Quick Guide: Applying for a Post Office Job and Postal Exam

You apply for a job, not an exam

Under their new eCareers hiring and testing system, you apply for a job, not an exam. You can apply for jobs and take exams anytime you want. You are scheduled for an exam as you apply for a job. There's no such thing as formal periodic test dates anymore.

Important: Use a Desktop or Laptop Computer

The Postal Service recommends that you use a desktop or laptop computer for all steps in the application and testing process - not a mobile device. This includes the job search, creating an eCareers account and profile, applying for jobs, taking exams, etc. To quote their statement, using a mobile device will not provide the "best experience".

Search open job postings

To begin, search their open job postings on the job search page of the USPS website to find a job or jobs you want to apply for. You can apply for as many jobs as you like. This sounds simple enough, but really finding all open jobs can be quite challenging due to their glitchy and dysfunctional job search function. See our How to Apply page for details.

Create an eCareers account and candidate profile

When you find a job to apply for, click the Apply button toward the upper left corner of the job posting. This will take you to a page where you either create an eCareers account or login if you already have an account. After creating an account and logging in, you will be taken step-by-step through the process of creating a profile. Included in the profile will be extensive detail on your background, education/training, work experience, etc.

Submit your application

Clicking the Apply button toward the upper left corner of a job posting starts the application. Much of the application will already be completed with info from your profile. You are to go through the application step-by-step, revise as appropriate or confirm the prefilled info, and enter info that is not pre-filled. When finished, click the Send button.

Take an exam

You will be scheduled for an exam as part of the application process. Over 95% of all Postal jobs are filled from new exams 474, 475, 476 & 477. These exams carry 80-90% failure rates, so test preparation is essential for success.

The job offer

Among all the people who applied for that particular job, a job offer will be sent to only one applicant - the person with the highest exam score. Hiring is based exclusively upon exam scores. That's is the biggest reason why test preparation is so critically important. If the person with the highest score fails to meet Postal employment qualifications, the applicant with the second highest score will receive a job offer. And so on. So, if you have a really good score, even if it's not the highest score, you may eventually receive a job offer.

Effective test preparation is essential. It is imperative to achieve your best possible score the first time around because (1) the job is automatically offered to the applicant with the highest score and (2) if you do not score high enough to get the job, depending upon your particular score, you must wait either one year or two years to re-take the exam.

Ace your exam and get the job with our bestselling USPS Practice Tests with Actual Postal Exam Questions & Proven Best Answers. Included in this guide are recommended answers the author has used to ace all four exams multiple times – answers proven to match their desired profile for an ideal employee (how they score you) – and four complete, ultra-realistic & interactive practice tests with actual exam questions.