how to become a postman (for foreigners)

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 25 Jun 2017, 12:14

Hi everyone!

I am writing this message from Italy, and I am Italian (so, sorry for my English...). I work as a postman for the Italian post service (Poste Italiane) and I enjoy this job.
However, since I and my girlfriend have been planning to move to the UK for ages (we are not satisfied at all with the living conditions here), I thought that maybe I could look for the same job at Royal Mail. But I have very little information about the real chances to get such a job.
I saw that there are quite many job vacancies as postman on the web and that I match with all the requirements (except the UK driving licence, but I can work on it). I am not a native English speaker, but I have a good level (C1) and I believe I can improve it while living in the UK.

I would be glad to get some piece of advice from you experienced people, especially regarding these questions: is it possible for foreigners to get a job at Royal Mail as postman? (also: do you know any foreigner that really work there?); do you think that it is a hard job to get (like, with millions candidates and few posts)? what kind of work contract do they offer normally (full time, part time, few months, etc.)? is it possible to live decently with that job or do you need to find another job?

Sorry for my ignorance, I am not very aware of how the job market works in the UK. Here in Italy it is considered as a wonderland

Thanks a lot for any answer!

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 25 Jun 2017, 12:52

Is it possible for foreigners to get a job at Royal Mail as postman? (also: do you know any foreigner that really work there?);
I know quite a few from eastern Europe working for Royal Mail so it should be possible from southern Europe.
Do you think that it is a hard job to get (like, with millions candidates and few posts)?
Not a hard job to get with reasonable numeracy and literacy but not having a UK driving license might be a problem, but there will be quite a few applicants so it might take a few months.
What kind of work contract do they offer normally (full time, part time, few months, etc.)?
Part time to start with, maybe 25 or 30 hours a week, but there will usually be overtime working available.
Is it possible to live decently with that job or do you need to find another job?
It's a good hourly rate. A lot will depend on your expenditure, don't be extravagant and you should get by.

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 25 Jun 2017, 13:20

Thank you very much for the ready reply!

I read here on the forum some people complaining about the recruiting process and that if you fail the interview you cannot apply for other posts for 6 months. Is that true?

I would appreciate a lot if anybody could tell me what are the main criteria used by the interviewers to select the candidates. You said numeracy and language skills. I hope my previous experience in the same role would be a plus and that I can play with it.

Also, I have seen some mentions about tests, online tests... are they compulsory before being contacted by the interviewer? in Italy I had to pass a similar computer test, that involved logical reasoning.

As for the UK driving licence, I think I can attend a course and get it, before applying for Royal Mail.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 25 Jun 2017, 17:59

Yes, if you fail the interview you cannot apply for other posts for 6 months.
Jobs tend to be given to the applicants living most locally so it is probably best to only apply after moving to Britain and then wait and only apply for a vacancy at your nearest one or two Delivery Offices.
As for the main criteria used by the interviewers to select the candidates it's probably reliability, integrity, enthusiasm, flexibility and honesty, not necessarily in that order.
Online tests now are compulsory and I think mainly about speed of sorting, so a bit like performing other tasks on a computer reasonably fast so not too difficult.
I doubt if having passed a similar computer test in Italy would be accepted as an alternative.

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 26 Jun 2017, 08:07

Ok wise tips.

So I cannot apply from my home country, first I need to move there and look only for the nearest vacancies. It will be hard.

Thanks!

Janet Brum · Post by **Janet Brum** » 26 Jun 2017, 18:05

My advice is to move to UK, get any job you can, rent a room in a shared house at first, it`s cheaper and you will need to save money to rent your own place later.
After you get here, apply for a National Insurrance Number (you can find out how using google), then exchange your italian driver licence with a british one, it will cost you only £50 I think and you don`t need to pass any test (again, google it).
After you have these 2 documents, start applying for Royal Mail jobs in your area and good luck :)

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 27 Jun 2017, 12:01

Yes I think you're right.

Actually I have not such a problem with finding a flat, since I have the possibility to stay in London without paying 1 single Pound (I will not explain in details but some people can host me for free, at least for some months, with my own bedroom). That's the main reason why I considered to move in London. My only concern is that maybe, being London a huge metropolis full of people in search of a job, there will be many more candidates for each vacancy, compared to places like Cornwell, etc. But It seems to be odd to find a flat in a remote place like Cornwell just to apply for a single vacancy. Maybe some people do it.

As for the UK driving licence, I did not know I could exchange it from the italian one... I have a friend who is italian and now works as taxi driver in London and he told me he had to pass a test. I'd better ask him. Well I need to exercise a bit to drive on the left, I don't want to have any accident.

Yes I know about the NIN, I guess it is quite easy to get, hopefully.

Thanks for the advices!

Janet Brum · Post by **Janet Brum** » 27 Jun 2017, 20:13

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Start the questionaire and answer yes to the first question

UE citizens can exchange their driving licence for the british counterpart without passing a test, if they got theirs legally in their country, after passing a driving test

More details here: http://www.expatica.com/uk/moving-to/Ex ... 07710.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck, keep us posted

Post by **POSTMAN** » 28 Jun 2017, 19:21

Stay where you are or go to nicer part of Italy.
This place is an expensive rip off dump.
The job is even worse for new starters, and being from another country it would be hell.

My personal opinion.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 28 Jun 2017, 22:49

POSTMAN,
Maybe you could do a job swap with dionisio.

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 01 Jul 2017, 22:02

Janet Brum wrote:https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

Start the questionaire and answer yes to the first question
UE citizens can exchange their driving licence for the british counterpart without passing a test, if they got theirs legally in their country, after passing a driving test

More details here: http://www.expatica.com/uk/moving-to/Ex ... 07710.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck, keep us posted

Thanks a lot!

dionisio · Post by **dionisio** » 01 Jul 2017, 22:08

POSTMAN wrote:Stay where you are or go to nicer part of Italy.
This place is an expensive rip off dump.
The job is even worse for new starters, and being from another country it would be hell.

My personal opinion.

Come on.... why so negative? except for the rent, and transportation costs, I did not find London much more expensive than the place where I live (Northern Italy)...
It will be hard in London, I agree, but at least I will be in a normal country, with normal people.
How can it be hell? do you have a similar experience?