Monday, May 19, 2025
For these employees, a career conference changed their paths
USPS is offering 50 events across the nation this year
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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It’s Mailbox Improvement Week
This year’s campaign runs May 19-25
The Postal Service is encouraging customers to spruce up their mailboxes during Mailbox Improvement Week, which begins Monday, May 19.
Mailboxes should be fully operational, able to protect mail from the weather, safe to use, conveniently located and neat in appearance.
They should also be large enough to support the customer’s daily mail and package volume — within allowable size limits — and be of a design approved by the postmaster general.
In addition to aiding the Postal Service, mailbox improvement adds to an area’s aesthetics.
USPS holds Mailbox Improvement Week each year during the third week of May.
Postal Bulletin’s May 15 edition has more information and detailed specifications.
Heroes
She made the right call
This postmaster asked social services to help a customer
Plainfield, WI, Postmaster KaSondra Hams recently learned that a customer wasn’t collecting his mail.
The man had just moved to the area and couldn’t get around well because of health problems. As a result, his mail and packages were piling up outside his home.
Hams asked police to check on the man and called social services for additional assistance.
After receiving emergency medical care, the customer returned home and now gets regular visits from a caregiver.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered May 11-17
Armed Forces stamps, Stamp Out Hunger and more made news
It’s not just the Postal Service: Three other proud American institutions are celebrating their 250th anniversaries this year.
Link reported last week on the release of a trio of stamps — known collectively as the Armed Forces stamps — that celebrate the semiquincentennials of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, each founded in 1775.
We also covered the Stamp Out Hunger food drive and the release of new children’s party goods featuring Mr. ZIP, B. Franklin and Farley the blue mailbox — characters in the popular “Mail With Mr. ZIP” YouTube series.
Additionally, Link told you about the organization’s ban on unapproved USB devices; the retirement of Judy de Torok, corporate affairs vice president; and a new Priority Mail Express box option for shipping cremated remains that are in jewelry or keepsake form.
And “Heroes” spotlighted KaSondra Hams, who learned that a customer wasn’t picking up his mail.
The Plainfield, WI, postmaster asked police to check on the man and called social services for additional assistance.
The customer was experiencing health problems and received emergency care. He now gets regular visits from a caregiver.
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For these employees, a career conference changed their paths
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It’s Mailbox Improvement Week
This year’s campaign runs May 19-25
-
Heroes
She made the right call
This postmaster asked social services to help a customer
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered May 11-17
Armed Forces stamps, Stamp Out Hunger and more made news