Interview Scheduled

[RightCurbAlways]

Thought I'd say Hello,

I MIGHT get hired as a new RCA, depends on how well the interview goes.
I got my interview letter today, after having nearly given up.
I happened to check the status if my application a couple of days ago.
Much to my surprise, I was on the Hiring List, a few days later, got the appointment.
I'm guessing my chances are 1 in 25, since the PM said she'd be interviewing the top 25.....
So....there are apparently some things I'll have to do and not have much time for between now and then, according to the letter.
Any idea what those things would be?
Any tips on appearance or interviewing that's particular to USPS and RCAs?
I know how to interview of course, and have a decent appearance, at least AFTER I lose the ZZTop beard.
It's a 30 hour/week route in a suburb really, not actually rural. I have a sense I wouldn't be instantly popular at this office, but we'll see.  
So, wish me luck! (or warn me off!) ;)

[Will]

They will pretty much go by your score on the 473 exam. The interview is more of a formality. You could go to the interview in your pj's and you would still get the job as long as you scored well. The human resources people at the main post office in your area will decide who gets the job and since they won't meet you personally they'll just go by the scores 95% of the time. So just relax at the interview and have fun.

[RCA]

Unless they have changed things since I was hired years and years ago, your score matters as much as what type of toothpaste you use (my score on that stuipid exam that has nothing to do with my job as RCA was a monumental 71). What it comes down to in the interview is who the PM likes to look at....LOL....and then when they are told it is NOT a full time job with any real future...it depends on who still stays for the rest of the interview. I dressed neatly, cleanly and casually....nice jeans, new white sneakers and a solid white top....I remember because it was the only top I had that was a solid color.

There were about 20 people there...all ages, races, sexes...the PM was a woman who kept maintaining eye contact with this young buck and really trying to hook just him over all the rest of us. Anyway, he found out it wasn't full time and immediately left (along with most everyone else, leaving me and 2 others). The PM asked the 3 remaining candidates if they could work ANY day, be on call like 24-7 and work EVERY Saturday AND EVERY day after a holiday? The other 2 had little children, so they left leaving me and me alone. Funny how quickly every left once finding out the basic job...which is nothing for hours and the hours you do get...well....not much and the ones no one else wants. I took the job as an in-between job til something better came along and ended up working 6 months straight/6 days a week after my 1st week because my Regular carrier fell out of her LLV and couldn't work. But THAT is not the norm....otherwise...I would have gotton nothing but every other Sat for work and some days after a holiday.

Truthfully....a 30 hour route is under rated and WILL be on the chopping block after the next mail count or sooner. A route, last I heard, must be 32 hours to stay as a route or will be chopped up to beef up the other office routes. So, the route you are going on may be no more fairly soon. It all comes down to you finding out REALLY how many hours you will get, will you get adequate training (this is a very physically and mentally demanding job) and if you want to be woken up at 6:30Am at anytime to come and work on a route you may or may NOT even know. Being an RCA right now has NO perks and only downfalls. The pay is decent but not great...I think it's like 18.24 an hour and NO BENNIES, NO sick time, NO vacation. You will NOT get a route full time until hell freezes over. We have subs in my office who have been waiting 13 and 15 years to go Regular in an 18 route office with only (4) subs!

Good luck if you want it...but really....I have interviews scheduled for state jobs right now to get OUT! NO FUTURE HERE. Up to you but I really have nothing great to say about this job. Oh yeah...if you take it...your REGULAR is NOT your boss....the only person you answer to is the Postmaster and/or OIC (Officer In Charge)....don't take any crap from a regular....only take ADVICE!

[Clark]

Just show up and you'll probably get the job.  The first time I went for an interview there were suppose to be 17 people there for interviews, 4 showed up.  I ended up telling them I wasn't interested.  A year later a different Post Office called, went to the interview, about 10 people showed up out of 30 scheduled, and there were 15 RCA slots needing to be filled.  Only 3 of us got hired, the other 7 had never filled out the paperwork they were sent and were suppose to send back prior to the interview.  So do the paperwork they tell you and show up, you'll get hired.  The real question is why would you want to?  I'd suggest don't even get started.  Run, don't walk away from working for the Post Office.

[RightCurbAlways]

Thanks for your advice and comments everybody. I appreciate you taking the time. I have a brother who works in a small town PO in WA, so he told me some basic things, but he's been there for 18 years, and wouldn't know from an interview, I don't think they've had a new hire at his office, other than Christmas help, since they hired him 18 years ago.

