Just joined, interview next tuesday

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 18 May 2016, 14:56

Hello to all.
I have been reading these boards for a number of weeks now, and having being unsuccessful in my first application I was pleased to get an email inviting me to an interview on my second.
It's a Postman/Driver position at 25hrs a week, I'm not sure what the overtime sketch is or what the supplements and shift allowances are.

I have already printed off everything I need, got all my documents in order and have read a few posts on here about the interviews, so I'm just going to swot up on a few things I feel may be relevant to the role and hopefully it will be enough.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 18 May 2016, 22:01

Good luck

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 19 May 2016, 10:50

Thanks, I currently work 50 miles away from home as I've recently moved. I'm involved with engineering, parts and production so most of my work is organising deliveries and sorting parts out, as well as some project management and site surveys.
The area I've moved to is quite hard to find work I've discovered, but never considered a postie role until it popped up in a job alerts. I have a few friends who have been posties since leaving school. Most of my experience is getting parts delivered across the UK in an operational role so I have prepared answers for the usual questions plus a few of my own.

The job description just states working between 6:00 - 15:30, Monday to Saturday with one day of, but is 25hrs per week. So is it on a rotating shift pattern? I currently do around 60-70hr weeks so working over isn't an issue for now.
How do the supplement and shift allowance work?

My concern is that I have been offered a placement at University starting in September so finding a part time role to suit that would be great. I would reconsider the placement and defer it to 2017 if the job prospects at RM were going to outweigh my degree in the short term.

Apinkdoggg · Post by **Apinkdoggg** » 19 May 2016, 18:36

Good luck with the interview

salomon2 · Post by **salomon2** » 20 May 2016, 07:36

Good luck, the times they advertise rarely are the ones you will be doing so being flexible is what they expect. If you're fit and used to walking then you will be fine.

boogiewoogie · Post by **boogiewoogie** » 20 May 2016, 11:54

Hi, I've just joined too. Good luck with your interview.

Can I ask when you applied? I've applied for 2 jobs, the first with online tests completed on 8th Apr, but still haven't heard anything

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 20 May 2016, 12:03

boogiewoogie wrote:Hi, I've just joined too. Good luck with your interview.
Can I ask when you applied? I've applied for 2 jobs, the first with online tests completed on 8th Apr, but still haven't heard anything

I applied for two jobs (both 3.5mi from home) on the same day on the 27th March, completed the tests immediately and last week got an email saying I was unsuccessful.
Then on Tuesday I got an email with the subject Your Interview which was offering an interview slot.

I had to choose one of 7 available slots so I chose the first one. Get in first and make an impression

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 24 May 2016, 13:45

Just an update, I've had my interview this morning and I think it went really well.
The chap was friendly and approachable and once the formalities of documents were sorted he proceeded with the questions.
There were 7 interview slots to choose from across Tuesday and Wednesday. I took the first available slot.

How long before I hear something Dyou think?

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 24 May 2016, 20:27

The process will probably take longer than you expect as some parts of the checking procedure do seem to take forever. When I started it was seven weeks from interview to first week on the job and apparently they were desperately trying to process it quickly due to staff shortages. .

salomon2 · Post by **salomon2** » 24 May 2016, 23:05

Sounds like things have speeded up in the last 18 months as from my interview date in May I then started in the September!

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 01 Jun 2016, 12:43

An update for you guys, I have today received an email saying:
"On this occasion we are unable to offer you the position you applied for as there were other higher scoring candidates. However, you did reach the standard required to pass the interview and your name has therefore been added to our waiting list for a period of 3 months from the date of this e-mail.

During this time if you see any similar vacancies (delivery, processing and collections role) advertised on our website, you do not need to re-apply, simply email our team at myapplication@royalmail.com with the details of the vacancy you are interested in.

For example: John Smith RML045045 – Brighton, Part Time 25 Hours.

Please also state ‘Waiting List Candidate’ within the subject box of the email."

Sooo, aside from the obvious...how likely is it I'm going to get a job with RM?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Jun 2016, 12:55

about 95% I would estimate.

There are 2 things going for you. Turnover is high, especially amongst new starters, and I would estimate that 60-70% of people who started working for RM in the last 12 years were on a waiting list at some point.

SYPostie · Post by **SYPostie** » 02 Jun 2016, 08:13

I can't wait 12 years. Lol
Need to find a new job before September when I start University.
I'm taking a pay cut to work for RM but I just can't justify £80 a week in fuel and 14hr days, I've done it for long enough. I'm at a point in my life where I can relax a bit more.

The part time hours at RM will work around Uni just right and with options for overtime too it would be ideal. I really hope something else crops up as close to home as the last one as that was on my doorstep. How far away can the depot be?

I have wondered about the interview process too, he was simply ticking boxes as I spoke, so I assume the selection was done on a points matrix system. I have a wealth of H&S experience over the last 18yrs on construction sites but none of it seemed relevant to RM at the interview stage.
Just wondering what it is they were looking for?

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 02 Jun 2016, 10:59

SYPostie wrote:......... I have a wealth of H&S experience over the last 18yrs on construction sites but none of it seemed relevant to RM at the interview stage.
Just wondering what it is they were looking for?

LOL - in my limited experience, RM don't do H&S, in terms of putting it into practice and enforcing it they're 25 years behind the curve. They
might do it when auditors come round or when there's a 'push' on it to make sure the boxes are ticked, but everyday see rules broken all over the place - and to a degree we
the posties are just as guilty as managers in not saying 'no' as everyone is responsible for H&S. There's only one priority in RM and that's to get the mail out of the
door as soon as possible at the expense of everything else.