We welcome you to JobBank USA and hope your job hunting experience
is a pleasant one. We hope you find our resources useful.
August 14, 2006
WLBT News searched a number of classifieds and found misleading advertisements suggesting you can get a Federal Postal job with no experience. When we looked into this we found what you get is actually a 'hard' sales pitch. We searched local classified ads placed in newspaper and tabloid publications. Right off the bat we found a Postal Service hit. The ad claims to be hiring for 2006...postal jobs at $18 an hour, the average pay 57-thousand dollars a year with federal benefits. So we dialed the 800-number up to find out more. We were sent directly to a salesperson who told us all about qualifications for jobs and the examination that must be taken. We were immediately accepted.
The U.S. Postal Service says hold the phone, those advertisements for Government jobs are misleading. According to U.S. Postal Inspector Dwayne Martin, "They try to scam people into sending money in for a testing booklet." U.S. Postal law enforcement authorities intend to set the record straight. When we dialed the 800 number, the sales agent we talked with neglected to mention their service is not associated or endorsed by the U.S. Postal Service. When asked, the agent usually replies that they are an Exam service. Once again this may lead the customer to believe the "Exam Service" gives the Postal exams when in fact the U.S. Postal Service administers their own exams according to officials.
Authorities say watch for the catch line in these ad's like Postal jobs or employment opportunity.
The sales agent wanted us to pay a whopping fee of $99.00 for a Postal Service study guide. On top of that add more money for tax and shipping. The total bill came to $119.45. Inspectors tell us the exam service may claim that the U.S. Postal Service does not provide study material prior to taking an exam. This claim is bogus. The Postal Service provides study material for the exam and it is available at no charge. Free.
These 800- number exam services charge between $49 and $125 dollars for the same study material you can get at no cost through the post office. Martin says, "What they do is they come in and set up shop and they'll get people to send them money and boom their gone." Inspectors say if you see ad's for Government jobs like this in your local newspaper don't buy into it. Inspectors say don't waste your time or money hoping to catch your next career move by calling an 800 number.
If you would like to know if an examination is open or sign up for a Postal exam and receive the free study material you can find it at www.usps.com then go to "all products and services" and then to "employment". Once again these are completely FREE and will be the first stop to pursing a postal career.
Email This Page!