New Postal Service Exam 473-E Study Guide
Strategies and Techniques for Scoring High
Hello future postal employees,
Congratulations! Purchasing this study guide most likely indicates you want to pursue a career with the Postal Service. In my opinion, you’ve made an excellent choice. As a retiree of the Postal Service, I can tell you it’s an honorable and solid career. At the end of your workday, you’ll know you’ve achieved something important. You’ll have that feeling of accomplishment. That kind of job doesn’t come along every day.
You might be here because you’re just out of high school or college and you’re looking for your first job. Maybe you’re recently discharged from the military and seeking employment. Perhaps you’re
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I spent 10 paid holidays every year with my family. I received generous vacation and sick leave with pay. The Thrift Savings Plan is outstanding with the Postal Service matching a percentage of your contributions. That’s only a few of the benefits you’ll receive as a permanent employee. Yes, there’s many more.
Sharing My Experience
After retiring, I wanted to use my experience and knowledge in a positive way. I wanted to do something that could help others have the good fortune I’ve had. I knew the greatest obstacle in gaining employment was taking the postal exam. I decided teaching others to take the exam is the best way I can help.
I want to give you all the advantages I can. Taking an important test is stressful. Stress can make it difficult to focus. I want to take that stress away so you can walk in to take the exam with confidence.
You might be tempted to pass over some of the information in this study guide; however, my advice is to go ahead and read it in its entirety. Everything I’ve included is there for a purpose. No matter how unimportant it might seem to you, it could help if you utilize it.
You will probably notice that I repeat myself a few times. That’s because I want to be sure you remember those particular tips.
How to Get Hired
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Getting a job at the Postal Service is not easy to say the least. When a position becomes open in your area, rest assured
In July 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) listed the budget of the United States Postal Service as “high risk” and recommended oversight from Congress and the Executive Branch. Specifically, the GAO stated that “Amid challenging economic conditions and a changing business environment, USPS is facing a deteriorating financial situation in which it does not expect to cover its expenses and financial obligations in fiscal years 2009 and 2010” (“Restructuring”, 2009, pg. 1). The GAO claimed that the mail volume in 2009 would likely decrease by about 28 billion as compared to 2008 and that the USPS would likely see declining volumes for the next five years (“Restructuring”, 2009, pg. 1). Clearly, the USPS is currently facing a
Over the years, the Postal Service has played many roles. By statute, the mission of the Postal Service is to “bind the nation together.” This is typically thought of as providing hard copy delivery. But, historically, the mission of the Postal Service has been broader, including educating and informing the public, enabling commerce, and representing the federal government in local communities. The key to determining the appropriate future business model of the Postal Service is clarifying its role. What future role does the
*If you go through each item on this study guide and read about it on the REFerenced page and corresponding TOPic in your text, you should have an excellent study guide for the Final Exam. If you do not do this, you will likely fail this exam miserably!
According to a Case Study-United States Postal Service (Jan 06, 2010), retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/bakeursilly/usps; since 1175 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed as the first postmaster general of the United States, the agency known as the United States Postal Service (USPS) has grown to become an institution that delivers about half of the world’s mail in snow, rain, and the dark of the night. Employing about 656,000 workers and 218,684 vehicles, 36,496 total retail and delivery facilities nationwide, 599 processing facilities, 584 million pieces is the average volume per day, and a total work hour of 1,258,025 per year delivering over 200 billion items per year via air and highway.
1. Explain the purpose of correctly receiving, checking and sorting mail and packages (both incoming and outgoing).
In Daniel Stone’s editorial article, “Flying Like an Eagle”, he advises the USPS some guidance to boost up their profit and their usage to the community. One of his inputs on the
If I were the current CEO for the United States Postal Service, I would be gravely concerned about the future of my business, as it has recently taken a steep plummet from its success and popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. The USPS is now faced with the decision to renovate itself due to the extreme loss of business as technology takes over the 21st Century. Some say that the USPS should be entirely reconstructed because the business is only headed further downhill, while others say that paper mail is still very practical, more so than e-mail, and we must each write more letters to do our part in reviving the business to profitability again. Because the USPS has been such a vital part of our country through
During exam prep, students should review notes and keywords, and clear up confusing concepts (Kaplan, n.d.). Knowing what kind of test the student is preparing for will help to determine if concepts should be broad or more detailed and focused (Billings, 2007). Students should pay attention to their physical health by eating well and getting regular exercise (Kaplan, n.d.). One of the best ways for students to ensure their mental health and to reduce test taking anxiety is to be over-prepared for the test (Nugent and Vitale, 2016).
This study guide is a tool designed to prepare students for the Topic 1 Quiz. Instructors will grade the study guide for completion, not for accuracy.
To help students prepare well for any test, Gardner, Jewler and Barefoot (2008) offer some useful suggestions, some of which I will highlight herein. To begin with, one should attempt to gather as much
You may’ve been one of those students that know the material forwards and backwards, but get a bit nervous and struggle during the test itself. There are several ways to get rid of the stress before a big test that will allow you to put your best foot forward in applying to the open positions that you’re interested in that are currently open.
The express mail industry can easily be considered an inherently tough industry to operate within given the myriad of factors that come into play, such as unions, government regulations, cost of technological advancement, and international borders to name a few. Despite this, the industry could be seen as offering opportunities, which could be seized by attracting customers based on the quality of the service being offered. Consequently, this also encouraged mimicking between
I firmly believe that I am best suited for this position because of my motivation to secure a career with the USPS in order to attain financial security and stability. I have excellent work ethic as noted by my consistent work history. In terms of character, I am respectful, dependable, responsible and adaptible. I am in good physical condition and I strive to maintain overall health and well being. I have had extensive training reguarding body mechanics and ergonomics, giving me the ability to perform safe lifting, transfering and positiong as well as the knoweldge to ensure that my work environment is safe and functional. This knowledge has been highly beneficial to me and others whom I have had to opportunity to educate on the benefits of
As a retired United States Postal Service employee, I can tell you from experience that working there is a life changing and rewarding experience. It’s a job that gives you a sense pride and accomplishment at the end of your workday. Furthermore, it can be an outstanding opportunity for someone without a degree or with limited formal education. Working for the Postal Service has the potential to improve your quality of life with exceedingly competitive compensation and benefits.
Test anxiety is a very common trait that occurs in many people. You have spent weeks studying for the examination, covered every single topic and read every single material having to deal with the upcoming exam. You walk into the classroom, sit down, and retrieve all your materials that you need. The instructor hands out your exam and gives everyone the confirmation to begin. You open up the exam and start reading the first question, hoping to be familiar with the subject. As you read question after question, you realize that you can't recall the answers to anything that you have just read. According to Salend (2011), this is the time that "you start to panic, your chest gets tight, you get sweaty, you start feeling overwhelmed" (p. 58). Many students suffer from this type of anxiety when it comes to taking examinations that can hinder their performance and well being. Proper studying and adequate preparation can help students overcome test anxiety and help improve their performance. Employing