The Postal Service has waived the requirement for the completion of the ASP program as a pre-qualifier for applying for initial level supervisory positions in Customer Services and Processing & Distribution. In addition to the change in requirements for application, the Postal Service has also modified the position requirements for these two positions as shown in the attachments.

 

Prospective candidates for positions as Supervisor, Distribution Operations, EAS-17 and Supervisor, Customer Services, EAS-17 should closely review the job requirements that are listed for these positions in the attachments. We expect that the interviews that will be conducted one-on-one and/or through a selection committee will focus on the requirements that are listed for these positions.

 

Impacted individuals who are applying for positions in Customer Services or Processing & Distribution should review the job requirements and make every attempt to gain information that would be helpful to them in responding to questions that will undoubtedly be related to the job requirements. All prospective candidates (all impacted employees) should be doing their homework to come up with professional responses to the job requirements that are shown in the attachments.

 

Examples of the searches and preparations that should be undertaken by all candidates:

 

#1         You should be able to explain how the Postal Service measures performance in First Class Mail, Priority Mail, and service to our customers in our lobbies (Mystery Shopper) and how does the USPS measure customer satisfaction. You should know what an Operating Plan is and how it relates to the position you are seeking?

 

#2         How do you communicate with subordinates (or fellow employees) and what change messages do you think would be effective in keeping employees motivated during these critical times?

 

#3         Evaluate your communications skills and give examples of what you have done in communicating with employees and/or the public. Demonstrate how this will be an asset in the job you are seeking.

 

#4         How have you created a safe work environment in your present position and how have you ensured that your subordinates or peers have been treated with dignity and respect? What examples can you cite in your response? Do you know what to do in the event of an employee accident or a motor vehicle accident? How about a fire, a shooting or some other emergency that you would experience in the new job?

 

#5         What experiences have you had in managing projects, evaluating processes in your current position and making changes or recommending changes to your manager? How can these skills be a benefit in the job you are seeking?

 

#6         What do you know about the labor agreements? If you don’t know much – find out! Speak with someone who is already doing the job so that you will have some basic knowledge of these requirements as you will definitely be asked questions in this area.

 

#7         How positive will you be speaking about your situation? If you go to the interview and “bad mouth” the Postal Service for what they are doing, how will that translate into your selection for the position? Can you say that you are adaptable and can learn what you don’t already know and do it quickly?

 

#8         Are you planning to make arrangements to visit one of the operations that you are applying for to see first hand what the supervisor does in determining their priorities, see what the carriers and clerks are doing, how the mail arrives at the unit, how it gets processed and prepared for delivery? These are the things that you should have some sense of, even if you couldn’t just walk into the job and do it on the first day.    

 

Individuals who follow the suggestions listed above are far more likely to be favorably considered for selection to these positions and avoid being RIF’d.

 

NAPS Headquarters

 NAPS Negotiates Changes in RIF Avoidance Policie(pdf)