Tips to be quicker?

[rubberbond]

[quote="Lawrencepa2014"]I’m 9 weeks in and I’m still too slow. I get back late too much. I feel like I might not get through probation. Have you got any advice for me to be quicker on my round?[/quote
Who says you're too slow and getting back too late? Good grief you've only been here 9 weeks , can't they give anyone a break?

[Dorset Plodder]

All good points previously mentioned. You are going to be "Slower" when you first start. Aim to be Accurate, Correct & Work Properly . .... Speed will come with experience. If you're running around like a headless chicken trying to be "Faster" you'll mis-deliver and make mistakes...... although some experienced Posties still seem to be getting away with this years later! Personally I'd take any Advice given by your Managers with a pinch of salt. All they're worried about is their Office Budget & their Bonus. Ask a Friendly Colleague any questions, such as "Is this Duty deliverable within the time? Or does everyone go over"? As a Newbie you've probably been given the worst Duty in the Office, probably Oversized with an out of date A4 and Crap Frame layout, that doesn't work.

In no particular order: Part 1

Prep Households before you start throwing off mail (in RM time) Largest one at the back like a Divider... Throw off Mech Letters ... Then IPS Mail leaving a large Flat/Letter at the back (again as a Divider)... Insert small packets (i.e DVDs) into your frame in front of that DPs mail......... If they've got a Larger packet insert a 739 (Red Card) in front of their mail (then you know you've got one). Put that packet on a designated Top Shelf, or area of floor, for that bag (in delivery order and with house no written on end, if it helps), band lots of smaller packets (China Post) together as you're prepping and note on front packet how many (saves you pissing about on the doorstep and having to go back with "Forgotten" packets) Any Letters that have windows: Write the house number on, IF you think the address will slip out of sight.

When you're tying up try to be logical i.e End your bundle at the corner of a road, or at the end of one side before coming back. Don't make your Bundles Too BIG... You'll drop them, we all do! Try and put a plastic covered Flat at the back of the bundle, Stops them getting Wet in the rain, Also use smaller Bundles if it's going to rain. If a DP has Lots of Mail put an elastic band around that House's Mail, (within your Bundle). Most Frames use different coloured Dividers to indicate the Start/End of Bundles, or Roads. If you're on the same Duty for ages you can swap them about to help you. Get a system, that you like, to carry you're PDA with you at all times. Gone are the days of leaving it on the dashboard because you "Think" there's no scanned packets. Even some Letters have 2D barcodes nowadays. If your DO doesn't High Light your TRACKED packets for you... Do it yourself with a DayGlo Pen... Managers get well stressed when you miss TRACKED Scans.

Don't Carry HEAVY Bags (whatever the Old & Bold tell you) This job is a Marathon NOT a Sprint. Use the LWT you'll actually find they're very usefull when you get used to them. You keep both hands free and don't get strangled by the straps, as well as not knackering your Back & Shoulders. You cab Bungee Larger Parcels on Top. If your Van Share Partner doesn't like it Tough Shite!

[Seymour Buts]

All good points previously mentioned. You are going to be "Slower" when you first start. Aim to be Accurate, Correct & Work Properly . .... Speed will come with experience. If you're running around like a headless chicken trying to be "Faster" you'll mis-deliver and make mistakes...... although some experienced Posties still seem to be getting away with this years later! Personally I'd take any Advice given by your Managers with a pinch of salt. All they're worried about is their Office Budget & their Bonus. Ask a Friendly Colleague any questions, such as "Is this Duty deliverable within the time? Or does everyone go over"? As a Newbie you've probably been given the worst Duty in the Office, probably Oversized with an out of date A4 and Crap Frame layout, that doesn't work.

