When going into your first postal position, do they always start out at partime?

Question

at the post office

Answer 1

If you are hired as a career employee (not a casual/temp/transitional), you will be a PTF, part-time flexible. You could work 40 hours and probably would if you were a carrier. Flexible is the key word here.  In the clerk craft, they can and will change your schedule on a daily basis and split shifts are common also (work 4 hours in the morning, off for 3-4 hours, come back and work 2-3-4 more hours later in the day).

Answer 2

Almost always, even the Federal Govt does not want to pay what it costs for full-time workers.  On the flip side, if an employee does not work out, it is easier to get rid of part-time employees, they have little protection some times.  Many postal carriers, rural especially, are contractual, meaning that they kinda work for Feds, but without the benefits.