Is this a real job or a rip off?
 

Hey all,
As I was searching for a job, I saw a link for an ad for US Postal Service jobs and it had a toll free phone number and a reference number. so I called them and gave them my reference number and they told me that they hab different positions, such as a mail carrier, postage clerk, etc.
And that I have to agree to take a drug test (What is a drug test, by the way, and how does it work? Do they take a blood sample or what?).
They will give me more info only if I agree to pay $19.99 as a registration (or processing) fee that is refundable if I decide not to take a position with them.
I said that i'll think it first.
So, I came to this board to ask you guys if this sounds like a valid job or just a way to earn money through us?
Should I try it or not?
Thanks in advance.

A drug test is no big deal if you don't use drugs... all you do is pee in a cup and give the cup to a nurse... it's tested for the usual suspects and you're done.

Does it sound like a legitimate job? Perhaps... but you're going thru an agent... this is the problem with doing your job searching on the internet... you aren't always talking directly to the company... You want to work for the postal service... contact the postal service - they will probably still drug test you -- but they won't charge you a 20 dollar filing fee.

Jobs a the USPS are here: http://www.usps.com/employment/welco...age=employment and you generally have to take a test...

As for the drug test, poppy seeds can cause a false positive for opium; don’t eat any for a few days before your test, just to be safe.

Good luck finding a job.

Thank you so much, Maleficent and Dilbert!
Thanks for the good luck, Dilbert.
I'll check the website, Malieficent. Thanks!

Maleficent, Is there another way to job search other than the internet?
I'm grateful for any suggestions.

Job searches- Local newspaper, Local indie newspaper, driving around looking for "Now Hiring" signs, walking into places you'd be interested in working for and asking "Are you hiring?" Trust me, I did them ALL when I was looking for a job!

I kept bugging the IT dept at my college until they gave me a job that was 2 years ago; it’s a great job, good level of responsibilities and far from boring.

What do you like to do, and can stand to do 8 hours a day, that’s always a good place to start

Thanks all for the help!
Since I've never been in the workforce before, I do not know what I like until I try it. I'm even accepting temp jobs so that I can try and see if I like each position.

Since you've got no work experience.. Temping is a good place to start since it will get you some much needed skills that can apply to other positions.

When you picked psychology as your major, what were you intending to do with it? I'd still try again with your college career center... if they helped with your resume, they should be able to help with some direction for you as well...

I started working temp jobs. First job was a callcenter, which I hated for the whole 3 months I survived there till I quit. Second job was manufacturing automotive air conditioners at $9/hr. 8 months later I got hired in as an associate with the company itself and am making a cool $15 an hour plus the best benifits in town, with lots of advancement oportunity... Just thought I'd share an uplifting story about working for temp agencies. And a tip, call the temp agency EVERY DAY to see if they have anything for you, eventually even if they dont like you they will get sick of you calling and find you a spot.

Thanks, Malaficient.
Truly, i wasn't thinking of my major with a career in mind as much as I was just thinking of the importance of education. And since I found it interesting, and after a while of changing majors, I finally went in it.
I was also married at that time and wasn't planning on working:(

Thanks, Smooth, for giving me hope!
As for temp agencies...how do I search for those?
I've also heard of employment agencies that either take a sum of the salary you get when you find a job or they pay you to get a job...where can I find such companies and how do I search for them? I searched online and found no such thing.
Thx