The Interview  After collecting the applications and exam scores submitted during the period of time that the job posting was open, applicants with the highest scores are invited to interviews. Postal policy is that interview invitations are sent only to the three highest scoring applicants, and one of these three gets the job. So once you receive an interview invitation, you should be competing against only two other applicants.

Contrary to this policy and to offset the number of individuals who are typically disqualified by drug tests, background checks, and driving records, occasionally more than three applicants may be invited to interview - perhaps many more than three. In such a case, however, it is still true that only the top scoring applicants are invited. If more than three people are invited, the group first undergoes basic qualification steps that usually reduce the number to something close to the three applicants called for by policy.  These remaining few applicants then go through the traditional interview process.

This guide provides an incredible advantage not found anywhere else … the official checklist that will be used when you are interviewed for a job. This is an internal document not meant to be seen by the public. Having access to this checklist and the ability to prepare responses in advance virtually guarantees a favorable interview rating. Included as well are KSAs for all jobs. You are expected to demonstrate mastery of relevant KSAs in various parts of your application and definitely in the interview. KSAs are supposed to be given in each job but rarely are. If you never see the KSAs, how can you demonstrate mastery of them?

If Not Successful  If you were not successful … if you did not get the job … do not give up! Continue searching and applying for jobs. Do not let discouragement cost you a valuable career opportunity. You now have at least one exam

score recorded in your online account. Continue to diligently search for other jobs filled from that exam and apply for them using your existing score. You can apply for jobs filled from other exams and take those tests as well.

If you have applied several times without success, there may be various reasons. But if you have never even been invited to an interview, the reason is almost certainly your exam score. Virtually everything revolves around exam scores. When they choose who to invite to interviews, the decision is based almost exclusively upon exam scores. And one of the few items you have control over is your exam score.

If your score is the likely problem, consider retaking the exam to improve your score. Exams 474, 475, 476, and 477 can be retaken every twelve months. Most other exams can be taken every four months. If you apply for a job a sufficient amount of time after first taking a test, you will be given the choice of using your current score or retaking the test. If you want to try to improve your score, choose to retake the test. But remember that they always delete the oldest score and keep the most recent score even if the more recent score is lower. You cannot choose which score to keep. So do everything possible to assure that your new score is indeed higher.

What can you do to assure that your new score is indeed higher? There is only one thing you can do … prepare for the test with an up-to-date and effective study guide (if a study guide is available for the exam you are taking). At various points in this publication we have discussed how to prepare for exams and the benefits of a performance proven study guide. If you did not prepare for your test the first time, you have discovered the consequences first hand. If you did attempt to prepare the first time, maybe this time you need to take your test preparation more seriously and apply yourself more diligently. Your exam score is the only item you have control over. Use that control wisely.

Military Veterans Benefits  Eligible veterans may qualify to have 5 or 10 preference points added to a passing exam score. (If the veteran fails an exam, no preference points are allowed.) 

Eligibility requirements for veterans preference is a confusing topic. Various government agencies have their own publications on this topic, and these publications may have conflicting information. To help solve this eligibility puzzle, we have included details on the basic qualifications. However, we must publish the below disclaimers along with those details.

(1) The following qualifications are a collection of info published by various agencies including the U.S. Postal Service. While we believe that these qualifications are accurate, we cannot guarantee that they are all-encompassing or that they fully address every issue related to veterans preference. To assure truly accurate answers to questions about veterans preference, you should inquire directly with the U.S. Postal Service or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

(2) As the U.S. becomes involved in additional military actions, preference qualifications will be updated to include veterans of those conflicts.

To be entitled to preference, a veteran must meet the below general requirements.

• An honorable or general discharge is necessary.

• Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not

eligible for preference unless they are disabled veterans.

• Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for preference.

Five points are added to the passing examination of a veteran who served:

• During a war, or

• During the period 4/28/52 - 7/1/55, or

• For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after 1/1/55 and before 10/15/76

• During the Gulf War from 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 August 2, 1990, or

• For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which

occurred during the period beginning 1/11/01 and ending on 12/15/11, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or

• In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized

Ten points are added to the passing examination score of:

• A veteran who served any time and who (1) has a present service- connected disability or (2) is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or

pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Individuals

who received a Purple Heart qualify as disabled veterans.

• An unmarried spouse of certain deceased veterans, a spouse of a veteran

unable to work because of a service-connected disability.

• A parent of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and totally

disabled.