Bit of a vague one (few) question/s

[irepmorons]

Hi guys, i've been a postie in Birmingham for the past year and I was wondering about a transfer to the mail centre. I'm loving the job so far, but still.

First of all what types of jobs are usually available in the mail centres? I have a degree and I feel I would be more suited to working in a more office based role, if that makes any sense? What sort of roles like this are available?

I don't think I could walk the streets for 30+ years like some of the soldiers at my D.O!

Thanks for any responses.

D.

[Red Robbo]

I would suggest looking on the intranet for job opportunities, with your qualification you should get promotion in no time

[irepmorons]

Yeah i've tried but it's not very good to be honest.

It's a media related degree, but it seems like there are no opportunities for this sort of thing. Maybe going to/ringing the mail centre and asking about there is an option?

[clashcityrocker]

Ask about the graduate management training fast track thing.

[Surreypostie]

Media degree, get a job with the courier.

[rhino49]

Don't worry about what your degree is in - the fact that you have had the self discipline and work ethic to achieve one is your main qualification. If however you want to be involved in a media based job in RM you must expect to have all your principles ripped to shreds and reassembled like a Daily Mail reporters. Media in this business means propaganda and bullshit running alongside promises that make payday loan companies look like the best consumer product ever. If you achieve a graduate position leading to management - remember what the people who make this business work have to do for a living and use your own experience to create a bit of respect for us. By the way - I had a well paid indoor job in the retail sector for nearly 30 years and wouldn't have missed the last twenty on the streets for anything - think carefully before you commit your trouser seat to a chair for half a lifetime :)

[hopkirk]

so very true

[britwrit]

I've worked in mail centres for far too long (I'm on my fourth.) Clash City is right. If you're looking for an office job with the Royal Mail (even with the down-sizing that's probably about to occur), research the grad program.

There are a relative handful of sit-down jobs involved in a mail centre and they usually involve what's called "the book room" - the office that handles the grunt-level administrative work. Booking holidays and overtime. Pay and payroll matters. Arranging training courses. But because they are sweat-free and you don't go home exhausted, loads of people want them.

Otherwise, most roles in a mail centre basically revolve around sacks filled either with packages or letters/flats. Dump a sack full of stuff out onto a conveyer belt. Fill up a sack with stuff, tie it off and sling it onto a York. Push Yorks from point A to point B, onto trucks, off of trucks. Repeat on and on. For a wonderful change of pace, fill up a red sleeve with stuff and push it off somewhere. Or you can develop the stamina to run a marathon by dashing back and forth about a letter-sorting machine.

If you get to know people you become friends with, it's not that bad. But it's no ticket to office work.

[fishtank]

If I was looking for a change of direction with career development and progression I'm not sure I would waste my time with Royal Mail.
A "more office based role" isn't really what I would call a focused career path,maybe you should sit down and have a longer think about what you actually would like to spend your days doing and then see if you can align that with your current employer,If you can't it might be best to look elsewhere while you're still young enough and brave enough to take a leap of faith.