What You'll Do

  • Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
  • Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
  • Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
  • Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
  • Clear jams in sortation equipment.
  • Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
  • Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.
  • Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
  • Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
  • Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Writing 2.88/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Operations Monitoring 2.88/5
Operation and Control 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Cautiousness, Cooperation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 3.38/5
Oral Comprehension 3.25/5
Written Comprehension 3.12/5
Information Ordering 3.12/5
Category Flexibility 3.12/5
Manual Dexterity 3.12/5
Finger Dexterity 3.12/5
Speech Recognition 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Email software Financial accounting software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Postal Explorer Recordkeeping software Web browser software Word processing software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.41/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.77/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.67/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.55/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Addressing Machine Operator Addressograph Operator Advertising Inserter Canceling Machine Operator Dead Mail Checker Direct Mail Clerk Direct Mail Coordinator Distribution Clerk Envelope Sealer Operator Express Clerk Folding Machine Operator Hand Inserter Operator Inkjet Operator Insert Operator Inserter Operator Inserting Machine Operator Mail Associate Mail Caller Mail Censor Mail Clerk Mail Distributor Mail Handler Mail List Librarian Mail List Processor Mail Machine Operator Mail Opener Mail Processing Clerk Mail Processor Mail Reader Mail Room Clerk Mail Service Coordinator Mail Services Associate Mail Sorter Mail Technician Mail Weigher Mailer Mailer Apprentice Mailing Clerk Mailing Jogger Mailing Machine Assistant Mailing Machine Helper Mailing Machine Operator Mailing Specialist Mailroom Assistant Mailroom Associate Mailroom Clerk Mailroom Specialist Office Copy Selector Packaging Clerk Packaging Specialist Parcel Post Clerk Pneumatic Tube Operator Postal Clerk PSE (Postal Support Employee) Radio Message Router Registered Mail Clerk Sealing and Canceling Machine Operator Slot Tag Inserter Trust Mail Clerk Tube Operator Tube Station Attendant Warehouse Mail Sorter Warehouse Sorter Wing Mailer Machine Operator Wrong Address Clerk

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.