Change of career, goodbye 9-5!

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 24 Oct 2018, 08:23

Elfie123 wrote:Looks like you had more communication than me. I didn't get any phone calls at all to say what was happening but got an email out of the blue yesterday to say I'm starting next Tuesday! Be prepared for very little notice guys. So it was 3 months from beginning to end and about a month since the DBS checks came back.
I kept ringing and emailing to chase them up (about once a week). I didn't really get much help or response but I wonder 8f I'd did speed things up in the end?

That's good news Elfie. There is a training day next Monday for my area as i know somebody that is going on it. I really hope to hear something soon as i have no notice to give and can start immediately. Is your induction day close to where you live?

WiltsVilla · Post by **WiltsVilla** » 24 Oct 2018, 09:40

The whole recruitment process is very strange. It seems as though you either get lucky with who is designated to process your application or they all go into a pile at each stage and pulled out at random in no priority order.

I'd hope that there is a system in place and there are reasons but on the outside it doesn't look that way.

Not having a point of contact to me seems strange too, if anyone reads the emails, surely it would be quicker to answer a quick call rather than a mountain of emails.

Anyway, resignation letter written, just going to wait for the email just in case, although the women did say it was ok to hand my notice in now.

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 26 Oct 2018, 20:15

h3uxsr, have you heard anymore yet? I called DBS for my tracking number so I can check that online now. It took 8 days for RM to send my details to them for checking!!!

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 26 Oct 2018, 22:00

SW Postie wrote:h3uxsr, have you heard anymore yet? I called DBS for my tracking number so I can check that online now. It took 8 days for RM to send my details to them for checking!!!

Hey SW Postie my DBS letter came through the post those morning, I also rang DBS and got the details which I've checked online.

It said Stage 4: Certificate Issued/Dispatched on 23rd October

So it's feeling like I should really be hearing very soon!

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 26 Oct 2018, 22:07

Great stuff, hopefully you will hear early next week. Mine is still at Stage 1 Application Received 23/10!!! How long did your DBS check take from Stage 1 to Stage 4?

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 26 Oct 2018, 23:49

SW Postie wrote:Great stuff, hopefully you will hear early next week. Mine is still at Stage 1 Application Received 23/10!!! How long did your DBS check take from Stage 1 to Stage 4?

Hey mate,

Yeah hopefully, stage 1 was on the 16th the stages 2-4 all completed the same day 23rd so a full 7 days

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 27 Oct 2018, 08:12

Hopefully mine will be complete early next week then. I will be e-mailing them as soon as I know my check is done. If I was you and haven’t heard by Tuesday you should give them a nudge!!

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 30 Oct 2018, 07:40

I think the most annoying thing is the fact that RM state checks can take up to 14 days on every e-mail they send after you have been successful. I received the congratulations e-mail on the 15/10 which asked me to update my personal info (work history, etc) which I replied to on the same day. So you’d imagine the 14 days would start then. However I then received another e-mail 4 days later asking for DVLA code and a photo for ID which I completed straightaway. RM replied saying checks were being submitted and could take up to 14 days. I called DBS on the 24/10 for my tracking number and my checks weren’t sent until the 23/10 and they can take up to 14 days!! Would it not be better to submit employment, address history, etc at the time of applying?

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 30 Oct 2018, 08:47

SW Postie wrote:I think the most annoying thing is the fact that RM state checks can take up to 14 days on every e-mail they send after you have been successful. I received the congratulations e-mail on the 15/10 which asked me to update my personal info (work history, etc) which I replied to on the same day. So you’d imagine the 14 days would start then. However I then received another e-mail 4 days later asking for DVLA code and a photo for ID which I completed straightaway. RM replied saying checks were being submitted and could take up to 14 days. I called DBS on the 24/10 for my tracking number and my checks weren’t sent until the 23/10 and they can take up to 14 days!! Would it not be better to submit employment, address history, etc at the time of applying?

Yeah its a long old wait, my 14th working day is on Thursday this week, but I might take your advice and give them another call today?

As soon as I receive word on my start date I'm going to tell them I can start immediately as I've only been in my current job for 3 months and I am just keen to get stuck in now and get out of the bloody office!

Hope you hear soon! let me know as soon as you do buddy!

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 30 Oct 2018, 14:00

Quick update:

SW Postie, I took your advice and called HR today to speak to my recruitment officer for my area 'Christian', unfortunately he has now left the business so was put onto someone else.

She asked for my Req ID number *(job number on all corresponding emails) and my name, she found my application and asked what she could do to help, I told her I was just checking on the progress of my application.

She informed me I have passed all my security checks and enquired if my 2 week notice period was still the case, (as I am not looking at doing my notice) I said "No I'm available immediately" She told me where my induction day will be Preston but couldn't give me a date, although she did say I will hear "Very soon"

I started the application process on the 24th August 2018, looks like I'm almost there over 2 months later.

Danyp18 · Post by **Danyp18** » 30 Oct 2018, 15:41

h3xusr, what number did you ring please? I have been going through my security checks almost 6 weeks now (haven't heard a thing since 20th Sept) and Christian is the one dealing with my application so i'm guessing that is holding it up.

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 30 Oct 2018, 15:53

Danyp18 wrote:h3xusr, what number did you ring please? I have been going through my security checks almost 6 weeks now (haven't heard a thing since 20th Sept) and Christian is the one dealing with my application so i'm guessing that is holding it up.

Hey mate,
The direct number is: 0114 241 4239

I believe the contact is Michelle Jeffrey, she looks after the following postcodes in regards to recruitment:
AB PH ZE IV ZE KW HS CA LA BB FY PR BD HD HG HX LS WF YO DH DL NE SR TS BT

Her email address is: Michelle.Jeffrey@royalmail.com but I personally found they don't respond quickly or at all via email, so just give them a call.

I hope this helps!

SW Postie · Post by **SW Postie** » 31 Oct 2018, 14:22

Had a phone call from HR today to let me know all checks had gone through ok. They asked when I could start so I replied Monday!!! To my astonishment they said that’s perfect and I’m booked in for an induction on Monday and start back at my old DO on Tuesday!! Best bit of advice I can give to anyone still in the recruitment Stage is keep a constant dialogue with HR. I really think they appreciate your perseverance and that you are keen to work for RM.

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 31 Oct 2018, 15:45

SW Postie wrote:Had a phone call from HR today to let me know all checks had gone through ok. They asked when I could start so I replied Monday!!! To my astonishment they said that’s perfect and I’m booked in for an induction on Monday and start back at my old DO on Tuesday!! Best bit of advice I can give to anyone still in the recruitment Stage is keep a constant dialogue with HR. I really think they appreciate your perseverance and that you are keen to work for RM.

Congratulations!!!

Well worth the wait?, i'm hoping I will find out at the end of the week. My induction will be at the Preston DO.

h3xusr · Post by **h3xusr** » 05 Nov 2018, 15:23

Update!

So I've been bugging HR by calling them quite a bit but FINALLY...since I first applied on the 24th August I've been given a start date!

I will be going to my induction day on the 19th November and at my DO the following day!

Now its the case of leaving my current job, shall I got out in a blaze of glory or quietly sneak out the back door to never return?