Promotion opportunities/job nature in the Department of Posts---------
Many are asking about the promotion opportunities in the Department of Posts..I will try to explain it...the first promotion test for a PA/SA will be for the post of Inspector (Posts)..you can appear for this exam after 5 years of service as PA/SA..there will be 4 papers (conducted in 2 days)...2 papers related to department of posts, one paper includes questions from general knowledge, reasoning and english and one paper includes questions from law/constitution ...the negative side to this is that the exam is not conducted every year....there was an exam last year (2016), in which some of my colleagues appeared...the exam before that was conducted in the year 2012! after a 4 year gap!....also, the vacancy will be very low...for Kerala, the vacancy was only 6...3 for general category and 3 for reservation...(sorry, have no idea about other states)...you can write this exam only 4 times in your career, and that too before 40 years of age...----
after IP, you can become ASP(Asst Supdt)...both IPs and ASPs can write the next Group B exam and become Assistant Directors/Superintendents..for that too, you need to have 5 years of service as an IP...even this exam is not held every year.. ----
Note- you can directly become Inspector(Posts) by clearing SSC CGL... -----
Something about the job nature – I work in the Circle office, which is the head office of a state ...Here, it is a 5 day job...9-5.30pm...the job here is smooth..there is work load, but nothing that keeps you after 5.30...all file work...not at all boring...you can keep certain files for the next day, i.e., you can have pending work...the negative side is that vacancies in Circle offices will always be low...i heard that this year, i.e., for CHSL 2015, the vacancy is below 10 here(not sure, just a rumour)....in post offices, as you already know, it is a 6 day job...there, pending work is not possible...you have to finish the work on the day itself..,the computer systems in many offices are older than some of us..which leads to many technical issues, headaches and all... --
If you get posted in RMS (railway mail sorting), there is option for working night shifts...you can work 13 nights a month (from 5pm to 5.40am)...that means free for all 30 mornings! Anyone who wants to prepare for other exams gets enough time...but i have heard from people working there that you get tired and exhausted after a period.. --
After 2 years of service, i would say that i am happy, but not satisfied..there haven’t been any work related issues till date, but i don’t see any growth here...i am looking for better job opportunities.. ---
Hope i was of help...please correct me if i have posted any mistakes...