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Couriers & Messengers

Also called: Courier, Driver, Laboratory Courier, Messenger

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force.

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What they do:
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
On the job, you would:
  • Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
  • Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
  • Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
Transportation
  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • put together small parts with your fingers
Controlled Movement
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Independence
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$33,050
$23,850
$46,220
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about couriers and messengers.