Students & Graduates

We provide recent graduates and entry-level professionals with the opportunity to get involved in the meaningful work of the Postal Service. Our programs are designed to ensure you have the opportunity to gain work experience and develop critical professional skills.

Professional Development Program (PDP)

This developmental program allows recent college graduates the opportunity to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities in a full-time career position, gain career work experience in their respective fields of study, and grow their network of colleagues and peers within the Postal Service. The program also offers a fast-paced, challenging and rewarding work environment, competitive salary and benefits package, as well as training and opportunities to advance in your career.

Highlights

  • 18-24 month rotational training program in the Washington, D.C. area.
  • Build great friendships and a strong network when you come in with a cohort of interns from other universities around the country.
  • You’ll be eligible for promotion as long as you meet established performance goals during the program.
  • Participate in regular trainings with top executives of the organization (e.g., CEO, CIO, VPs).
  • Gain valuable field experience within the first year of your internship.
  • Upon completion of the program, you’ll be placed into a professional position and be eligible for other continuing education opportunities.

Eligibility

  • Recent Graduates from an accredited institution having completed an academic program (bachelors, masters or doctorate) within the previous two years. Preference-eligible veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from meeting this requirement will have up to six years to apply.
  • Graduates with a concentration in an applicable discipline, such as Engineering, Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, Psychology, Business Administration, Industrial Hygiene and others.

Recruitment Timeline

  • Year-round — Virtual College visits throughout the nation to meet and interact with potential applicants.
  • Late January – Mid February — Professional Development Program jobs will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • March — Interview applicants.
  • April — Select new class of Professional Development Program Associates.
  • July — Professional Development Program Trainees start.

For additional information about the Professional Development Program positions, or how to apply, email us at universityrelations@usps.gov.

Intern Program

This 10-week internship program looks for motivated rising juniors and seniors as well as first-year master’s degree students who are dedicated to developing new ideas that will help drive our business. The program allows interns to gain real work experience that will be applicable towards their major, as well as their career.

Highlights

  • Complete a 10-week project aligned with your concentration and USPS business need.
  • Collaborate on cross-functional projects.
  • Interact and receive mentoring from senior-level managers on assigned projects.
  • Network and build great friendships and a strong network with a cohort of interns from universities around the country.
  • Participate in structured professional developmental training.

Eligibility

  • Must be currently enrolled at an accredited university and have 60 credit hours completed on his/her transcript by the time of applying.
  • Have a concentration in an applicable discipline, such as engineering, human resources, accounting/finance, supply, sales/marketing, information technology, and others.
  • Have strong written and verbal communication skills.

Recruitment Timeline

  • Three cycles of postings.
  • Year-round — Virtual College visits throughout the nation to meet and interact with potential applicants.

Spring Posting

  • Early September — Spring Intern jobs will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • October — Interview applicants.
  • Late October – Early November — Select new class of Spring Interns.
  • Mid February — Spring Interns start.

Summer Posting

  • Late November — Summer Intern jobs will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • Early January — Interview applicants.
  • Late January — Select new class of Summer Interns.
  • Late May — Summer Interns start.

Fall Posting

  • Late February  — Fall Intern jobs will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • Late March – Early April — Interview applicants.
  • April — Select new class of Fall Interns.
  • Early September — Fall Interns start.

For additional information about the Intern Program positions, or how to apply, email us at universityrelations@usps.gov.

Operations Industrial Engineer

We’re seeking highly motivated and qualified operations industrial engineers (OIEs) to join our organization. Become a part of a team that will re-engineer how mail is collected, processed and delivered to the American public in a way that is faster, safer and more economical.

During the two-year onboarding program you will gain experience with all areas of USPS operations. You will have opportunities to lead projects, obtain a Lean Six Sigma belt certification, and utilize AutoCAD, Minitab and other software while facilitating continuous improvement. In this position you can directly apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement principles to drive process improvement, improve service and reduce costs in mail processing, delivery, and customer service operations.

Highlights

  • 24-month structured training program.
  • Experience in various Postal facilities.
  • Cross-functional team projects.
  • Lean Six Sigma belt certification.
  • Be a part of a nationwide OIE and Lean Six Sigma trained network.
  • Competitive salary and benefits.

Locations

  • Nationwide Positions Available.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s or graduate degree in an Industrial Engineering or Professional Engineering program accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission.
  • Preference-eligible veterans qualify with a valid license as a professional engineer and six years of professional industrial engineering experience.
  • Willingness to travel and work nights and weekends for special projects.
  • Willingness and genuine passion for conducting Lean projects in a manufacturing environment.

Recruitment Timeline

  • Two cycles of posting (a third cycle only if necessary).
  • Year-round — Virtual College visits throughout the nation to meet and interact with potential applicants.

Fall Posting

  • September — OIE vacancies will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • October — Review applications.
  • November — National hiring event.
  • January – June — New group of OIE trainees start.

Spring Posting

  • Mid January – Mid February — OIE vacancies will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • February — Review applications.
  • March — National hiring event.
  • June — New group of OIEs start.

For additional information about the Operations Industrial Engineer trainee positions, or how to apply, email us at universityrelations@usps.gov.

Emerging Professionals Program

USPS is seeking highly motivated and qualified emerging professionals to join our organization. Emerging Professionals is an immersive, full-time, 24-month professional development program designed for college graduates. It focuses on developing future leaders of the Postal Service by providing impactful training and skill-building opportunities to allow Emerging Professionals to contribute significantly to the growth of the organization.

Highlights

  • 24-month rotational training program in the Washington, D.C. area.
  • Training and skill-building opportunities to enrich critical leadership and business skills.
  • Opportunities to participate in cross-functional projects gaining exposure to Postal Service leadership.
  • Access to a professional network with program members and alumni.
  • Competitive, flexible starting salaries based on education and experience.
  • Performance-based promotions and salary increases during, and upon completion of, the program.

Position opportunities and eligibility by organization

Qualifying degree requirement must be obtained prior to the start date of July 20, 2020.

  • Controller — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in accounting or a closely related filed which included at least 24 semester hours of accounting, auditing, finance and business law coursework from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Finance and Strategy — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in finance, economics, statistics or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Pricing and Costing — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in mathematics, statistics, economics, operations research or other closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Supply Management — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in supply chain management, accounting, business, finance, business management, law, economics, asset management, logistics, material management or other closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Treasury — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in finance, accounting or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.

Recruitment Timeline

  • Year-round — Virtual College visits throughout the nation to meet and interact with potential applicants.
  • Late January – Mid February — Emerging Professional jobs will be posted online at about.usps.com/careers.
  • March — Interview applicants.
  • April — Select new class of Emerging Professional Associates.
  • July — Emerging Professional Associates start.

For additional information about the Emerging Professionals Program positions, or how to apply, email us at universityrelations@usps.gov