Postal Service Job Fairs Scheduled For March Around Puget Sound

SEATTLE — March will be packed with opportunities for Washingtonians on the hunt for a job, as the U.S. Postal Service kicks off more than two dozen hiring events across the greater Seattle area.

The upcoming job fairs follow the Postal Service's earlier announcement that they would be hiring career mail carriers across the region, offering direct hires for permanent roles for the first time in years with hourly pay starting at $22.

The USPS is aiming to grow its Washington workforce by 1,000 in the coming months to improve mail service. Officials said they have an urgent need for mail carriers, handlers and clerks.

Job seekers will have seven opportunities to participate in a job fair in Seattle proper, with others planned in Renton, Bellevue, Bainbridge Island and elsewhere across Western Washington. Appointments are not necessary to participate and the events are open to anyone who is interested in beginning a postal career.

USPS officials said staffers will be available at each job fair to answer questions about applications and benefits. Most applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a background check and drug screening. More information on openings is posted on the USPS career page, with new jobs added every other Tuesday.

>> Check out the full schedule of job fairs here.