Is the Royal Mail Christmas temp job hard

[syed127157]

What sort of things will you do during the xmas temp?

I am starting next week feeling a bit nervous

[spit]

Where are you working? Don't be nervous. You'll soon get into it.

Depending on what you're doing, induction and training might be light touch but it should at least cover the basic health and safety issues about the place you're working in and the job you're doing. I guess they want to get you working as soon as possible.

There will be plenty of people around to point you in the right direction so don't be afraid to ask questions.

[MrPie]

I just started at the Heywood distribution park (was originally meant to be at Manchesters sorting centre)

It's really not hard at all. It will depend on the office but you may be doing the same task while working there or you could be doing something different every next day. Sorting is easy, so easy that the manager didn't even tell us how to do it. You just need common sense and the ability to ready and match postcodes. My managers are helpful and if i had any problems or question i would ask them. Don't be nervous, chances are someone next to you might know what to do. You could be porter and move the big dollys with mail in it ready for transport or you could be sorting out medium/large parcels. Grab your music player and take it with you, you'll be going through parcels with ease and bringing the next load in before you even know it. Music helps you keep the job a little bit more interesting ;) Have fun!

[julida2000]

started 25h nov at the jubilee outhouse in hounslow, working nights its been alrite but huge shock to my body, never worked nights

[Wells]

I had my induction on Tuesday and it was a bit daunting when the guy showing us around was explaining how it all works. But I think he was talking about the overall process (the mail is broken down, different colours for different parts of the UK etc.). And I'm guessing I'll only be involved in a small part of that process? Say if you were sorting mail for the different parts of the UK, would you then pass it down for other workers to sort it into the cities?

[MrPie]

I had my induction on Tuesday and it was a bit daunting when the guy showing us around was explaining how it all works. But I think he was talking about the overall process (the mail is broken down, different colours for different parts of the UK etc.). And I'm guessing I'll only be involved in a small part of that process? Say if you were sorting mail for the different parts of the UK, would you then pass it down for other workers to sort it into the cities?

Correct. You have the primary sorting area where workers will sort it out into specific regions of the UK. These will then be shipped down to different "roads". Manchester, Warrington, Preston and such will be in "Road 2" and other cities will be in other Roads. From here, they are lined up, ready to be pushed into the trucks for delivery. It'll depend on your manager on what you're doing on the day, the process for primary sorting and secondary sorting is essentially the same thing, you're still matching post codes. You might just have to ask around where to move the tray full of mail if you're starting a different area the next day.

On my first day i started working on Manchester for large parcels and such, the second day i was shifted to portering and then later on the day i was sorting out small mail/parcels.

It can be daunting, but don't worry. You're not expected to know how everything works, It can take a week or two before you get the jist of it.

[Wells]

Aah so the road that has Manchester, Warrington and Preston in would be the road for the North West England region? I'm guessing the secondary sorting would be putting the mail into the pigeon holes representing each city in what ever region you're working on? (say, Birmingham, Coventry, Worcester etc. for West Midlands road)

[Verging]

Aah so the road that has Manchester, Warrington and Preston in would be the road for the North West England region? I'm guessing the secondary sorting would be putting the mail into the pigeon holes representing each city in what ever region you're working on? (say, Birmingham, Coventry, Worcester etc. for West Midlands road)

It will be sent to the appropriate Mail Centre for sorting.

[MrPie]

where i work, we sort medium to large parcels and we put them in big containers which are then shipped to a mail centre in that region. Like Warrington mail will be shipped to Warrington. Manchester postcodes, OL.SK.M and BL will be sent to the Manchester sorting office to be sorted there and sent out for delivery :)

[angiepie02]

Its not difficult, just incredibly degrading. Never worked in a place like this... some people speak to you like your mud on their shoes.. and you just have to sit and take it. If this was a contacted job there would be no way in hell people would speak to and treat me like that.

The managers at our place are useless and there is not nearly enough work to justify us all being there.

[Motherwell18]

I find it quite relaxing - just stand there, switch off your brain and put things in the correct containers.

Easy.

[Grizzle]

Its not difficult, just incredibly degrading. Never worked in a place like this... some people speak to you like your mud on their shoes.. and you just have to sit and take it. If this was a contacted job there would be no way in hell people would speak to and treat me like that.

The managers at our place are useless and there is not nearly enough work to justify us all being there.

Not all sorting centres are like this last year the Bathgate one was incredible, we had a bit of banter but also go our work done, wasn't any pressure with it was great hope its the same this year.

[MrPie]

I find it quite relaxing - just stand there, switch off your brain and put things in the correct containers.

Easy.

Pretty much this! Some music made the time pass. It's a really easy job and you get paid for it. Can't complain.

Sucks to hear you're not enjoying it angiepie02. It'll vary from centre to centre. My managers are pretty relaxed and all the casuals talk to each other as well as work. It's hasn't been a bad experience for me