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Canada Post Jobs: Starting On-Call and How Seniority Leads to a Route

Canada Post advertises jobs on its own careers pages, linked from its website. Delivery and plant jobs usually begin as temporary or on-call positions, and permanent routes are awarded by seniority, so expect to work irregular hours at first.

What kind of employer is it?

Canada Post is a federal Crown corporation headquartered in Ottawa. Most operational staff are unionized, which means pay scales, hours and job assignments follow a collective agreement. Hiring volumes depend heavily on mail and parcel volumes and on the corporation’s finances, which have been under strain in recent years, so check current postings before counting on an opening in your area.

What are the operational jobs?

  • Delivery agent (letter carrier): sorts and delivers mail and parcels on foot or by vehicle in urban areas.
  • Rural and suburban mail carrier: delivers to roadside and community mailboxes, sometimes using their own vehicle.
  • Postal clerk: sorts mail in processing plants, often on evening or night shifts, or serves customers at a counter.
  • Driver and maintenance roles.

What do you need?

  • A valid driver’s licence and a good driving record for delivery roles.
  • The physical ability to walk for hours and lift parcels, in all weather.
  • To pass security screening.
  • To complete the assessments the posting describes, which have typically tested memory, sorting and attention to detail.

How do people get in?

Many start during the pre-holiday peak, when extra seasonal staff are brought in from autumn onward. On-call employees cover absences and build seniority until they can bid on a regular position. Being available on short notice makes a real difference early on.

Are there other roles?

Yes: head office positions in Ottawa in technology, finance, marketing and engineering, and counter jobs at postal outlets inside pharmacies and stores, where the retailer, not Canada Post, is the employer.

Start from the Careers link on canadapost-postescanada.ca. Also see logistics and transportation jobs and public service jobs.

JobsNearMe.ca is an independent job board. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or hiring on behalf of Canada Post. This guide is general information, last reviewed in November 2026. Hiring steps and programs change, so confirm the details on the employer’s own website and apply only through it. No genuine employer charges a fee to apply.

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