<blockquote data-userid="2275" data-postid="36654"><div class="wpforo-post-quote-author"><strong>Posted by: btdtret</strong></div>19Reagan86 -- "I guess what I'm asking is there a chance of steady work being an RCA? Is it really just the one or two days here and there or could you be working a lot more? "-- To cover the working days first -- a lot depends upon the office you are assigned, the number of routes, and the number of RCA's already in that office.-- With a full complement of RCA's, you'd be working when your regular had a relief day or took annual or sick leave or LWOP. Just for relief days, that would be 2 days per pay period for a K-route, 1 day per pay period for a J-route and 0 days if assigned to an H-route. IHMO -- unless you have income from a pension or some other source, no one is able to work the above number of days without a second ( or more ) job to support a family.-- On the other hand, in sub-short office, you could be working up to 7 days a week for months at a time - filling in where needed as well as Sunday parcel delivery. Again, not many can hold up under those conditions. Have a family? You might see them once in a while. Forget about a life outside the post office.-- As a former PSE, you have a bit of a head start regarding the types of mail, especially if you spent any time as the Accountable Clerk.-- You may have seen how rural carriers and RCA's in particular are treated. Some offices are fun to work at while others are quite the opposite.-- Nothing can prepare you for delivering from a POV, until you actually do it. The academy does some training for delivering from an LLV and POV, according to previous postings.-- If there aren't any other viable job opportunities in your area, maybe being an RCA is the way to go, but as the saying goes - be careful what you wish for when wanting to "get back in the saddle"! The USPS threw you off once before.-- Not going to ask your age. One of the posters here "Ibpd16" retired from one job and was just looking for a couple of work days a week. Now working 5 to 7 days a week and aches and pains are showing up.-- When talking with PM's be sure to ask how many routes, how many RCA's, do RCA's run Sunday Parcels. Anyone close to retiring? Is it an all LLV or POV office or a mix. If possible talk to an RCA.-- Good luck what ever you chose to do.</blockquote>Thank you. If I do decide to give the postal service another round I'll be sure to ask the right questions this time. Including the ones you provided! I was blindsided before with all the different rules and quirks that don't typically apply in other professions. When it comes to asking about the different types of routes: K,J, and H, i'm not going to pretend I understand that. I do not. In fact there's still lots of postal terminology that I don't know. Either way, I'd be sure to find out before taking any job.I'm still "young" and looking for my career. I'm 32. People were shocked when I walked away before and I still wonder sometimes if they were right or was I for leaving?At the time the travel was too much including wear and tear on my personal vehicle. At least as a carrier you all work through a full shift, right? None of that split mess? That's a big bonus. Also I read on here that RCA's aren't on call, but they kind of are aren't they? As far as making it to career status, I guess that all depends on your location and luck. I live out in the sticks ?
