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O*NET detailed work activity

Sort mail

This is physical, in-person work with real objects, tools, equipment and places that change from day to day. AI can't do it for you.

Part of Sort materials or products, under the O*NET work activity group Processing Information. Individual tasks below can carry a different label when their own wording calls for it (2 AI-ready, 0 AI-assist, 17 stays human).

Tasks built on this activity

• Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.Stays human File Clerks
• Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.Stays human Postal Service Mail Carriers
• Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.Stays human Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
• Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.Stays human Couriers and Messengers
• Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.Stays human Postal Service Clerks
• Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.Stays human Office Clerks, General
• Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.Stays human Receptionists and Information Clerks
• Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail.Stays human Telephone Operators
• Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.Stays human Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
• Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.Stays human Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
• Date-stamp, sort, and rack incoming mail and messages.Stays human Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
• Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.Stays human Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
• Sort and deliver library mail and packages.Stays human Library Technicians

Tasks where it is part of the work

• Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.Stays human Word Processors and Typists
• Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.AI-ready Library Assistants, Clerical
• Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.Stays human Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
• Open, sort, and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.Stays human Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• Sort and file correspondence and perform miscellaneous clerical duties, such as answering correspondence and writing reports.AI-ready Bill and Account Collectors
• Open, sort, and distribute incoming mail.Stays human Couriers and Messengers