New RCA (possibly)

[Boricuanessa]

I recently received an offer for RCA. I have completed all the steps and am awaiting my Orientation date.

I am really unsure if I should take this position. It is a major pay cut from my current job. I have been doing sales for 15yrs and can no longer stomach it. I understand that RCA is a part time job, but I am hearing that there is opportunity to pick up time at other PO's to make up the difference. Is this true?

During the fingerprinting process the woman helping me explained that I can keep on applying to other positions (via the USPS career site) that would get me to career faster (maintaince, mail clerk, CCA, etc..) and if I am selected for one of them I can move over to that instead. Basically using this to get my foot in the door. Is this correct?

I have a spouse that is willing to help me financially until I figure this all out, but I am really scared to take this gamble. I keep reading all of the horror stories about life as an RCA and I do not want to be stuck in that role for too long if a. I wont be able to work at least 5 days a week and b. Will not make career for 15 years (I am 40yrs old and have 2 kids).

 

[johnwayne]

find out what office youre going to be working in. Lots of routes? If so, more opportunity to work. Also take stock of how old the carriers are in the office, and the # of rcas in the office. everything is based on seniority. So If there are 5 older regular carriers and 3 rcas..you wont wait too long to go full time. For example, the office im in, one carrier can retire anytime he wants, the second is 60 years old, but only been regular for 5 years, and me, who just went full time, and have 15 years to retirement. but we were down to two subs at one point. One is 72 years old and only wants an aux route. The other is 55 and having health problems. So, if you were to become rca here, you would probably at least have a 34 hour aux route within three years. Probably full time in 5 or less. I know of one carrier that went full time in less than six months. but that is a rarity.

 

[hockey94]

You need to find out if you need to provide your own vehicle, if so, IMO, I would not take this position. For most people, providing a vehicle is breakeven financially at best.

 

[Shafted]

Take the clerk or cca job. The rural position is a sinking ship, even more so if you don’t have a supplied vehicle.

 

[Boricuanessa]

Am I able to start as a rural and keep applying to cca or clerk??

 

[Postal-xam@58]

In my 15 years,I have only seen one rca go to a different job, he had a lot of military time and our postmaster worked with him to get him in a job at the plant. I am sure someone else can tell you more, but I was always told you have to quit as rca in order to apply for other jobs.

 

[oi veh.]

Am I able to start as a rural and keep applying to cca or clerk??

Unfortunately, no. @Postal-xam@58 is correct, you must resign as an RCA in order to take one of the other jobs. We are the only craft which cannot transfer into another. You can, as far as I know, keep applying, but you cannot transfer.

 

[Boricuanessa]

Unfortunately, no. @Postal-xam@58 is correct, you must resign as an RCA in order to take one of the other jobs. We are the only craft which cannot transfer into another. You can, as far as I know, keep applying, but you cannot transfer.

So applying would be the same thing, no? She told me DO NOT RESIGN! Many make that mistake and that's not the way to do it. She said keep applying, I would go through the process and they would take the info I have already on hand and get through the steps faster.

 

[C$$]

I understand that RCA is a part time job, but I am hearing that there is opportunity to pick up time at other PO's to make up the difference. Is this true?

Yes you can shop out to other POs, but there are no guarantees. It depends on where you are located, how many POs in the area, how many subs they have, etc. You might only get 1 day a week, you might consistently get 7, or anywhere in between.

I can keep on applying to other positions (via the USPS career site) that would get me to career faster (maintaince, mail clerk, CCA, etc..) and if I am selected for one of them I can move over to that instead. Basically using this to get my foot in the door. Is this correct?

Yes you can apply for other jobs, but being an RCA doesn't get you any preferential treatment. A lot of your paperwork (like fingerprints) will already be done, but otherwise an RCA is no different than someone applying off the street. Pretty sure you have to resign as an RCA before you take the job, as others have said.

I have a spouse that is willing to help me financially until I figure this all out, but I am really scared to take this gamble. I keep reading all of the horror stories about life as an RCA and I do not want to be stuck in that role for too long if a. I wont be able to work at least 5 days a week and b. Will not make career for 15 years (I am 40yrs old and have 2 kids).

Again, it depends on your PO. Some places subs are treated very well, other places they are abused. Some subs make it to regular quickly (2 or 3 years), others take 10 years or more.

I'm not as down on the PO as some. If you are in a small office with good people, and can stand the variations in the scheduling, RCA can be a decent gig.

