At the end of your shift you discover your drawer is short by $30. What is the BEST action?

Drawer discrepancies are taken very seriously at USPS — they may indicate honest errors (most cases), system problems, or in rare cases theft. The exam is screening for: (1) HONEST IMMEDIATE REPORTING — covering up creates much worse problems if discovered later; (2) PROCEDURE FOLLOWING — every facility has documented procedures for drawer discrepancies; (3) ROOT-CAUSE INVESTIGATION — patterns of small shortages indicate something specific (procedure misunderstanding, drawer not zeroing properly, refund not entered, customer count wrong); (4) NOT COVERING FROM PERSONAL FUNDS — this is actually against policy in most situations; it obscures the discrepancy and creates new problems. Hiding it is a serious offense and can lead to termination if discovered. Covering from your own pocket can also be problematic (suggests admission, may violate policy). Blaming coworkers without evidence is destructive and unprofessional. The right pattern is the consistent USPS exam pattern: honesty + immediate reporting + procedure + root-cause focus rather than personality.