In no particular order: Part 1

Prep Households before you start throwing off mail (in RM time) Largest one at the back like a Divider... Throw off Mech Letters ... Then IPS Mail leaving a large Flat/Letter at the back (again as a Divider)... Insert small packets (i.e DVDs) into your frame in front of that DPs mail......... If they've got a Larger packet insert a 739 (Red Card) in front of their mail (then you know you've got one). Put that packet on a designated Top Shelf, or area of floor, for that bag (in delivery order and with house no written on end, if it helps), band lots of smaller packets (China Post) together as you're prepping and note on front packet how many (saves you pissing about on the doorstep and having to go back with "Forgotten" packets) Any Letters that have windows: Write the house number on, IF you think the address will slip out of sight.

When you're tying up try to be logical i.e End your bundle at the corner of a road, or at the end of one side before coming back. Don't make your Bundles Too BIG... You'll drop them, we all do! Try and put a plastic covered Flat at the back of the bundle, Stops them getting Wet in the rain, Also use smaller Bundles if it's going to rain. If a DP has Lots of Mail put an elastic band around that House's Mail, (within your Bundle). Most Frames use different coloured Dividers to indicate the Start/End of Bundles, or Roads. If you're on the same Duty for ages you can swap them about to help you. Get a system, that you like, to carry you're PDA with you at all times. Gone are the days of leaving it on the dashboard because you "Think" there's no scanned packets. Even some Letters have 2D barcodes nowadays. If your DO doesn't High Light your TRACKED packets for you... Do it yourself with a DayGlo Pen... Managers get well stressed when you miss TRACKED Scans.

Don't Carry HEAVY Bags (whatever the Old & Bold tell you) This job is a Marathon NOT a Sprint. Use the LWT you'll actually find they're very usefull when you get used to them. You keep both hands free and don't get strangled by the straps, as well as not knackering your Back & Shoulders. You cab Bungee Larger Parcels on Top. If your Van Share Partner doesn't like it Tough Shite!

I wouldn't put p739 cards in the fitting. We've been banned from doing it because people have posted them in error and customers have turned up at the office with blank cards to collect a parcel that doesn't exist.

[Postie45]

So work for free then wtf.

listen, ive seen people not get retained after probation period because of performance. I dont suggest once you have both feet in the door that you do the same, but until then someone on probation may consider making sure they look like a decent employee to RM. Its easy advice to say "work to time, follow cut off procedure" etc thats great when youre past probation, until then if i was really keen to keep this job I might just opt to keep my nose clean.

[Dorset Plodder]

I wouldn't put p739 cards in the fitting. We've been banned from doing it because people have posted them in error and customers have turned up at the office with blank cards to collect a parcel that doesn't exist.

That's a Fair comment PT, however I've been Lucky to hold the same Duty for a Few Years and I've always told customers, "If you get a Red Card with nothing written on just ignore it because it's just been used as a marker and posted by mistake". Our PHG's a fairly switched on guy and says the same thing if anyone phones up. IMO you've got to be a pretty stupid person to travel all the way to the sorting office on the off chance that you've got something (even though you're not expecting anything). Phone up first or ask the Postie. We had the same problem when getting a van loaned to us from a different DO. Someone had left a bundle of 739s in the cab and the Postie used them without checking the DO's Address.... Needless to say Joe Public actually travelled 20 miles to the DO on the card... only to be disappointed that their parcel wasn't there. I should imagine within a Large DO the problems much the same (if you've got several Post Offices to leave them at)? We also had that problem when the Idiot Reserve was taking 739s out of his pocket and leaving them on the wrong frame the next day. Told him several times about it but you can't train Stupid... it's got to come naturally!

[arnold cheshire]

Maybe you have a massive impossible walk don't worry

[paulwolves]

I’m 9 weeks in and I’m still too slow. I get back late too much. I feel like I might not get through probation. Have you got any advice for me to be quicker on my round?

I guess you on 25hr contract and if you are your job should be prepped and bagged ready to go.... if not see line manager and ask why it isn't.... they will expect you to finish prep that the full timers cant be arsed to finish so they can finish an hour early.... you are paid 5 hrs.... 4.15 hrs walk 25min break 10 mins start and finish to load and unload

[Seymour Buts]

I wouldn't put p739 cards in the fitting. We've been banned from doing it because people have posted them in error and customers have turned up at the office with blank cards to collect a parcel that doesn't exist.