My uncle was a letter carrier in Portland OR for a hundred years or so, same deal. Couldn't tell me much besides talk about safety and reliability, willingness to work, etc., so I appreciate different thoughts than those from my family.

I live in a huge MAJOR metro area out west, and the suburb I'd be working in (until the RE crash) was growing great guns with lots of new developments and stretching way, way out. So who knows how it might be after (if) the economy returns to normal.

It may be hard to believe, but after what I've been doing for the last few years, even a 30 hour week with no bennies sounds like it will be OK, at least for a while. I can only imagine, I'm sure. So I'll keep you posted as to how things go, if for no other reason than to let others in my position know how it goes, and what to expect. I hope some of what you told me doesn't turn out to be true. LOL

Thanks Again!

I'll put this here to help them search and find this post.     NEW HIRE

[Vax]

   If your in an urban area, like mine in Va, be careful we have just gone to something called FSS, flats that are in order this wonderful  thing has cut carriers pay, and consolidates routes so a carrier can work 40 hours per week, here no sub if lucky enough to keep his job will get much of a chance to go regular, RCa has no benefits, none, a lot of our routes  carrier works 6 days a week and only needs an RCA only when sick or on vacation, there are 3 differnt kinds of routes, K route gets 1 day a week off, a J route get 1 day every other week off, and an H route gets no days off, the more automated we get the more routes here work 6 days a week, so my friend find out as much as you can, about what is going to happen in your area, otherwise you wont have a job for long, good luck!

[RCA]

I'm turly sorry. But everything said is true. Wish more RCAs would tell you the horror stories they have had and are into now. You must remember, it is not just the economy or even the route growth that is KILLING the PO.

What is KILLING us is the lessening every single day to the internet. When people look at 44 cents a pop to send a letter and they can pay all their bills online thru online banking....the first class mail is going down and fast. It's alot easier and quicker to pay your bills online also than writing out a thousand checks. I personally support my job and mail out my bills...but from the looks of my fast going down 1st class DPS letters....it's pitiful. We are quickly being known as just the new deliver-ers of 3rd class JUNK with little 1st and 2nd to offset our paychecks. The PO will never regain what it once had and will only go further down....just wait til next mail count...all 18 routes in my office were "K" routes before the last mail count....NOW...all 18 routes are "H" routes with everyone fighting all the time with each other because we are stuck with each other 6 days a week! Like I said before, I am holding down a route...but that could end tomorrow for all I know.

The days when your Grand-dad and relatives worked in the PO have changed so much now. Go ahead and try....but truthfully...I don't think you are being interviewed for the full 30 hours a week route, my friend. THAT entire 30 hour route would have been bid on and scoffed up by an RCA (if not a Regular Carrier!) in a heart beat. I believe you have misunderstood what your interview is for....you are being interviewed for an RCA position...a sub...a substitue carrier for that route when the Regular Carrier (who works the entire 30 hours every week on that route...not you!) needs a day off here and there for doctors visits, etc.,. You are being interviewed for the crumbs on that route. Nobody comes right off the street and into full time, even on an AUX route. I really think you should get the interview correct in that you are just going for a very, very part time position. I would call the PM or PO to confirm what I am telling you is the truth so you don't waste your time going to an interview for just the sub position.

You will not get the entire 30 hour route. You are to be hired as a sub....no bennies and very few hours.

Let us know, but I am 99.999999999% sure I am correct here. I agree with the other posting though...run...don't walk away from this job....it AIN'T the 30 hours you think it is...sorry : (

[RightCurbAlways]

To be honest, I wondered about that. Even someone outside USPS knows that the volume is going down. When I was looking on line, most of the RCA positions in my state were listed as 6 or 8 hours a week, basically what you are talking about, which didn't interest me much. Maybe THIS PM has figured out how to get more people in for interviews by listing hers as a 30 hour job. I'll defer to your knowledge and experience, but since I have the freedom to work out my time as I wish, I'll be going to the interview. I also asked the PM about what vehicle I would need, but was told the route would be using an LLV....

WHo knows. it hasn't cost me much besides time to take the test, researching the web for info, (how I showed up here) and some sweating whether an interview would come through, but overall not much more than hope invested. On the other hand, with what I do, I have a lot of freedom to work in a few days of RCA work here and there anyway...so at least for me, it COULD be worth my while. I'll stay in touch, let you know what gives.
Sad commentary...I listened to the PM General last week on NPR....didn't sound so bad.. LOL

Thanks again for your input...sorry it's working out as it has for 'all.