Seeking work with Royal Mail after Xmas Casual

[AberdeenLad]

Hello all,

New to the forum so if this is in the wrong place then apologies.

At the grand old age of 20, I have just been made redundant from my old job as an apprentice sparky a couple of weeks ago and have decided it may be time for a career change and looking for some information working as a postie. Any advice much appreciated.

On Monday i begin as a Xmas casual in the sorting office here in Aberdeen and although I have read the conditions arent great for casuals, I am willing to grit my teeth and do it if it means the chance of full time work when finished. What are the chances of me being kept on?

Some of these questions may seem silly but i know next to nothing about the industry so bear with me.

What kind of hours do you guys work? Are Royal Mail good to work for? Will i recieve the correct training and have the chance to progress up the ladder?

Whats the pros and cons of being a postie? Is there alot of overtime available?

I imagine superb in the summer but not so much fun in winter?

Are all postie jobs with RM driving based?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

AberdeenLad

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hello all,

New to the forum so if this is in the wrong place then apologies.

Welcome to RMC. It was in the wrong forum but don't worry I'll move it.

At the grand old age of 20, I have just been made redundant from my old job as an apprentice sparky a couple of weeks ago and have decided it may be time for a career change and looking for some information working as a postie. Any advice much appreciated.

On Monday i begin as a Xmas casual in the sorting office here in Aberdeen and although I have read the conditions arent great for casuals, I am willing to grit my teeth and do it if it means the chance of full time work when finished. What are the chances of me being kept on?

To be frank probably fairly small.

Some of these questions may seem silly but i know next to nothing about the industry so bear with me.

What kind of hours do you guys work? Are Royal Mail good to work for? Will i recieve the correct training and have the chance to progress up the ladder?

Contracts can vary quite a lot in RM, for instance we have had 0 hour contracts but I think they have all gone now. Most are somewhere from 20 hours up to 40 hours.

Whats the pros and cons of being a postie?

Pros are once your out of the office you generally left alone even with 2 in a van which is being rolled out, and that 99% of the public are gernerally quite appreciative. The Con is an overbearing, inflexible and autocratic management style that is company wide and watches and accounts for every second of your working day, and where overtime is questioned on a frequent basis.

Is there alot of overtime available?

Generally yes - but on deliveries I would pace myself first before accepting any overtime beyond your own duty. Its a very physical job which most don't realise till they start. We carry1 16kg (35 lbs) bags at the start of the duty and then collect anywhere up to 8 more bags (not as heavy) on an average duty and even the fittest struggle at first.

I imagine superb in the summer but not so much fun in winter?

The season does not make much difference to be honest. Although I find it worse when the temperatures are really high, the worst combination though is high wind and rain.

Are all postie jobs with RM driving based?

Its changing at the moment most dutys are trolley, cycle or walking - however with modernisation most duties will be changed to 2 posties in a van/car.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

AberdeenLad

[baldrick]

Hi Aberdeen Lad. Unfortunately RM is in the process of closing Mail Centres and cutting staff so the chances of being
kept on permanently, in a Mail Centre, are not good. Given the current difficulties with the snow, there may well be
a backlog of mail after Xmas, in which case you might be kept on a bit longer.
You might stand better chance of a job in a delivery office and should register on http://www.royalmail.com/jobs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for
notification of any available vacancies. The likelihood is that any vacancies would be part-time though. Good luck!

[johnnyp]

Hello AberdeenLad Welcome to RMC Teebs and baldrick have just about said it all im afraid
But good luck you never know

[AberdeenLad]

Thanks for the advice guys, geuinely much appreciated.

By some weird coincidence a Postman/Postwoman job has just appeared on the Royal Mail just 3 miles from me. Part time 4 month contract though but would take it if offered.

Have applied and completed the online tests so all i can do now is knuckle down over this Xmas period and hopefully get something at the end. I do understand the company is having some tough times at the moment though.

Once again, thanks for all the advice and help.