can also visit any Post Office location for more information.

Stabilizing our workforce to ensure we consistently service nearly 165 million addresses across the country is one part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence.

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Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.