Been offered new job as a a bus driver

[voodou7628]

I have been with royal mail 26 years started when I was 18 it's the only job I've had the thought of doing another 20+ years doesn't fill me with joy. I know it's a no brainer to make the change but I think iam a bit institutionalised. The job has changed for the worst over the years and with the uso changing this year it's going to get even more worse. I just can't help but to have doubt if Iam doing the right thing what if I don't like this new job really didn't want to work weekends split shifts and so on what would you guys do.

[chickenwittle]

I have been with royal mail 26 years started when I was 18 it's the only job I've had the thought of doing another 20+ years doesn't fill me with joy. I know it's a no brainer to make the change but I think iam a bit institutionalised. The job has changed for the worst over the years and with the uso changing this year it's going to get even more worse. I just can't help but to have doubt if Iam doing the right thing what if I don't like this new job really didn't want to work weekends split shifts and so on what would you guys do.

Wouldn’t fancy the shift work personally, especially Saturday/Sunday evening, if I was to leave now it would be for a mon to fri only.

[Smoothbackground]

Depending on where you are in the country, I’d say go for it. In London they can earn over £40k these days. I couldn’t put up with the passengers or London traffic myself!

[derekm]

One of our staff left to join one of the bus companies. Seems to be doing ok lot less physical & stressful.

[SMS1969]

I have been with royal mail 26 years started when I was 18 it's the only job I've had the thought of doing another 20+ years doesn't fill me with joy. I know it's a no brainer to make the change but I think iam a bit institutionalised. The job has changed for the worst over the years and with the uso changing this year it's going to get even more worse. I just can't help but to have doubt if Iam doing the right thing what if I don't like this new job really didn't want to work weekends split shifts and so on what would you guys do.

I would wait to see how it pans out for you, the shifts on the buses aren’t good and you won’t be earning as much. Each to their own but I wouldn’t jump for that job-Sunday working , sometimes late, as well.

[Londonsburning]

Depending on where you are in the country, I’d say go for it. In London they can earn over £40k these days. I couldn’t put up with the passengers or London traffic myself!

Did you not tell someone else, who has already accepted a job elsewhere to 'wait it out until later on this year?'

[Smoothbackground]

Depending on where you are in the country, I’d say go for it. In London they can earn over £40k these days. I couldn’t put up with the passengers or London traffic myself!

Did you not tell someone else, who has already accepted a job elsewhere to 'wait it out until later on this year?'

That was a different job, different situation. Do you have any constructive advice for the OP, CarryingMgmnt?

[OikOik]

I'd wait personally, could be voluntary redundancies on the horizon.

I couldn't do the shifts on busses. Somedays you start at 4 in the morning, the next you finish at midnight. Crazy.

[Londonsburning]

Depending on where you are in the country, I’d say go for it. In London they can earn over £40k these days. I couldn’t put up with the passengers or London traffic myself!

Did you not tell someone else, who has already accepted a job elsewhere to 'wait it out until later on this year?'

That was a different job, different situation. Do you have any constructive advice for the OP, CarryingMgmnt?

What's the difference between your advice for the two posters?

[Londonsburning]

One is a binman and one is a bus driver. Explain yourself please

[Smoothbackground]

Depending on where you are in the country, I’d say go for it. In London they can earn over £40k these days. I couldn’t put up with the passengers or London traffic myself!

Did you not tell someone else, who has already accepted a job elsewhere to 'wait it out until later on this year?'

That was a different job, different situation. Do you have any constructive advice for the OP, CarryingMgmnt?

What's the difference between your advice for the two posters?

One was seeking advice on a vague job working as a loader on the dustcarts, the OP in this thread is seeking advice about a job offering paid-for training to become a vocational driver, thereby equipping him with a skill and qualification that can earn him good money into the future with other employers. If he didn’t like the shift work on service buses, he could then after a year or two go on the coaches or just do rail replacement or private hire work.

Please stop derailing and dominating threads, CarryingMgmnt, it is becoming tedious.

[Smoothbackground]

To be fair, OP. i had overlooked the prospect of VR in giving my view on what you should do. Well done, OikOik, for pointing that out. You should sit tight with your current job until you know one way or t’other if you’ll qualify for VR. You’d kick yourself if you went too soon and lost out on a chunk of money. There are always bus driver jobs to be had, and you could do that, with a big chunk of redundancy money to boot, anytime.

[TopperGas]

I'd wait personally, could be voluntary redundancies on the horizon.

I couldn't do the shifts on busses. Somedays you start at 4 in the morning, the next you finish at midnight. Crazy.

That depends on how the DO is presently staffed, if it's already understaffed then it's unlikely there will be any VR?

[postiewhite]

My mate is a class 1 driver, takes home £3200 a month (£750-800 a week) and works Mon to Fri and loves it.
He was a bus driver previously for Stagecoach and he was more knackered doing that job basically his shifts were all over the place. One week maybe earlies, then later when the drunk idiots get on the bus and then anything in-between, this included weekends. The wages are about on par with RM wages in our area .
Much easier work, but many many routes to learn but didn't like the various shifts for what they pay. He's out most of the week now as a class 1 driver but in all fairness he's getting paid double what he was getting as a bus driver.
If I were you I'd get my class 1 or 2, you are never out of work and you will earn very good money and you have the added bonus of not having awkward, angry (when your 5 minutes late) or aggressive drunk passengers

[Wullie10]

Probably worth putting up with the crap on busses for a few years to gain some experience. But at 44 I'd definitely want to get out of RM. If you wait any longer you'll be really stuck and the options for something better will be greatly reduced.