Mail Clerks & Mail Machine Operators
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. 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.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
- Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.
- Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.
- Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
- Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
- Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.
- Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
- Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
- Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.
- Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
- Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.
- Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
- Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.
- Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
- Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
- Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.
- Clear jams in sortation equipment.
- Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.
- Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.
- Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools.
- Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
- Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges.
- Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions.
- Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.
- Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.
- Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
99%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
97%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
93%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
93%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
91%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
87%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
87%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
85%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
84%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
82%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
81%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
78%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
78%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
76%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
75%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
73%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
71%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
68%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
67%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
66%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
62%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
62%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
60%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
60%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
60%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
57%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
55%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
50%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
50%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
49%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
49%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
45%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
35%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
28%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
27%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
26%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
24%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
21%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
19%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
19%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
15%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
13%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
10%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
8%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
8%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
8%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
4%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
4%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
4%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
2%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
1%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
1%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
1%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Associate's degree
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Work Styles
Work Values
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