 

[eunomios]

I am hearing that there is opportunity to pick up time at other PO's to make up the difference. Is this true?

It is true - but HIGHLY variable. I was told the same thing - I still struggle to get an average of 20ish hours weekly. If the office is large or small and low on RCAs you will have Full-Time work without Full-Time benefits. If the office is staffed well with RCAs or very small you'll get 1 day a week and possibly a 4-5 hour Sunday. Working at other PO's is possible but is feast/famine and operates like an ON-CALL job.

There is no happy medium unless you win the lottery here. RCAs have to fight/search/transfer/quit to find a schedule that works for them.

I do not want to be stuck in that role for too long if a. I wont be able to work at least 5 days a week and b. Will not make career for 15 years (I am 40yrs old and have 2 kids).

I likely won't make Career for 10 years at least if I stay put. An RCA in a neighboring office just went Career after 1 Year because the office couldn't keep subs and she signed on with Full seniority and a regular retired.

The ideal situation is an office with no subs and a Regular Rural who is 50 years +.

Rural Communities seem to expanding (new houses developments) while Urban areas are crumbling -> could lead to future Career Rural routes.

---

You can always transfer as an RCA to another office to be an RCA there. Might as well do orientation and experience your SHADOW DAY (ride along with a Career Carrier) to see if it is even work you are willing to do.

 

[JFT]

I recently received an offer for RCA. I have completed all the steps and am awaiting my Orientation date.

I am really unsure if I should take this position. It is a major pay cut from my current job. I have been doing sales for 15yrs and can no longer stomach it. I understand that RCA is a part time job, but I am hearing that there is opportunity to pick up time at other PO's to make up the difference. Is this true?

During the fingerprinting process the woman helping me explained that I can keep on applying to other positions (via the USPS career site) that would get me to career faster (maintaince, mail clerk, CCA, etc..) and if I am selected for one of them I can move over to that instead. Basically using this to get my foot in the door. Is this correct?

I have a spouse that is willing to help me financially until I figure this all out, but I am really scared to take this gamble. I keep reading all of the horror stories about life as an RCA and I do not want to be stuck in that role for too long if a. I wont be able to work at least 5 days a week and b. Will not make career for 15 years (I am 40yrs old and have 2 kids).

I am a fairly newer RCA (hired in January) and while it is possible to travel to other PO’s and pick up hours trust me when I tell you this...Apply to CCA or PSE!

I’ve been applying to other crafts myself and will make the switch when an opportunity comes up. RCA life is feast or famine and we don’t get anywhere near the benefits that CCA’s and PSE’s get. I’m approaching 40 myself and this is the most physically demanding job I’ve ever had. Again, CCA and PSE don’t have to rush around carrying 70 pound parcels. They are paid hourly and can take their sweet time and lift properly.
I like my job when I work my regularly assigned route but that is rare for me. Maybe things will work out better for you?

 

[Boricuanessa]

I am a fairly newer RCA (hired in January) and while it is possible to travel to other PO’s and pick up hours trust me when I tell you this...Apply to CCA or PSE!

I’ve been applying to other crafts myself and will make the switch when an opportunity comes up. RCA life is feast or famine and we don’t get anywhere near the benefits that CCA’s and PSE’s get. I’m approaching 40 myself and this is the most physically demanding job I’ve ever had. Again, CCA and PSE don’t have to rush around carrying 70 pound parcels. They are paid hourly and can take their sweet time and lift properly.
I like my job when I work my regularly assigned route but that is rare for me. Maybe things will work out better for you?

I have been applying to everything else that is remotely close by, but nothing else has sent me offers as of yet. I was thinking that maybe once I am in I would have more opportunity? I wasn't sure if the other crafts would even give me a chance if they saw that I was currently going through the rural phases of being hired. It's starting to sound like it's more luck of the draw than anything.

 

[Morty]

There are sales jobs within the USPS, but they rarely hire outside their workforce.

My Uncle has worked in logistics for Hewlit Packard and Dell and Whitney Bowes. His job was to cut waste(six sigma blackbelt) and saved 100s of millions of $ for those outfits. But he'd have to start as a CCA/clerk if he wanted to work his way up despite his resume.

Clerk or CCA is your better path, but all luck based, right place right time.

I would personally stick with sales. Yeah, you're burnt out. But you're not stuck. Find a place that excites you and treats you well. The richest people I know are in sales.

