Key Attributes Non-Postal Service Mail Clerks And Mail Machine Operators Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Sophia Miller

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Mail clerks and mail machine operators prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Use hand or mail handling machines to time stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.

The core tasks that non-postal service mail clerks and mail machine operators are likely to carry out include:

Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
Clear jams in sortation equipment.
Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that non-postal service mail clerks and mail machine operators would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 95.29%

Having a strong preference for realistic work environments. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 85.71%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.6%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.6%