Whats it like being a postman ?

[Britainsfavouriteson]

I was just wondering because I had an interview for the apprenticeship scheme the other day and I would like to know what you posties think about the job. I know not everyone is happy with the Royal Mail at the moment, but there must some good things about the job for people to keep doing it, so what have I got to look forward to if I get the job ?

[POSTMAN]

There's abit here.
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/forum/vi ... php?t=3707

[vigilante]

Sorry mate this job can be quite stressful a lot of the time.
It's true there are more labour intensive jobs but this is more mentally tiring and harder in other ways
if you get my meaning.
to those who say it's easy you come in pick the mail up and swan around talking to people like postman pratt ------think again
I'd like them to have a go a it.

[rhino49]

I was just wondering because I had an interview for the apprenticeship scheme the other day and I would like to know what you posties think about the job. I know not everyone is happy with the Royal Mail at the moment, but there must some good things about the job for people to keep doing it, so what have I got to look forward to if I get the job ?

Great job spoilt by a crap management system. Working in an office full of nutcases for a few hours followed by serving your local community in the fresh air for the next few is pretty much all you can desire - it keeps you relatively fit and has few expenses as your uniform and company transport (bike or trolley) are provided. Pay is a little better than most relatively unskilled jobs, but being a good postie requires a few skills you may not yet recognise. The downside is an archaic attitude shown by most managers to staff development and encouragement, basically a blame culture where we are responsible for everything that goes wrong and they are responsible for what little goes right. Prepare to have your preconceptions rudely shattered when you start - no fictional or investigative TV program has yet captured what it is all about. Personally - I love the job, my customers , my delivery walk and my mates and I suppose we are lucky in not having the worst managers in the business. Go for it and stay in touch with us on here to give your views as you learn all about it

[JAMESMARSH1980]

As a fairly new starter myself (3 months into the job) on the whole I love it, on my first day all, the other posties came and said hello, offered me help, even gave me there mobile numbers to call if I was stuck or unsure about anything and made me feel really welcome, my manager said a quick hello, told me basic info but was left for the lad who was training me to show me the rest, the first few days seem very daunting when your on your own but after a week or 2 you get the hang of it, the first day out on your own you may be out all day, but dont give in, now I do my round in 2.5 hours, its a great time when your out in the open air and people talk to you which I dont mind at all, especially when they comment on what a good job you are doing. If you are unsure about anything always ask somebody first, ask another postie as they will always help you (well they do at my office anyway) they are a great bunch of lads and comments I've heard this nice bunch of lads spreads across the whole country. The job can be easy, but on days it can be hard, people who think the job is a walk in the park dont know the ins and outs of it, especially on days like today when it was pouring with rain and they are sat on there backsides tapping there keyboards. But on the whole I love it.

[DirtyHarry]

An apprenticeship?............ You have my sympathy son, this job has been going downhill at a rate of knots over the last 7 years. If I were you,I
wouldn't bank on having a long-term future with RM, unless you're looking forward to a 20hr week, no pension worth speaking of, and an immediate
RTU the first time you sneeze/cough.

Bleak I know, but that's the future as our employers see it.

[As_you_were_men!!!]

The first few weeks will seem daunting.You will see everybody leaving the office way before you have even threw your mail off.You will take forever to deliver the mail each day.DON'T WORRY!!! Everybody starts off exactly like this,I know I did.I thought it was so crap that I was ready to jack it in after about two weeks.That was over twenty one years ago.The job has got harder over time,but once you are out of the office,you are your own boss.
Take time to chat with customers.Even a quick hello to them will be do.They will appreciate you for it.It is always easier delivering to people who want to give you the time of day.

[shelanda]

you wouldn't expect to be last out in my office I am brilliant at it as is one of the other senior members. The longer you spend getting yourself prepped the shorter time out...... No that's not me either maybe I am just slow Ohwell! such is life. just enjoy it and don't panic that's when you make mistakes and RM take no prisoners!

[Rai3931]

Britainsfavouriteson: I'm in the same position hon, just starting out soon and cacking myself about it, kinda. Not fazed by the thought of customers...it's the managers that're bothering me. And yeah, the thought of all that sorting, and f***ing up, and delivering the wrong stuff...

But hey ho, it beats an office job

[AndyK]

Don't worrie in general the managers are pretty dumb and the majority just bullies stand your ground, do the extra work YOU want to do they will soon get the message and stop bothering you, join the CWU because a rep will always tell you your rights when your not sure of things, were as a manager will just bullshit his/her way through to get you to do things they want. its a very enjoyable job especially out of the office, the only problem for your future is getting a full time job it may never happen!!!

[jafferpants]

JAMES MARSH1980 PRINT OFF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE JOB AND PUT THEM IN A SAFE PLACE. THEN ABOUT 20 YEARS TIME TAKE THEM OUT AND READ THEM AGAIN. MAN WILL YOU BE IN FOR A SHOCK.

[madelin4]

Thats if royal mail are still about in 20 years time!! 2 years time even looks bleak!!!

[coppertop]

I love it out in the fresh air meeting lot's of wonderful people, helping the elderly open jars that they are struggling with .Right let have a reality check the job is hard we certainly earn our money it is mental as well as phisical, out in all weathers so to be fair you have to be tough to be a postie the amount of people who drop out surley shows that. If you can last your first year you stand a good chance of lasting the distance.

[jafferpants]

COPPERTOP MY SON THAT SAYS IT ALL! I RAISE A GLAS TO YA .

[scorchio999]

Ive been doing the job for 8 month now..contracted hours 22.5pw....the possibility of getting my own walk seems about 3-5years away. Most days I dont know what walk Im on till I get in the door (normally 8.30am)on a good day day it might have been prepped, on bad day nothing! Ive only ever finished early 3 times and the latest Ive finished is about 5.45pm At induction we were told we would get a long weekend every 6 weeks, yet Ive never been rota"d for one..moaned and begged just to get a saturday off!! The whole depot is run on seniority coming first..im not saying this is a bad thing but its always gonna make it hard to compete with the competition... the senior staff always have the shortest walks...along with the union reps! Management dont care what time you get out as long as they dont have to take it. On average I do a 33hour week.. part time contracts are a joke, the union should police the situation better.