That's a Fair comment PT, however I've been Lucky to hold the same Duty for a Few Years and I've always told customers, "If you get a Red Card with nothing written on just ignore it because it's just been used as a marker and posted by mistake". Our PHG's a fairly switched on guy and says the same thing if anyone phones up. IMO you've got to be a pretty stupid person to travel all the way to the sorting office on the off chance that you've got something (even though you're not expecting anything). Phone up first or ask the Postie. We had the same problem when getting a van loaned to us from a different DO. Someone had left a bundle of 739s in the cab and the Postie used them without checking the DO's Address.... Needless to say Joe Public actually travelled 20 miles to the DO on the card... only to be disappointed that their parcel wasn't there. I should imagine within a Large DO the problems much the same (if you've got several Post Offices to leave them at)? We also had that problem when the Idiot Reserve was taking 739s out of his pocket and leaving them on the wrong frame the next day. Told him several times about it but you can't train Stupid... it's got to come naturally!

A newbie is unlikely to have a regular duty so won't have the same understanding. I don't mark packets; for those that do in our office they either turn the letter closest to the parcel or collect the blue slips that come on top of yorks in the morning and use those as markers. Safer doing it that way than 739s.

[Route1]

9 weeks is a short time.

It took me months for it to "click" and start coming back on time.

I've never know anyone to not get the job after probation even if they were not fully up to the job. Got 2 in the last year. Had to show this one guy how to log off the pda 7 days in a row. Fear the day when I get paired with either of them again. I have no issues working with them but if i'm on a schdy or have plans to take the kids out my managers know the full walk isnt getting done. They tend to be put on a singleton duty if one is available. These are not ur usually slow posties. This is another level of slowness.

If you are going to be over your time, let the manager know and claim the o/t (if you want the o/t). Managers prefer the walk to be completed, less headache for them. You shouldnt feel pressured into doing o/t if you dont want to. O/T is optional but if you are on probation and are know to be a "yes boy/girl", it will look better for you. Dont listen to some of the rubbish on here about cutting off / dont do o/t / its doms vs us etc. Our office have fulltimers & parttimers that do all the hours they can while others do none & cut off. Each persons circumstances is different.

My advice is to do the job correctly and you will get quicker as it becomes 2nd nature.

[Celgar]

It's not easy at all for RM to even get rid of unsuitable or lazy staff or bullies so you shouldn't worry about being let go after your probation period ends. Just do your best and you will be fine. You have to do something pretty stupid to lose your job in RM and even then the union will defend you. We had one new postie fall asleep while hungover or drunk in the toilet and another one who got their friends to help them deliver the mail. Don't do things like that and you will be fine.

[richietns]

Are you last out of the office on morning?If your out on time then Trying neighbours is the biggest time waster when your out but its your discretion.you speed up naturally dont be to hard on your self give it more time.

[Dorset Plodder]

A newbie is unlikely to have a regular duty so won't have the same understanding. I don't mark packets; for those that do in our office they either turn the letter closest to the parcel or collect the blue slips that come on top of yorks in the morning and use those as markers. Safer doing it that way than 739s.

When I started I never got on with the "Turn the First Letter" technique... I was normally in "Headless Chicken Mode" and normally turned it back around the correct way thinking, "Bugger I've put that one in backwards", and paying no heed to the packet! I nicked the idea of putting the house number on from an OLD Postie... when they're all in your bag with the end showing there's no need to rummage about for the correct packet. I've also seen them in a seperate bag in walk order (but that was in the panniers on the bikes)

Beleave it, or not, we've got one guy that goes around Hoovering up ALL the cards in the Office. If you want some you've got to sneak around to his frame and grab some FFS.