First day on my own, and already worried!

[Postman Plodd]

First take a deep breath, and relax. Nothing is as bad as it seems and your catalogue of worries dont warrant the anxiety you seem to be suffering.
1st day out on your own would suggest that you're fairly new to the job and 'newbies' are always slower until they find their feet. It is expected so dont worry about that. Saturdays have traditionally been a little lighter than normal but only 'easy' to someone who knows the job i.e your colleagues or someone who wants to worry you into perfoming beyond your capabilities i,e, management. Just explain what you have or havent done on monday and they wont sack you as it's really not as easy for them as that. You may get some more training or a little counselling IF you haven't followed procedure properly but every one of us started out feeling a little overwhelmed 1st time out alone. Try and enjoy the weekend.

[pokos27]

dont worry about it, the first time you do out is always horrid.

[taptap]

Dude I feel your pain,,,truely. The 1st month is hard, packets, signed,letters in the right letter boxes.
It's a serious learning curve.
If you cant finish then take it back...I know its hard, but you CAN take it back!!.
Took me ages to take post back and say I cant complete, truely!. But we aint machines, if you want to finish at 13:45 take the post back and say it.
No problems.
I think your other collegues respect you a little more, you find help will come, also ask questions all the time even for the most mudane things.
Im 2 months in of a 6 month contract I have a nickname now and I think Im being excepted.
It does get easier.
enjoy.

[Judgee]

If it's any consolation. Today in our office it was damn heavy for a saturday and many struggled to complete.... many failed!

You are new, you will make mistakes and it is expected. Don't worry you will be fine!

[POSTMAN]

2 days training then out on your own.

[Glenno]

Yeah i've only started this week, had 2 days of 'training' which felt more like just a way to show me how tiring the job can be, then one day on the walk i did today! I just didn't feel ready for any of it, especially the packing up of the mail.
I guess i do get a bit over worried, but reading things on this thread doesn't help especially with talk about 'Wilful Delay'?
Everyone is really nice and helpful where i work, but at the sametime they seem to expected me to know everthing after being show it once, and theres alot to take in! And if people are having to pick up the mail i could finnish i doubt thats gonna go down well

M8 I feel for you, being an ex-WPC ( work place coach ) I know what is supposed to happen compared to what actually happens at the sharp end, your training is inadequate to say the least, on Mon ask if there is a a WPC? if not ask that you get a suitable person to " buddie " you and teach you how to do the job properely, if you don't know or have never been shown it is not your fault, so do not worry about willfull delay or any such nonsense, relax and try to enjoy what is left of the weekend m8, if you need any further assistance pm me

[Robtor]

Firstly like others said, don't worry about it. First time out on your own and on a Saturday is plain stupid, I expect either nothing or next to nothing will be said about it on Monday. A new starter in our office the other week had 3 days training (was a rural tho which requires a bit more) and then first day on his own, didn't get back till 1830 and brought half of it back. He's still here, just needed a bit more help.

However I would say I wouldn't really listen to;

If you cant finish then take it back...I know its hard, but you CAN take it back!!

You can if you're a fair chunk over your time and struggling, but I wouldn't turn up at 2pm on the dot(or whatever your time is) saying you ran out of time, it's just asking for trouble. There is flexibility for new starters but show them you're willing to put a little extra in, it goes a long way. If those of us that have been here a while decide to just "take it back" then we can get into serious trouble, it needs to be declared before going out (again, being new you have no idea what you'll manage hence you have more flexibility on the matter).

[DGP1]

Everyone i speak to seems to have been there a few years, so maybe there've forgot how hard it can be? and im not used to this kind of work, maybe im not cut out for it? By the end of today i was so p*ssed off i was ready to walk, but i will return on monday and see whats waiting for me!

Anyone who says they didn't think of walking after their first few weeks is lying (or in London ) this job is a lot harder than lost people think it is and it DOES take time to adjust to it.

Stick with it, ignore what people seem to think about you, find your union rep and relax............they'll either sack you or you'll get used to it.

[BELIAL]

You get acclimatised to it .All the same s**t at day 6,768, nothing about the job or management changes,just your attitude

[DGP1]

Hmmm why is London so different then? I get the feeling people like me at my place but who knows? I really don't wanna get sacked! i've got a kid to bring up!

Because London appears to get better treatment than the rest of us we tend to get a bit naughty about them but still, listen to the advice, stick with it and enjoy the ride................it's really is one hell of one

[bigcol]

Don't worry. There are plenty of people willing to help out.

[crazyshrew]

I've been doing the job 10 months now and it will get easier. this is what i wish i kenw at the start

If your are prepared to go over your time make sure you find out where the overtime sheet is kept and fill it in every time (took me about a month, dread to think how much £ i missed out on claiming)

Don't start coming in early, your are unlikly to get any thanks for it, and starting 30min early just robs of of 30mins OT at the end of the day.

If your entitled to one, Take your break! for the same reason as above

A lot of folks are actually very nice! and remember how hard it is to start ASK FOR HELP! in 5 mins they can stick as much in to the frame as i managed in 30 (it will take a few weeks to get as quick as them)

When your getting moved to a different duty , find someone who knows the duty well and ask them for any tips as the walk logs are rarely up to date. ( i now have quite a collection of "cheat sheets" telling me the best routes to take, codes to get in to buildings etc.)

this one may sound obvious but watch the weather forecast and take out appropriate clothing, food and drink (when it's really hot i like to freeze a couple of bottle of water over night as its stays nice and cold (and it lasts longer)


Like i say i'm 10 months in and still make the occasional mistake. if i get put on a new walk i will go over my time. and if its really going tits up i sit down light up a ciggie and take 5 mins to chill out before getting on my way, this helps alot!

[Johnny Remo]

It's ridiculous what they expect new workers to do. You will get better and faster, but there is *no way* you should be doing a walk on your own so soon. I got a week of buddy training when I started last year, but I was still way off being ready to go out on my own and had all the problems you did - not finding addresses, mis-posting letters, struggling with my bundles, missing drop-boxes and generally just not getting round quickly.

I very nearly packed it in a couple of times in the first month, but my workmates helped big time when they saw I was struggling, and to be fair (I know it's heresy on here!) my DOM was also helpful when I told him I was thinking of quitting (gave me lighter duties etc, - okay, primarily mainly 'cos he couldn't face going back to recruitment, but...)

It is easy to forget how hard it is for a new starter (in part I don't want to remember what a nightmare it was!) and it was very different for the long-termers who have gradually got used to longer duties, whereas new guys are thrown straight into 4hr+ walks.

Stick at it - ask for help from your work-mates and on here - good luck!

[steven100]

2 days training then out on your own.

The lack of training is unacceptable...this is poor on RM part. This is a failing that i've pointed out to many RM management for years. And lets not forget people get sacked for not meeting RM standards.

[steven100]

Another problem is when people are generally trained on the guy who trains them (forgoting name) on their own walk. Which could be easy. Ie all single doors but trainee is expected to cope with flats/tenements. They should be trained to cope with both examples.