Kristel Hacker was working as a retail associate in Newport News, VA, last spring when she attended her first USPS career conference.
It turned out to be a wise move.
The insights and advice that Hacker picked up at the event helped put her on the path to her current position: serving as the postmaster in Grantsville, MD.
“It was a great investment,” she said.
The Postal Service is holding 50 career conferences across the nation this year with the continuing theme of “Delivering a Brighter Future.”
The events are part of the organization’s focus on workforce development, a major tenet of the Delivering for America plan.
Attendees will be able to explore job opportunities and advancement; discover potential career paths; network with USPS leaders; and attend sessions on applying for jobs, navigating eCareer and more.
A new session — “Not Interviewed, Not Selected, Now What?” — has been added to provide enhancements for new and returning attendees.
At the career conference that Hacker attended, she learned about the importance of completing knowledge, skills and abilities questions when applying for USPS positions.
Another lesson: Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a job — “keep trying, keep applying,” she said — and try to turn setbacks into learning experiences.
“Reach out when you don’t get the job, ask what you can do to improve and what could help in future interviews,” Hacker said.
Other employees have also used career conferences as a way to climb the ranks in the Postal Service.
In 2023, Ryan Cruz — who was also a retail associate in Newport News — attended a career conference. Two weeks later, he moved into management.
“I’m in a position I love,” said Cruz, who is now a customer services supervisor in Chesapeake, VA.
His advice to anyone on the fence about attending? “Be smart and make your way to a career conference,” he said.
Career conferences are open to all Postal Service employees while off the clock.
Employees can sign up for a career conference by clicking on the career conference banner on Blue or LiteBlue, which offers a list of available dates and locations, along with registration information.
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