Summary for:
Couriers and MessengersDescription:
Pick up and carry messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.Sample of reported job titles:
Sample of reported job titles: Courier, Messenger, Driver, Laboratory Courier, Mailroom Courier, Transporter, Security Messenger, Distribution Technician, Mail Courier, Mail Technician
Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Activites | Experience | Example | Education | Work Style | Work Values | Related Jobs | Wage | Employment | Expected Growth | Expected Need
Tasks:
- Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances in order to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
- Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
- Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.
- Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
- Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.
- Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments, and to other establishments and private homes.
- Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
- Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
- Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
- Check with home offices after completed deliveries, in order to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.
Knowledge:
| Oral Comprehension ó The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| Multilimb Coordination ó The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. |
| Oral Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| Speech Clarity ó The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
| Speech Recognition ó The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| Manual Dexterity ó The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
| Near Vision ó The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| Problem Sensitivity ó The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness ó The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
| Control Precision ó The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
Skills:
| Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment ó Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. |
| Performing General Physical Activities ó 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. |
| Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Handling and Moving Objects ó Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Documenting/Recording Information ó Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Communicating with Persons Outside Organization ó Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Processing Information ó Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work ó Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings ó Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
Abilities:
| Contact With Others ó How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
| Face-to-Face Discussions ó How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate ó How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
| Outdoors, Exposed to Weather ó How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? |
| Time Pressure ó How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment ó How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)? |
| Freedom to Make Decisions ó How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
| Frequency of Decision Making ó How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
| Physical Proximity ó To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
| Deal With External Customers ó How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
Work Activities:
| Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
| Overall Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty. |
| Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. |
| Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers. |
| SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
| Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed. |
Work Style:
| 35-3041.00 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant  |
| 35-9011.00 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers |
| 43-5011.00 | Cargo and Freight Agents |
| 43-5052.00 | Postal Service Mail Carriers |
| 43-9051.00 | Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service |
| 53-6021.00 | Parking Lot Attendants |
Little or no change (-2% to 2%)