Students & graduates

USPS provides programs where current students, recent graduates and entry-level professionals can gain work experience and develop critical professional skills. Each program has been created to provide a meaningful experience that can attract top talent from universities and colleges.

For information about any of USPS’s developmental programs email us at universityrelations@usps.gov.

Intern Program | Professional Development Program (PDP) | Emerging Professionals Program (EPP) | Industrial Engineer (IE) | Honors Attorney Program

Intern Program

This 10-week internship program looks for motivated undergraduate juniors and seniors as well as master’s degree students who are dedicated to developing new ideas that will help drive our business. The program allows interns to gain real work experience that will be applicable towards their major, as well as their career. Interns will have the opportunity to collaborate on cross-functional projects, interact and receive mentoring from senior-level managers, and build great friendships while creating a strong network with a cohort of interns from universities around the country.

  • Must be currently enrolled at an accredited university and have 48 credit hours completed on your transcript by the time of applying.
  • Have a concentration in an applicable discipline, such as engineering, human resources, accounting/finance, supply, sales/marketing, information technology, and others.
  • Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • This program is great for veterans. See more details on our Military page.

Summer internships are available to apply early January, 2025. Program will begin late May, 2025.

If you are interested in this program, you must apply directly to the posting at www.usps.com/careers. Search the keyword “Intern” on the Job Search page.

For more information, email universityrelations@usps.gov.

Professional Development Program (PDP)

This 24-month developmental program is designed for recent college graduates. It offers tailored development to equip trainees with knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful during and after the completion of the program. It also offers networking opportunities with all leadership levels to grow the network of colleagues and peers within the Postal Service. This full-time program offers a competitive salary with performance-based promotions during and upon the completion of the program.

  • Recent Graduates from an accredited institution having completed an academic program (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) within the previous two years. Preference-eligible veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from meeting this requirement will have up to six years to apply.
  • Graduates with a concentration in an applicable discipline, such as Engineering, Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, Psychology, Business Administration, Industrial Hygiene, and others.
  • This program is great for veterans. See more details on our Military page.

Positions are available to apply late January to mid-February, 2025. Program will begin late Summer, 2025.

If you are interested in this program, you must apply directly to the posting at www.usps.com/careers. Search the keyword “PDP” on the Job Search page.

For more information, email universityrelations@usps.gov.

Emerging Professionals Program (EPP)

This 24-month developmental program, sponsored by our Chief Financial Officer, is designed for recent college graduates. The program provides opportunities to participate in cross-functional projects to gain exposure to Postal Service leadership. The program focuses on developing future leaders of the Postal Service by providing impactful training and skill-building opportunities to allow Emerging Professionals to contribute to the growth of the organization. This full-time program offers a competitive salary with performance-based promotions during and upon the completion of the program.

  • Controller — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in accounting or a closely related field which included at least 24 semester hours of accounting, auditing, finance and business law coursework from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Finance and Strategy — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in finance, economics, statistics or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Pricing and Costing — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in mathematics, statistics, economics, operations research or other closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Supply Management — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in supply chain management, accounting, business, finance, business management, law, economics, asset management, logistics, material management or other closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Treasury — Have a bachelors or graduate degree in finance, accounting or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education.

Positions are available to apply in early Fall for candidates to begin the program in either March or July, 2025.

If you are interested in this program, you must apply directly to the posting at www.usps.com/careers. Search the keyword “EPP” on the Job Search page.

Learn about continuing your career with this program at the USPS with jobs like Data Analyst, Financial Analyst, Purchasing & Supply Management Specialist and Treasury Analyst, found here.

For more information, email universityrelations@usps.gov.

Industrial Engineer (IE)

Industrial Engineer video thumbnail

USPS is seeking highly motivated and qualified Industrial Engineers (IEs). This 24-month program helps to re-engineer how mail is collected, processed, and delivered to the American public in a way that is faster, safer, and more economical. During the program, trainees will have opportunities to lead projects, obtain a Lean Six Sigma certification, and utilize AutoCAD, Minitab and other software while facilitating continuous improvement. In this position, trainees apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement principles to drive process improvement, improve service and reduce costs in mail processing, delivery, and customer service operations. This program offers a competitive salary with performance-based promotions during and upon the completion of the program.

  • Applicants must possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree in an Industrial Engineering or Professional Engineering program accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission.
  • Preference-eligible veterans qualify with a valid license as a professional engineer and six years of professional industrial engineering experience.

Positions are open to apply Sept. 3 to Oct. 14, 2024. Program will begin January, 2025.

If you are interested in this program, you must apply directly to the posting at www.usps.com/careers. Search the keyword “engineer” on the Job Search page.

Learn about continuing your career at the USPS as an Industrial Engineer.

For more information, email universityrelations@usps.gov.

Honors Attorney Program

This 36-month development program allows for entry-level attorneys to gain experience by handling a variety of legal matters independently. The honors attorney will receive mentoring and supervision throughout the development process. Participants in this program will be evaluated every six months with the potential for performance-based salary increases.

To be eligible for the Attorney (Honor Program) you must possess a Juris Doctor from an American Bar Association accredited law school no more than 30 months prior to the date of employment.

Positions are open to apply March 25 to April 10, 2024. Program will begin September, 2024.

If you are interested in this program, you must apply directly to the posting at www.usps.com/careers. Search the keyword “Honor” on the Job Search page.

For more information, email universityrelations@usps.gov.

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