Look for part-time jobs where you can get experience working in an office. Look for jobs posted online, ask around with family friends, or go to your school counselor for advice on where to look!

Get experience working in an office!

Learn about the basics of operations management by taking a class online or at your school. Discover how this skill can benefit a variety of careers. 

Take an operations management class. 

Start your career by getting an entry level job working in a mailroom at a post office, corporate office, etc. 

Get a job working in a mailroom.

Dive into this overview of a popular organizational philosophy and get started on your own system to up your productivity and start getting things done!

Practice getting organized!

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

First Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Second Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Other Office and Administrative Support Workers

Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.

Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.

Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.

Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.

Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.

Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.

Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.

Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.

Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.

Operate embossing machines or typewriters to make corrections, additions, and changes to address plates.

Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.

Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.

Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.

Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.

Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.

Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.

Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.

Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.

Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.

Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools.

Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.

Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges.

Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions.

Insert material for printing or addressing into loading racks on machines, select type or die sizes, and position plates, stencils, or tapes in machine magazines.

Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.

Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.

Use equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains," to move containers of mail.

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Overview

Career

What Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Do

Other Job Titles Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Overview

Career

What Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Do

Other Job Titles Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Related Careers

Related Leaders