Postman as long term career

[de91]

Hi,

I have been offered a job as 'Postman with driving'. I am fresh out of uni with a teaching degree but despise the job, so am looking to find a different career that is bearable, with a decent annual salary. I like being outdoors and don't mind a bit of physical work, I like to be hands on, so I thought a postman would be perfect.

After reading about the forum it does put you off, but after deciding i will give it a go and try it myself, i am now thinking about the future. Do you think RM will still be going in 5/10 years, and is the hard graft worth the pay you get? I have an interview soon for working in a train station, would you guys say that would be a better choice than taking the postman job? Teaching is not an option as there is no way I am working 60+ hours a week, no matter how good the holidays are.

I know its a pretty pointless thread as it is impossible to say what will happen in the future. I am just after opinions and guidance; would you recommend it as a long term career?

[k979aaa]

Hi,

I have been offered a job as 'Postman with driving'. I am fresh out of uni with a teaching degree but despise the job, so am looking to find a different career that is bearable, with a decent annual salary. I like being outdoors and don't mind a bit of physical work, I like to be hands on, so I thought a postman would be perfect.

After reading about the forum it does put you off, but after deciding i will give it a go and try it myself, i am now thinking about the future. Do you think RM will still be going in 5/10 years, and is the hard graft worth the pay you get? I have an interview soon for working in a train station, would you guys say that would be a better choice than taking the postman job? Teaching is not an option as there is no way I am working 60+ hours a week, no matter how good the holidays are.

I know its a pretty pointless thread as it is impossible to say what will happen in the future. I am just after opinions and guidance; would you recommend it as a long term career?

Legs will be gone in 10/20 years I would advise you to your teaching career you could do that till you retire any hope of lasting in this job is fantasy good luck with your decision.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Hi,

I have been offered a job as 'Postman with driving'. I am fresh out of uni with a teaching degree but despise the job, so am looking to find a different career that is bearable, with a decent annual salary. I like being outdoors and don't mind a bit of physical work, I like to be hands on, so I thought a postman would be perfect.

After reading about the forum it does put you off, but after deciding i will give it a go and try it myself, i am now thinking about the future. Do you think RM will still be going in 5/10 years, and is the hard graft worth the pay you get? I have an interview soon for working in a train station, would you guys say that would be a better choice than taking the postman job? Teaching is not an option as there is no way I am working 60+ hours a week, no matter how good the holidays are.

I know its a pretty pointless thread as it is impossible to say what will happen in the future. I am just after opinions and guidance; would you recommend it as a long term career?

its a good career, but the train station job will probably be higher paid, also RM have a graduate program so my suggestion would be, work in deliveries for a year or two then apply to the graduate program rather than going direct as you would then have a decent grounding in what the works like

[fishtank]

There is nothing negative about this job that doesn't happen in most other unskilled jobs so if you don't intend to use your qualifications the ugly side of employment in the 21st century is something you'll have to accept no matter what you decide to do.

The pay is decent but not startling and although it might compare favourably with someone starting out a professional career it's pretty much a brick wall so the longer you're here the more you will resent what you could have been earning.

My advice would be take the education and qualifications you have and use them to find a career with prospects of progression.
The "outdoor life" can wear pretty thin when you're the wrong side of 40,your knees are screwed and its pissing down with rain.

[trevjim]

Take the negative stuff on here with a pinch of salt. Its a good job with good pay for unskilled work and a pension and bonus and good social hours. you have hard days but what job doesn't. The thing that really can effect your job enjoyment is your office and management.

Its not the best job in the world, but not the worst by a long stretch.

your question regarding will RM be hear in 5-10 years time? who knows. will arsenal still be top come may? did the staff at Woolworths see it coming?

[chrisj]

Arsenal are going to beat United on Sunday and they will be in top spot in May - and win the league. They are the best settled team in the league right now. Barring a bad winter (usual) they will have built up a good lead that will be unassailable.

Being a postman is not a good career move for someone that is trained as a teacher. The posties are worse than the kids... And they are unteachable. Loving the outdoors is not enough any-more because you now have to work in pairs and the flexibility and independence that was most cherished has now gone.

I agree with the previous poster. You can do the job for a year to get some insight and put yourself in a good position to apply for the graduate-training scheme. They will appreciate that you were ready to muck in. Also managers do go out delivering these days.

* It is not that well paid given that you are likely going to be a part-timer on less than 30 hours - and Overtime depends on your office and availability; something that RM will be looking forward to reducing in the near future.

[RoyalSlave69]

I would use your education to find a better career choice. Don't waste it. I'm sure it could be used towards something else. Being a postman is a job not a career. The only time its good is during the summer. Working in the rain and cold is hell. I don't know a single person in my office who enjoys the job. They all wish they chose different paths. You come home early but are knackered. I'm leaving asap.

[postiel]

[quote="trevjim"]Take the negative stuff on here with a pinch of salt. Its a good job with good pay for unskilled work and a pension and bonus and good social hours. you have hard days but what job doesn't. The thing that really can effect your job enjoyment is your office and management.

Its not the best job in the world, but not the worst by a long stretch.

your question regarding will RM be hear in 5-10 years time? who knows. will arsenal still be top come may? did the staff at Woolworths see it coming?[/quote]
yeah great if youve already got a bought and paid for home but not so good if you intend buying one in the future
eh trevjim

[LinChong]

Look at the agreements on the intranet.

