Jacquline Veblungsnes, a customer services relief supervisor in Orem, UT, has attended two USPS career conferences — and she’s a big fan.
“I love it. I tell everyone to do it,” the former mail processing clerk and custodian said.
The Postal Service holds more than 50 career conferences each year, part of the Delivering for America plan’s emphasis on strengthening the organization’s workforce.
The conferences give attendees the opportunity to explore career opportunities and advancement; learn about potential career paths; network with USPS leaders; and attend sessions on applying for jobs, interviewing, career development tools and more.
Veblungsnes said that she learned things in seminars and panels that she knew little about, such as what KSAs — knowledge, skills and abilities — are.
“It’s great information for somebody getting their foot in the door,” she said.
The theme for this year’s conferences — “Delivering a Brighter Future” — aptly describes how these daylong events can help steer employees onto a new course.
Stephanie N. Terry, an address management systems technician who is on a detail assignment as a Postal Inspection Service operations technician in Newark, NJ, credits a happy accident with broadening her horizons.
She missed a career conference session she meant to attend and decided to eat her lunch during a different seminar during which she struck up a conversation with a Post Office operations manager.
Terry was training with him days later.
“Basically, my entire career took a shift for the better within seconds,” she said.
She wholeheartedly recommends the conferences: “The person standing next to you can help improve your career in the blink of an eye.”
Kialani Vasapolli was a customer services supervisor in Guam when she decided to take a detail assignment as a supervisor in Kailua Kona, HI — and fell head over heels for the Big Island.
After attending a career conference in Honolulu last June, she applied for a manager position and became a customer services manager for Waikoloa in October, then served as officer in charge in Hilo.
“My best advice is don’t hold back,” she said. “Take every opportunity that comes your way.”
Vasapolli has followed her own advice: On May 18, she was sworn in as postmaster of Kealakekua.
