Postman with driving interview

[roughshootwood]

Hey,

I have an interview for a postman with driving next week. It's 25 hours a week, and a permanent contract.

Some questions:

- What will they ask me and what does the interview process involve?
- What will I be driving? I assume it's a van since I only have a regular driving license up to 3.5 tonnes.
- How much of my time will be in the sorting office, and how much out on my walk?!!! Hopefully as much time out and about..

Cheers.

[revilo88]

I dont want to put a dampener on things, but the vast majority of postman positions are advertised as "with driving".

Cant imagine a 25 hour contract would be a rural as well, so i would imagine that you will either have a Trolley or a Bike. I would guess a 25 hour contract would be 5 hours a day.

so im guessing 1 hour 30 mins of sorting etc and then 3 hours 30 min out on delivery. Being out on your own is great, as you will soon get fed up of management trying to tell you how to do the job whilst in the office. As regards to the interview, just be yourself and use common sense. Its not particularly difficult.

If you get the job some advice;

Be thick skinned, Some customers will talk b*ll*cks. Learn to take what some of them say with a pinch of salt.

Your first few weeks will be pretty tough, accept that you will go over your time and dont get stressed out when sorting because everyones already left the office and your only halfway through; we've all been there! Take your time and you wont make mistakes, time spent in the office doing it properly will pay dividends whilst out on your walk.

I reckon it takes about 6 weeks to get properly up to speed, so be very patient with yourself and dont let any staff make you think that you cant do the job. They were in your boots once upon a time ago, many of them have forgotten.

Just because your new, dont think that any of the management has any right to treat you differently. Learn whats expected of you and whats not, dont be afraid to stand your ground when you know your in the right. Your contract is your best friend for this sort of thing.

There are some great posties in every office, there are also some bad eggs. Dont be afraid to ask for help or clarification on anything, going back to an earlier point; most of use remember being new.

[roughshootwood]

I dont want to put a dampener on things, but the vast majority of postman positions are advertised as "with driving".

Cant imagine a 25 hour contract would be a rural as well, so i would imagine that you will either have a Trolley or a Bike. I would guess a 25 hour contract would be 5 hours a day.

Understood. It's worth noting though that the delivery office is in quite a rural area. I guess I'd just have to see, not that I would mind riding a bike, just obviously I'd prefer to be driving.

If anyone would mind explaining more about the sorting process that would be greatly appreciated.

Should I expect any kind of assessment on the interview day? Or would that be on the induction/first day should I get the job?

[krussel]

I dont want to put a dampener on things, but the vast majority of postman positions are advertised as "with driving".

Cant imagine a 25 hour contract would be a rural as well, so i would imagine that you will either have a Trolley or a Bike. I would guess a 25 hour contract would be 5 hours a day.

Understood. It's worth noting though that the delivery office is in quite a rural area. I guess I'd just have to see, not that I would mind riding a bike, just obviously I'd prefer to be driving.

If anyone would mind explaining more about the sorting process that would be greatly appreciated.

Should I expect any kind of assessment on the interview day? Or would that be on the induction/first day should I get the job?

Welcome.

In terms of sorting i would think that the basic sorting of mail into each walk (called IPS) would have been completed (dont quote me on this as it varies but this is what happens at our office with partimers) so you will come in and prepare your given walk, if you are lucky someone would have already well started the prep proccess. This will mean placing the mail into plastic slots in a delivery frame. First the normal sized letters then larger letters and magazines (we call them flats). You will also have a sack (called a drop bag/sack) of packets and parcels to also sort out into delivery order. Once all the mail is in the frame it can be taken out again in the correct delivery order, banded into bundles and placed in delivery pouches along with any packets for that part of the walk.

As for driving i doubt you will get to start straight away as you will need to pass a basic Royal Mail driving test in a van, this used to be called a "change over". Once you have passed then its quite possible with xmas coming up you could be given a spare van (prob a hire) and help out with the extra seasonal parcels.

Anyway best of luck just be yourself at the interview and try not to worry too much about it