I am planning to go to school to get a BA degree in IT unless I can get a job with the USPS. What would you suggest I do?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 22:43:51 -0500

Response by SFC George Smith made Jan 21 at 2017 10:48 PM

SFC George Smith — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 22:48:03 -0500

GO IT... back up with USPS...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2017 10:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 22:53:10 -0500

Tag "USPS" in this thread.
Start college NOW. Get a head start.
Why can't you get a degree AND work?

There are a lot of occupations within "IT". You need to be specific.

Response by PO1 Rodney Bracey made Jan 21 at 2017 11:42 PM

PO1 Rodney Bracey — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 23:42:21 -0500

Get a job with USPS, do online courses for your BA.

Response by SPC Jesse Bevil made Jan 22 at 2017 2:36 AM

SPC Jesse Bevil — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 02:36:39 -0500

I'm working for exxon mobile in the plants making $, attending for my BA in Computer Science. Just make it clear that you are attending college when you apply with USPS. Ask if they can work with you on scheduling. GI Bill money is pretty good depending where you are. I'm getting $1700+ a month in southeast Texas. I attend classes in person starting at 530pm.

Response by 1stSgt Gregory Weir made Jan 23 at 2017 3:59 AM

1stSgt Gregory Weir — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 03:59:57 -0500

I would still go to school and earn a degree; you'll open more doors that way, and you may not be happy working for the USPS.

Response by PO2 Chris Hearne made Jan 24 at 2017 9:34 AM

PO2 Chris Hearne — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 09:34:26 -0500

After I got out, I worked for USPS as a Rural Carrier Associate. It was definitely an experience, but there are a lot of little things to pay attention to. What position were you planning on becoming? As a RCA, i lived out in the sticks and had to drive my own vehicle, but I got EMA for it. I was also part time, until someone else died or retired (reminds me of the MR rate when I was in). As a clerk or handler, you start off with a lower salary, but fulltime. As a City Carrier Associate, it depends on your office, but you start part time, and become full time within so many months after, depending on union policy. The picture is of me catching a bird in an LLV (long life vehicle, or postal truck) on a rural route west of Chicago.

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made Jan 25 at 2017 8:19 PM

SGT Robert Zuniga — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 20:19:31 -0500

Get your degree in IT. As of 2017 EST on todays date, there are about 5000 IT listings on USAJobs. If you have an interest, do it! I am a 10 year Border Agent with 6 active. About to graduate with my Masters in April. Not sure what to do with it but the GIBIll is there for a reason. Do it. You might as well use it while you apply for jobs. Good luck!!

Response by TSgt Bret Whitmore made Feb 2 at 2017 5:07 PM

TSgt Bret Whitmore — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 17:07:37 -0500

IT is the new and upcoming world of communication. The USPS, while it is still essential in another analog "SHTF" kind of way, is the older world of communication. And no, as an institution, I'm not at all disrespectful of the USPS because, contrary to those of the digital age who deny its usefulness ("every address, every day"), you still can't get the Teddy Bear granny sent to little baby Jane via an email or text message. Should America ever suffer massive debilitating EMP strikes, have the grid taken down long-term, or some other techno-calamity "fire sale" from some belligerent foe, Americans are going to literally BEG to get mail again, just to have some kind of contact with the outside world which only the old, trusted mail man will still be able to provide.

But I have also worked in the USPS as a manual distribution clerk for a dozen years after I got out of the Air Force. I retired from the USPS, in fact, having "bought back" my nearly 15 years of military service time to invest in the Federal retirement. In the practical sense, a job at the USPS is still a decent wage when compared to some of the miniscule options out there. In rural areas it's actually quite a good wage, in fact. If you keep your nose clean and tow the line (and let me tell you, working for the Post Office can sometimes be a MISERABLE line to tow) you might be able to finish a career out of it like I did.

But leadership-wise, work-ethics-wise, working conditions-wise, personal ethics-wise, the P.O. is NOTHING like the military, and nothing even like the corporate civilian world. Leaders at the Post Office aren't selected by merit. They are generated by the personal ambition of individual applicants who often have no merits at all (except a burning desire to lord-it over other people), and there is already a long, waiting cesspool of cannibalistic ass-kissers already chomping at the bit just to "wear that tie". I have worked with and for too many of those kind over the years to still believe the really good ones are the larger percentage. They're not. That transition alone for many is very hard to accept... Dead-end factory labor on the sorting workroom floor, endless repetitious drudgery in maintenance, drudgery, deadlines, weather and dog issues, and constant unrealistic timelines and scanning scrutiny on the letter carrier side of things... Sure, I made more money in the P.O. than I did in uniform, but the lack of safety oversight and antiquated ergonomics of that place nearly crippled me for life. I can tell you straight out, WORKING for the USPS and dealing with the USPS as a customer are two entirely different worlds.

My recommendation is that you continue to pursue your IT career. If you have extra time outside of that more important class work and you still really want a taste of the USPS, try to test and get hired-on with the USPS as a temporary employee... We used to call them "casuals" back in my day. Depending upon your aptitude for it, it is NOT easy work, and they can fire you for any minor infraction these days, but at least you'll have answered that question for yourself. In my mind, however, I would VASTLY have preferred an up-and-coming job in the new digital-world technologies where the pay might skyrocket as time goes on, to the Tour I graveyard shift, no possibility for advancement world I worked in for 12 very long and difficult
years.

Response by SPC Librado Martinez made Feb 3 at 2017 2:08 AM

SPC Librado Martinez — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 02:08:36 -0500

Well, if you plan on running your route and getting a few under your belt, sure go the USPS way. I would suggest to get a BA first then go work for USPS. Why because College is going to open your eyes. If you still want USPS then, at least your future has a better foundation.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2017 8:58 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 20:58:11 -0400

Go to school, get your degree. I have a master's degree, and have been working for the USPS since 2001. You would think that a person with my qualifications and experience will hold a good position, but opportunities at the USPS are not as good as management wants you to believe. Trust me, I am currently fighting my way up, trying to get out of the craft jobs (mailhandler, clerk, carrier, etc), to become a supervisor. IF you decide to take the job, go for custodial, as it will enable to go up into higher technical jobs, or go carrier, it will allow you to become a supervisor easier than in other crafts.