 

[oi veh.]

So applying would be the same thing, no? She told me DO NOT RESIGN! Many make that mistake and that's not the way to do it. She said keep applying, I would go through the process and they would take the info I have already on hand and get through the steps faster.

No. Most management has no clue about rural, as most of them were clerks or city carriers to begin with. And anyone not in the PO (read HR) have no idea how the different crafts work.

You absolutely cannot transfer. You can keep applying, but once you have accepted a job and are in the rural craft, you must resign as an RCA in order to become a CCA (city sub) or PSE (clerk craft).

 

[Boricuanessa]

No. Most management has no clue about rural, as most of them were clerks or city carriers to begin with. And anyone not in the PO (read HR) have no idea how the different crafts work.

You absolutely cannot transfer. You can keep applying, but once you have accepted a job and are in the rural craft, you must resign as an RCA in order to become a CCA (city sub) or PSE (clerk craft).

She said there was a 5 day transition where I leave the one craft, have the break and then start the new one's academy, if I accepted a different position. Does that sound right?

I keep reading about bidding for routes or aux on the Rural side of things...not sure what any of this means though.

 

[JFT]

I have been applying to everything else that is remotely close by, but nothing else has sent me offers as of yet. I was thinking that maybe once I am in I would have more opportunity? I wasn't sure if the other crafts would even give me a chance if they saw that I was currently going through the rural phases of being hired. It's starting to sound like it's more luck of the draw than anything.

You won’t have more opportunity as an RCA. We are not able to apply to other crafts and if you do find an opening for CCA or PSE you have to apply as if you were not already employed by USPS. Basically you start over. I would still take the RCA position just to get an idea of what it’s like working here. I’ve been able to do other other crafts while helping in another office and I think I am better suited for those. Every person is different though and you may find you like the kind of work we do. It’s not easy.

 

[Boricuanessa]

You won’t have more opportunity as an RCA. We are not able to apply to other crafts and if you do find an opening for CCA or PSE you have to apply as if you were not already employed by USPS. Basically you start over. I would still take the RCA position just to get an idea of what it’s like working here. I’ve been able to do other other crafts while helping in another office and I think I am better suited for those. Every person is different though and you may find you like the kind of work we do. It’s not easy.

Have you applied for other crafts if you feel they better suit you?

Also, I know I would need to apply as if I were new, but in terms of the fingerprinting and background check, etc... would those phases still all need to be completed all over again?

 

[JFT]

She said there was a 5 day transition where I leave the one craft, have the break and then start the new one's academy, if I accepted a different position. Does that sound right?

I keep reading about bidding for routes or aux on the Rural side of things...not sure what any of this means though.

I’ve never heard of a 5 day transition into amother craft. My understanding is you have to apply to other crafts through USPS.com, get another offer, quit your job as RCA and then begin the new craft.

 

[Postal-xam@58]

I am just wondering, I know you say you are at the point you can’t stomach your sales job anymore. But just out of curiosity. In that job, did you get to go home after 8 hours? Were you allowed to go to lunch? Did you have weekends with your family? Did you have to furnish a vehicle, that could possibly be driven 50-100 miles per day? After you finished your days work, were you required to go help your co-worker finish theirs? Did you have to wait a year to go career? Like you when I started I thought I was getting my foot in the door and could move up the ladder. There was a maintenance job open and was exactly what I wanted to do, I found out I could not get it and neither did a regular (who had 20 years in). You said you are reading about rcas bidding and aux routes and you don’t understand. Bidding is done on line for jobs that come open after you have been there a year. An aux route is a small route under 40 hrs, that is usually carried by an rca until it reaches ( I think it’s 42 hrs now) and then it is bid off to let someone go career. (I may be off on some of this but if I am Someone more knowable will speak up).

 

[Boricuanessa]

No. I dont have weekends off, I have to work 10hr days 5 days a week IF my store is doing well, if it is not I have to work 6 days. I don't get holidays with my family, I am salary and have to be on beck and call by my phone for conference calls at the drop of a hat, reps calling me with questions, involved in WhatsApp with their constant chatter of sales and boys club jokes. I drive 70 miles to and from work now. The only perk is I do get a lunch, but it is in the back of the store and the reps constantly interrupt it with questions or customer complaints. The only good thing about my current job is the pay. I am sick of running after goals, being held accountable for other people and not being able to leave the job at work when the shift is over.