USPS Pre Hire List | Everything You Need To Know.
USPS hires only federally-adjacent candidates for its open positions since it is a federal agency. The USPS, therefore, has to follow a selective employment process.
You may have applied for the position, reviewed your application, and saw that it says “Pre-hire List” or something similar. You may have wondered what this meant – are you very close to being hired?
So, tell me about the pre-hire list for the US Postal Service.
What Is The USPS Pre-Hire List?
The USPS Pre Hire List is a list of qualified applicants interested in working for the Postal Service. The list is used to fill vacancies that occur throughout the country.
Applicants on the Pre-Hire List are not guaranteed a job with the Postal Service, but they will be given priority consideration for open positions.

The Pre-hire list is the first step in the hiring process of The United States Postal Service after an applicant submits their application and passes the postal exam.
An applicant who seems to be a good match on paper will be invited to participate in a series of meetings to assess their fitness in more detail.
In this article, you will learn about USPS’s pre-hire process, including how long it lasts, what the hiring process entails, and when you will hear back from USPS on whether you have been hired.
What Is The USPS Pre-Hire Process?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) employs over 600,000 workers in various positions. Most of these employees are hired through the USPS Pre-Hire List.
The USPS Pre-Hire List lists qualified applicants who have passed the necessary exams and background checks for employment with the postal service.
Applicants on the Pre-Hire List are selected for interviews and job offers based on their exam scores, experience, and availability.
To be placed on the USPS Pre-Hire List, applicants must first pass the Postal Service Exam 473E. This exam is used to fill most entry-level positions at the USPS. The exam covers four main areas: address checking, form completion, coding, and memory skills.
Once an applicant has passed the exam, they undergo a background check. United States Postal Service applicants must take postal exam 473 and apply to start the hiring process.
The examination eliminates candidates, but those still in contention move on to the next stage of the hiring process after the examination, which is more difficult than many expect.
There is a positive appearance on paper with pre-hires. Applications and resumes that they submitted in response to the US Postal Service’s job openings met all of the requirements.
At this stage, the United States Postal Service (USPS) wishes to determine whether the applicants’ claims about themselves are accurate.
After going to the pre-hire list, it may take a few weeks before you hear anything from the United States Postal Service (USPS). This information is according to TrackingAdvice.com.
(On the other hand, if your location is dealing with a severe lack of supplies, it might not take very long.)
You will be contacted by a representative of the employing company and invited to participate in an “interview, screening, and personal testing procedure.”
After that stage, you might be invited to the pre-employment orientation if your meetings went smoothly and your test scores were high enough.
This is the part of the process in which you are given a tour of the area where you would be working and even get the opportunity to get your hands a little bit filthy.
That’s true, and you can anticipate putting in some effort when you’re here for the orientation.
This is so that the personnel responsible for hiring will be able to assess whether or not you truly possess the skills that you have claimed to possess.
You claimed that you were good with numbers. Show your work. Can you lift 50 lbs.? This is your chance to show that you understand that concept. Outstanding service to one’s clients? Show it to them.
You should avoid listing skills you do not truly possess because, unlike some other employers, the United States Postal Service will investigate your claim that you have these skills.
It is also intended for prospective employees who will be hired during this phase of the pre-employment process.
Do you still desire the job now that you’ve tasted what it’s like to work there? Does it feel like a good fit for you? Would you be willing to come up and give this position your complete attention and effort?
If this is the case, you can politely reject to proceed any further in the employment process, saving both yourself and the Postal Service a great deal of unnecessary time (and, in the case of the Postal Service, financial resources).
Before Human Resources decides to offer a position, the applicant must first participate in the pre-hire orientation (or not).
After this, you will be asked to wait patiently while the person in charge of hiring examines the report they created on you and compares it to the reports they have compiled on the other applicants.
After that, the person who seems to be the most suitable candidate will be removed from the pre-hire list and will be given an offer.
How Long Do You Stay On The USPS Pre-Hire List?
If you recently applied for a job with the United States Postal Service (USPS), you may wonder how long you stay on the USPS Pre-Hire List. The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including the number of open positions and the number of qualified applicants.
The USPS Pre-Hire List is essentially a waiting list for employment. Once you have completed the hiring process and been deemed qualified for the position, your name will be added to the list. From there, it is simply waiting for your name to be called.
The length of time you stay on the Pre-Hire List can vary depending on how many open positions and how many qualified applicants are ahead of you on the list. In general, however, most people remain on the list for several months before being offered a job.
Pre-hiring might take several weeks or even months due to the high demand for jobs with the United States Postal Service. This is because the Postal Service is extremely measured and thoughtful about who they hire.
If the people in charge of hiring decide that you will not be a good fit for the position, it may come to an abrupt conclusion at some point throughout the process.
If you want to go through each “next step” in the process, however, it may take up to six months before you are extended a job offer.
Most of that time may simply be spent waiting for a response. If you had hoped to find a new employee quickly, you should know that this is more the exception than the rule.
You should either prepare to wait or ask the hiring employees whether they can provide you with an estimate of the length of the wait.
Does USPS Pre Hire List Mean You Got The Job?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a process for hiring new employees that includes creating a pre-hire list.
This list is generated from applicants who have completed the necessary steps in the hiring process and have been determined to be qualified for the position.

Once an applicant is on the pre-hire list, it does not mean they have been offered the job. The USPS still needs to complete a background check and drug test before making a final decision. However, being on the pre-hire list does put an applicant in a good position to be offered the job.
If you are interested in applying for a job with the USPS, make sure to follow all of the steps in the hiring process. Completing these steps does not guarantee you will get the job, but it does give you a better chance of being offered employment.
Even if your application is placed on a “Pre-hire List,” that does not guarantee that you will be hired for the position. However, this does indicate that you have the qualifications necessary to move on to the next level of the employment process.
At this time, you should anticipate that an interview for the position will be scheduled for you.
How Long Does It Take For The USPS To Hire You?
With over 600,000 employees, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is one of the largest employers in the country.
The USPS has a continuous hiring process to fill job vacancies as they occur. Most applicants selected for a position will receive a job offer within 2-3 weeks after completing the hiring process.
The first step in the hiring process is to take and pass the 473 Postal Exam. The 473 Postal Exam is an aptitude test that measures your ability to perform basic postal duties. Applicants who pass the exam are placed on a USPS Pre-Hire List.
The length of time you remain on the list depends on your score on the exam and the number of open positions at the USPS.
Once a position becomes available, candidates on the list are contacted and asked to participate in a structured interview.
The United States Postal Service is not going to be the right employer for you if you are in a rush to find work. Finding work after applying can take an average of three to six months.
If it’s been over half a year since you submitted your application for the job, it’s usually reasonable to conclude that you weren’t chosen for the role.
You can also read our related entries on USPS orientation, USPS leave of absence policy, and USPS shoe policy if you are interested in learning more about these topics.
Final Words on USPS Pre-Hire List
After completing an application and achieving a satisfactory score on their postal exam, qualified candidates will be placed on the Pre-hire list maintained by the United States Postal Service (USPS).
Candidates are given interviews and required to participate in pre-hire orientation as part of the pre-hire process. This makes it easier for hiring employees to evaluate applicants’ talents and select the individual who is the greatest fit for the position.
Resource: USPS Website