What You'll Do

  • Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.
  • Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
  • Train new workers.
  • Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.
  • Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
  • Search directories to find correct addresses for redirected mail.
  • Clear jams in sorting equipment.
  • Check items to ensure that addresses are legible and correct, that sufficient postage has been paid or the appropriate documentation is attached, and that items are in a suitable condition for processing.
  • Open and label mail containers.
  • Rewrap soiled or broken parcels.

Essential Skills

Monitoring 3.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Operations Monitoring 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Time Management 2.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.75/5
Operation and Control 2.75/5
Service Orientation 2.5/5

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.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Stress Tolerance, Cautiousness

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 3.75/5
Manual Dexterity 3.38/5
Written Comprehension 3.12/5
Information Ordering 3.12/5
Category Flexibility 3.12/5
Perceptual Speed 3.12/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.12/5
Static Strength 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Address Management System AMS Automated Package Processing System APPS Barcode reader software Delivery operations information system DOIS Delivery Routing System DRS Directory software Electronic Time Clock ETC Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word Multi-line optical character reader OCR software NCR Advanced Store SAP software Teradata Database Time and Attendance Collection System TACS

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.61/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.51/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.91/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.65/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.63/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

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:

Assorter Automation Clerk Computer Forwarding System Markup Clerk (CFS Markup Clerk) Dead Mail Checker Distribution Clerk Distribution Handler Distributor Equipment Operator File Conversion Operator Flat Sorter Operator Flat Sorter Processor Flat Sorting Machine Clerk (FSM Clerk) General Expeditor Letter Sorting Machine Operator (LSM Operator) Mail Distribution Clerk Mail Distribution Scheme Examiner Mail Distributor Mail Examiner Mail Forwarding System Markup Clerk Mail Handler Mail Handler Assistant Mail Handler Equipment Operator Mail Handler Sorter Mail Opener Mail Processing Agent Mail Processing Clerk Mail Processor Mail Sorter Mail Weigher Mailing Section Clerk Operations Label Clerk Parcel Post Distribution Machine Operator (PDPMO) Post Office Markup Clerk Postal Service Mail Processor Postal Transportation Clerk Presort Letter Operator Processor Small Package and Bundle Sorter Clerk (SPBS Clerk) Sorter Sorting Machine Operator Zip Sorter ZMT Operator (Zip Mail Translator Operator)

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.