Johny García, an employee in the United States Postal Service, invites the Latino community to overcome the language barrier, conquer fear, and apply to over 200 positions available in Wisconsin and across the country.
Thinking about getting a job and taking off in the United States is not an easy task. Many struggle to overcome the language barrier and adapt to everything that entails being immersed in a new culture. Some fail in their attempt, but others like Johny García emerge victorious and find employment in positions that we wouldn’t even aspire to have in our own country.
Johny “Jarocho” García is originally from Veracruz, Mexico. The term “Jarocho” refers to someone who was born in the city of Veracruz similar to a New Yorker. Johny works at the south side office in Madison 820 W Wingra Dr.
This young “Jarocho” Mexican, like many residents in Wisconsin from the Latino community, worked in a restaurant and recounts that when the pandemic arrived, the owners decided to downsize the staff. “The number of employees decreased, but the workload increased, and I was getting burned out. I lived stressed and hardly rested.”
García says that one day he was talking to an American friend who proposed that he apply for one of the vacancies at the United States Postal Service. “I wasn’t convinced. I couldn’t see myself delivering letters all over Madison.” However, this company not only requires personnel to deliver or receive documents but, like any serious company, it needs personnel in all areas for its development.
Among the vacancies currently open for anyone who wants to apply are: motor vehicle operator, tractor-trailer operator, automotive technician, maintenance mechanic, mail processing equipment (MPE) mechanic, electronics technician, distribution/sales and PSE services associate, city carrier assistant, rural carrier associate, mail handling assistant, PSE mail processing clerk, labor custodian, among others.
Johny explained to La Comunidad News ONLINE and Madison Vibra that he never imagined being able to work in a federal agency responsible for handling all the mail in the United States. He insisted that the work of the community is desired, “we like to work, they know our Latino heritage, and they need our labor force, so the invitation is for you to apply, take action, and leave fear behind,” he said.
He insisted that the work of the community is desired, “we like to work, they know our Latino heritage, and they need our labor force, so the invitation is for you to apply, take action, and leave fear behind,” he said.
García assures that when he started working at USPS, his English was not the best, and he confesses that was what scared him the most. “Language is the main barrier preventing Latinos from getting jobs. I never imagined myself here, doing what I’m doing, but I overcame the fear. I started studying, I went to the website, registered, and I made it.”
Johny Garcia “Language is the main barrier preventing Latinos from getting jobs. I never imagined myself here, doing what I’m doing, but I overcame the fear. I started studying, I went to the website, registered, and I made it.”
The process to apply is simple, but patience is required as it takes time to apply, fill out forms, and wait for notifications. Anyone interested in joining the United States Postal Service must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. Additionally, they must undergo a background check and be over 18 years old or 16 years old with a high school diploma. For more information, please visit the following link: https://about.usps.com/careers/how-to-apply/.
If the interested person wants to start the process and meets the aforementioned requirements, the next step is to search and define the desired job, then create a profile and apply. Some job offers require pre-employment assessments, which the organization will conduct free of charge and inform the applicant if they are necessary or not. After completing the entire process, wait for further instructions.
This federal agency is aware of its importance to the nation and acknowledges that factors like the pandemic and unexpected inflation have tested the company’s strength. However, they have managed to emerge victorious.
Furthermore, the entire team fully adheres to a set of strategies aimed at drastically improving on-time delivery performance, contributing to environmental sustainability, providing optimal working conditions, and achieving excellence in all aspects. These strategies are outlined in the Delivering for America Plan, a document that explains the specific challenges facing the postal office and the strategies that will be implemented during this and the coming years to provide better service and achieve financial stability.
USPS aims to create a modernized postal network that maintains high service standards and adheres to the guideline of delivering six days a week to nearly 165 million addresses. To achieve this goal, they need people who are willing to work and put their heart and soul into what they do. Who better than Latinos to fulfill this mission?
Part of the established ideas include investments of over $40 billion in capital over the next 10 years, which is $15 billion more than the current base capital of the company.
The plan also indicates that employees and customers will have access to a modern network of post offices designed as favorite destinations. Additionally, they will hire a stable and empowered workforce that feels comfortable and happy in their positions.
“We want to be an ’employer of choice’ that hires, develops, and retains the most capable and diverse employees. Our plan largely focuses on improving collaboration and engagement in the workplace and strengthening the employee experience through training, technology, and more growth opportunities,” explains a section of the plan on the website.
García is convinced that Latinos should occupy these positions, which is why he extends the invitation and message for them not to be afraid and to apply. The worst that can happen is not being accepted, but if the response is different, as in his case, the opportunities are endless, and the benefits of working for this company are incredible.
The Latino in charge of customer service, scanning document procedures, and providing guidance to those who are not proficient in English, said, “The Postal Office supports you from the moment you apply. After you become part of the team, they provide visual, dental, and ophthalmological health benefits, savings plans, insurance, among others. If the current benefits are already good, they will be even better when everything they have planned starts to work.”
“We can all do what we want. We can all achieve things we can’t even imagine. It’s important to prepare as much as possible, not to be afraid. The postal office has many jobs; it’s not just about delivering letters and buying stamps,” concluded García.
For more information, how to apply for any position please visit the following link: https://about.usps.com/careers/how-to-apply/.