Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Working Life

Postpersons collect, sort, distribute and deliver mail. The mail is collected from post offices, post boxes and business at set times during the day. It is then taken to a sorting office where it is mainly handled by automatic machines.  
 
In the sorting office, some people are employed to 'face' the letters. This involves turning the letters so that they face in the same direction, checking and cancelling the class of stamps.  
 
More experienced postpersons in larger sorting offices work as keyboard operators. They sort mail that has been posted in their district, ready to go to other parts of the country and mail that has arrived from outside the district, ready to be delivered to local sub post offices for final sorting and delivery.  
 
Some postpersons are also employed as drivers. Large goods vehicle drivers transport mail over long distances. Local drivers deliver mail from central offices to local offices, collect mail from boxes and may sometimes sort mail. Drivers are usually experienced postal workers.  
 
Parcels work is similar to that of letters. It is the postperson's responsibility to get the post from the sorting office to the destination. They may be delivering important documents that must arrive at the correct address.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
• Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
• Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
• Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
• Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
• Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
• Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
• Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
• Turn in money and receipts collected along mail routes.
• Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.

Further Information

• Postal Delivery Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Postman / Postwoman- from: An Post
• Postman / Postwoman- from: An Post

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

An Post is the only employer of Postmen /Postwomen in Ireland. It recruits externally to fill entry level positions. The following entry process is followed when applying for a position with An Post:

• An application form or CV is required, as stated in the job advertisement
• Applicants are given an aptitude test examining verbal, numerical and classification skills. You must pass the aptitude test to be called to the next stage which is the interview.
• A medical examination and security clearance must also be passed.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

Successful candidates will meet the following criteria:

• You must have a clean Full Driving Licence
• Ideally you have meaningful work experience or experience in a customer-focused environment
• You are a hardworking and committed individual
• You have good organisational skills
• You are flexible, efficient and effective in your work practices
• You must be at least 18 years of age.

How to Apply:

Details of Career Opportunities with An Post are available here.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €40k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
An Post Payscale/ Indeed/ Talent.com

Last Updated: February, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Postal workers; mail sorters; messengers and couriers; Elementary administration occupations n.e.c.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The strong employment growth rate is in part related to changes in the Labour Force Survey in 2017; although employment increased marginally between 2020 and 2021, it remained unchanged in 2022. Most are employed in the transport sector. Automation may reduce the future demand for some roles in this occupation, although increased online shopping since the onset of COVID-19 has seen demand for couriers and postal services persist.

• An Post

  • Post Offices Division, G.P.O., Dublin 1
  • (01) 705 7000
  • Click Here