job application

[stevehtfc]

Hi - please could anybody help?? I applied for a 3 month temp contract for postman/driver on 14th December. I completed online tests x 2 on the 14th also but as yet have not heard anything else.

should I hear either way and will it take much longer, the job is no longer on the website.

i have heard through word of mouth the post is covering 5 members of staff on long term sick. is it likely to be extended after 3 months. having recently been made redundant i need to get a job and fast and have always fancied being a postman.

can anybody help??
thank you

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I wouldn't worry too much with Christmas being a big time for RM recruitment (they take on 18,000 extra staff) and with the paperwork they need to do for each one they are probably behind the curve a little.

My best advice is to wait about a week, but check both the recruitment website email, and your own emails (including spam folders) just to make sure you don't miss any.

[thefemalepostie]

I applied 9th August. Had my interview the 19th September but didn't hear anything till about a week before hand. I then started beginning of December, so if you need a job v v quickly I would keep looking at other places. Some other haven't waited as long as me, but they can be very quick or very slow, there seems to be no happy medium. I don't think you would be looking to start till mid to late feb by the time they have done interviews and security checks etc...

[stevehtfc]

thanks for your replies, i'll hang on in there a bit longer. its not so much the waiting as the not knowing.

has anybody experience of 3 month contracts? given the length of time it takes to recruit the 3 months will have gone??

i have been told most posties start on less hours (this post is 27) and then they are increased which is fine. has anybody been extended or made permanent after a 3 month contract at all?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

i have been told most posties start on less hours (this post is 27) and then they are increased which is fine. has anybody been extended or made permanent after a 3 month contract at all?

Every single 3 month contract has been extended multiple times in my Office and some after 2 years have been made permanent members of staff. From what people post on here its standard practice for the 3 months to be continually extended until either the postie quits, or they get made permanent (usually after 2 years).

However,don't take it as gospel as the rumours are we might be privatised this year and if so then everything is likely to change, and probably not for the better.

Good news as well, its unlikely you'll be doing just the contracted hours, most temp staff seem to do around 40 hours and more a week the one thing RM is usually not short of is overtime if you want it.

[thefemalepostie]

Unless you are totally useless your contract will normally be renewed. So you will keep getting three month contracts for a long time. I know the union are trying to stop this as some people are getting there 3 month contracts for 2+ years. Hours increased is very unlikely. You can do overtime so can do this up to full time hours, but obviously when on annual leave or sick you only get paid for the 27 hours so try not to rely on the overtime.

Your 3 month contract will start from your start date not from when you apply.

[Barbel]

I also first applied in August, did the online tests which I didn't hear anything for 3 weeks then an interview on September 21st. It's been a long process but I'm finally due to start next Thursday on a 6 month contract of 30hrs a week.