dreadnut said:
After a couple false starts and being unemployed since being laid off in December of '08, I believe I've finally landed a job, with the USPS of all places. I'll be starting 2 weeks from Monday as a Rural Carrier Associate; part-time, but it pays pretty well with the likelihood of picking up lots of extra hours. I know nothing about doing this job but I intend to learn real fast! And by the way, being a U.S. Veteran apparently gave me the preference on this job!
First of all, congratz on getting hired. They are trying to cut as many jobs as possible here. "Part Time" is a misnomer. I think RC's are limited to 48 hours a week, but I'm a city carrier. Come the start of vacation, I'll be working 6 days a week, at least 56 hours. You should be able to make some pretty good change during the summer. DPS SUCKS. If you are allowed to case it, do so. Your day will be much easier. Kiss Saturdays goodbye. As the junior guy in the station, you will not be able to just take a saturday off. There are a limited amount of slots available and you will have to make do with whatever you can get.
On a more troubling note, there is a chance, don't know how much, of the PO management convincing congress to cancel Saturday delivery. If that happens, you'll be out of work again, because there will be no need for one out of six of us.
At this point in time, there is no certainty of that, but just pump money into the bank account for a while. No point on going on a celebratory spending spree until things settle down.
I'm a city carrier, so my experiences are based on life in the acid bath. Hopefully, YMMV.
Good luck on the new job! :-D
