USPS routinely preps for peak holiday seasons by hiring Holiday Clerk Assistants to help them handle the increased mail delivery volume. Even though it’s a temporary and seasonal job position, a Holiday Clerk Assistant is expected to perform a combination of various mail processing tasks to support the postal service during the peak season of the year.
A Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS) provides customer service, processes and sorts mail, loads and unloads packages, assists in mail delivery, and performs data entry tasks. The role is seasonal and temporary, designed to support USPS during peak holiday seasons. The position requires physical fitness, mental agility, good communication skills, and a problem-solving attitude.
What Is the Role of a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
It’s a fast-paced job requiring a person to be both physically and mentally fit. From prepping the work area, sorting packages, operating equipment, maintaining inventory, moving deliverables to designated transport distribution areas, and more, a Holiday Clerk Assistant plays a crucial role in the timely processing of mail and packages.
Depending on the location’s needs, a Holiday Clerk Assistant may have to interact a lot with customers and perform data entry tasks as well. So, the exact duties of the Holiday Clerk Assistance may vary a bit from one USPS facility to another. Some centers may have more workloads than others.
What Are the Job Responsibilities of a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
1. Provide Customer Service
One of the key duties of a Holiday Clerk Assistant is to provide excellent customer service. From greeting customers to assisting them with their queries, a Holiday Clerk Assistant should handle customer queries over the phone and in person.
2. Process Mail
One is also expected to process outgoing mail. This process involves accepting packages from customers, assisting them with their delivery needs, and verifying everything for hassle-free delivery.
3. Sort Packages and Mail
A clerk assistant must sort all incoming and outgoing mail by location, department, and category. All the processed items are directed into the appropriate bins and trays to speed up the delivery process.
4. Load and Unload Mail
A part of the job responsibility involves loading and unloading mail and packages. Mail and packages are loaded onto the delivery trucks and vans for smooth transportation. As the vehicles return after pick up, a clerk assistant also helps to unload the mail and packages.
5. Assist in the Delivery of Mail
A Holiday Clerk Assistant applies, verifies, and even enters the shipping information into the system. Furthermore, a Holiday Clerk Assistant works closely with mail carriers to ensure they have all the required materials for successful deliveries.
What Are the Qualifications for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
The job qualifications for a Holiday Clerk Assistant may vary depending on the job requirements, market situation, and hiring facility. However, here are the common requirements for the job.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- He/she must be authorized to work in the United States.
- The applicant must be open for a criminal background check.
- Some hiring facilities may require a driver’s license too.
- Depending on the hiring location, a high school diploma may be required.
- He/she should be mentally fit to handle busy periods and challenging workloads.
- The applicant must be physically fit to lift packages of various weights and sizes.
- The applicant must be flexible enough to perform different duties at the facility.
- The person should be available for work during peak holiday seasons, including December.
- The applicant is required to be a team player. He/she must contribute to create a positive work environment.
- The applicant must possess good communication skills and have a problem-solving attitude.
Openings for a Holiday Clerk Assistant are usually advertised on local employment agencies. The company also posts job openings on its official website, www.usps.com.
What Are the Benefits of Working as a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
Extra Income
Since it’s a temporary position, it can prove to be a good source of extra income during the holiday season. Besides the regular paycheck, one can earn additional income for overtime duties.
Work Experience
The job requires a person to perform many duties, allowing a person to get good at many work-related things, which can help one with other employment opportunities as well.
Learning Opportunity
Because of the diverse work roles, one will learn a lot during the brief employment tenure with USPS. The valuable learning skills and experience can be a treasured life resource.
Flexibility
Most USPS centers allow Holiday Clerk Assistants to choose work hours based on a person’s availability. One can choose between day or night shifts and specific hours too.
Full-time Employment
Depending on the employee’s job performance and the needs of the hiring facility, one can get an opportunity to work with USPS full-time. If not full-time, one may be called for returning peak seasons.
What Are the Working Hours for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
During peak holiday seasons, USPS operates on multiple shifts to take care of the increased workload. Therefore, employees may have to work night shifts as well. The good news is that USPS offers flexible work scheduling options, enabling employees to choose work hours based on availability.
The working hours can be a few hours per day or even a full workday. Depending on the facility’s needs, the working hours and shifts can change every week. It would be in your best interest to inquire about the estimated working hours at the time of job application.
What Is the Salary Range for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
The estimated salary of a Holiday Clerk Assistant at USPS is around $18 to $20 per hour. That said, the pay rate can be slightly higher or lower at some USPS centers.
What Are the Opportunities for Career Advancement for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
The opportunities for career advancement for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at USPS are seemingly good. If a vacancy arises, one can get an opportunity to transition to a permanent position with USPS.
Those with good communication and leadership skills can also apply for supervisory roles within the company. Depending on one’s abilities, a person can consider career positions in mail and package deliveries as well.
Other avenues of growth include specialized roles in logistics, human resources, technology, and even the training department. USPS offers education assistance that can help one learn advanced skills to open the doors for more job opportunities.
The best part is that a Holiday Clerk Assistant gains early access to internal job postings. Most USPS job opportunities are advertised internally first before they are made public.
By gaining first-hand information on internal openings, current and past USPS employees can easily fill the vacant slots, allowing them to advance in their desired careers within the organization.
FAQ
What are the qualifications for a Holiday Clerk Assistant position at the USPS?
The applicant must be at least 18 years old, authorized to work in the United States, and open to a criminal background check. Some hiring facilities may require a driver’s license or high school diploma. The applicant should be physically fit to lift packages and mentally fit to handle busy periods. They must be a team player with good communication and problem-solving skills.
What are the daily tasks of a Holiday Clerk Assistant?
The key tasks include providing customer service, processing outgoing mail, sorting incoming and outgoing mail and packages, loading and unloading mail, assisting with mail delivery, and performing data entry. The exact duties may vary by facility.
What are the challenges of working as a Holiday Clerk Assistant?
It is a fast-paced job requiring employees to be physically and mentally fit to handle heavy workloads during the busy holiday season. They may have to work overnight and weekend shifts. The job duties can change week to week based on the facility’s needs.
What are the opportunities for advancement for a Holiday Clerk Assistant?
They can transition to a permanent USPS position if a vacancy opens up. With good skills, they can apply for supervisory roles or careers in delivery, logistics, HR, training, etc. USPS offers education assistance and internal job postings.
What is the salary range for a Holiday Clerk Assistant at the USPS?
The estimated salary is around $18 to $20 per hour. The exact pay rate may vary slightly across different USPS centers.
