Jackson, TN, Acting Station Manager Josh Matheny wasn’t sure what to expect from his first USPS career conference, but he was willing to trek 90 miles to Memphis for the opportunity.
“The career conferences are the key to advancement,” he said.
Matheny attended one of several conferences organized each year by Tennessee District. The meetings — which are held throughout the district — are part of the Postal Service’s broader emphasis on workforce development.
At the conferences, each attendee gets three minutes to tell senior managers about themselves and their accomplishments and goals. Participants also learn about job opportunities in other departments.
More than 80 percent of attendees at one of last year’s conferences later received a promotion or detail assignment.
Other districts hold networking nights to give employees opportunities to meet with managers and learn about job openings. Employees also learn about career advancement through Network and other groups.
Matheny, who joined USPS as a letter carrier in 2004, said attending Tennessee District’s conference was a good experience.
“I’m very glad I did it,” he said. “There was a lot more interaction with upper management than I thought there would be and it was very informative.”