USPS Letter Carrier
Moving Forward
I’ve always liked being on the move, so when I decided to return to work following five years as a stay-at-home mom, I knew I needed a career that would keep me active, give me a chance to meet people and connect to where I lived. When I saw the job opening at the U.S. Postal Service for a mail carrier here in Las Vegas, I knew it would not be as mundane as the office jobs I’d had previously, and I’d heard that USPS was a great place to work. But it turned out to be so much more — and exactly the right fit for me.
The customers are what really make being a mail carrier meaningful. Over time, some customers have become like family, and I still stay in contact with many who have moved off my route. I have customers who make crafts for me, and I’ve helped small business owners find new customers of their own. This is not just about delivering mail and packages; I’m part of my customers’ daily routines, their businesses and their neighborhoods.
I’m grateful for my co-workers, too. Everyone gets along, people are kind and cordial and everyone is willing to help each other when needed. And we’re all committed to serving our community.
On top of that, carriers are given considerable independence. Yes, we have time limits and responsibilities, but I’m trusted to manage my day. Starting at 8 a.m., I case my mail, sort my packages, load the vehicle and then I’m out on the street going from stop to stop, delivering mail, scanning parcels, making pickups and saying hello along the way. The work never gets boring and the freedom makes a lot of difference, especially compared to my experiences in an office.
A few things have changed in my eight years as a letter carrier, mostly in terms of the volume of packages we deliver. I have a lot of business deliveries on my route, so that shift has been noticeable, but it’s all manageable, especially since my old Long-Life Vehicle has been upgraded to a ProMaster, which gives me more room for packages and, thankfully, air conditioning.
With package volumes growing, that extra space helps tremendously. The newer vehicle also makes a real difference on those scorching Vegas days.
During the pandemic, I realized how important this work truly is. We were one of the main ways people received medications, mail, packages and the other essentials they needed. We are the only service that goes to every address, and that makes a huge difference in many people’s lives.
That responsibility drives me every single day. I’m doing more than delivering packages and mail. I’m ensuring that people stay connected to what they need.
That means a lot to me, and at the end of the day, I go home to focus on my family, knowing I did work that mattered. Yes, you must be self-motivated and ready to keep going, but the level of independence I have, the daily activity, that connection to my community and the satisfaction of doing work that matters is exactly what I want from my career.
Candice Smith
USPS Letter Carrier