See what ones have been broken in your unit.

Put in a grievance and get your money back.

Photocopy your grievance and let everyone else use it to get their money back.

When the union rep tries to side with management, put yourself up for election.

Watch while an extreme nationalist of an foreign country (who management allow to do almost no work whatsoever) tries to frame you for nicking money.

Return to work after the investigation clears your name.

Experience fighting the management and their union busting contractors based in their global headquarters in Cambridge.

Eventually get elected.

Fight for your members' rights.

Win loads of cases and get loads of money back.

Defend your unit from Continuous Improvement, 5 sigma, Total Quality Management and all the other Stakanovist bullshit.

Watch while management gives jobs to family members of the extremist from a foreign country who hates you because his ancestors ethnically cleansed your ancestors.

Wait for management to suspend you on a trumped up charge of offending one of their favourites.

Wait while management get family members of the extremist from a foreign country to write statements that you have offended a terrorist organisation.

Lodge these statements with your lawyer.

Carry on doing union business on full pay while you are suspended.

Mobilise your members to support strike action.

Get management to back down.

Hope the terrorist sympathisers get deported and you and your family don't get murdered.

It is a good career if you like adventure.

[Judgee]

You have a degree but are considering a career as a postman? What the hell did you learn on your course?????


No it's a ridiculous idea, now go find something that won't destroy you physically and mentally within the next 20 years because unlike alot of us you have options!

[DirtyHarry]

Hi,

I have been offered a job as 'Postman with driving'. I am fresh out of uni with a teaching degree but despise the job, so am looking to find a different career that is bearable, with a decent annual salary. I like being outdoors and don't mind a bit of physical work, I like to be hands on, so I thought a postman would be perfect.

After reading about the forum it does put you off, but after deciding i will give it a go and try it myself, i am now thinking about the future. Do you think RM will still be going in 5/10 years, and is the hard graft worth the pay you get? I have an interview soon for working in a train station, would you guys say that would be a better choice than taking the postman job? Teaching is not an option as there is no way I am working 60+ hours a week, no matter how good the holidays are.

I know its a pretty pointless thread as it is impossible to say what will happen in the future. I am just after opinions and guidance; would you recommend it as a long term career?

Mate, this job is sh!t, the company loathes it's workforce, treats it's employees like sh!t, and never ceases to explore new ways to make life even more unbearable for it's downtrodden workforce.
Don't ditch the teaching gig, it's Mon-Fri, and with bloody good holiday entitlement, and the salary has to be better than ours, even just slightly.
Do yourself a favour, think again.
This is a job, and a company, I would only recommend to my worst enemy.

[redandblue]

Hi,

I have been offered a job as 'Postman with driving'. I am fresh out of uni with a teaching degree but despise the job, so am looking to find a different career that is bearable, with a decent annual salary. I like being outdoors and don't mind a bit of physical work, I like to be hands on, so I thought a postman would be perfect.

After reading about the forum it does put you off, but after deciding i will give it a go and try it myself, i am now thinking about the future. Do you think RM will still be going in 5/10 years, and is the hard graft worth the pay you get? I have an interview soon for working in a train station, would you guys say that would be a better choice than taking the postman job? Teaching is not an option as there is no way I am working 60+ hours a week, no matter how good the holidays are.

I know its a pretty pointless thread as it is impossible to say what will happen in the future. I am just after opinions and guidance; would you recommend it as a long term career?

Mate, this job is sh!t, the company loathes it's workforce, treats it's employees like sh!t, and never ceases to explore new ways to make life even more unbearable for it's downtrodden workforce.
Don't ditch the teaching gig, it's Mon-Fri, and with bloody good holiday entitlement, and the salary has to be better than ours, even just slightly.
Do yourself a favour, think again.
This is a job, and a company, I would only recommend to my worst enemy.

Sadly i can't argue with any of the above.
Iv'e now done 27 years, and i am f..ked. There is no way in the world that i can see any new entrant amasing that amount of service.
So if anyone out there is looking for a career in RM, for god sake give deliveries a swerve.

[de91]

thanks for the honest replies, definitely gives me something to think about.

i did apply for a graduate scheme and my application is under review - maybe thats why they havent got in touch since i was told at my postman interview i had 'passed' and i would receive an email the next day (it has been over a week now - no number to phone to chase it up).

if i don't get onto the grad scheme or working at the train station, i will probably take the job for now with the desire to apply for future grad schemes/management jobs at royal mail. i have no intentions of pursuing teaching as a career, i want to be able to have a life outside of work and my health is more important than having a 'safe' job with good holidays.

quite looking forward to doing some physical work tbh, would make a nice change, although im sure the novelty would wear off as you veterans have said. thanks for all your opinions anyway. the next few weeks will consists of even more waiting, either for a second interview for the trains or graduate application update / postman application being accepted online.

[Judgee]

i have no intentions of pursuing teaching as a career, i want to be able to have a life outside of work and my health is more important than having a 'safe' job with good holidays.

This has to be some kind of a windup surely?

As a postman your health is screwed as is your social life.You get up in the middle of the night to start work which doesn't work particularly well with socialising unless you like being in bed by 10 o clock every night? Works ok if you have young children I guess as you can go to bed at the same time as them!

Of course if you are looking to go into management then you'll be ok. All you need to know is how to work the coffee machine and how to be a complete @ss! Good luck with that one if that's the route you want to go down. But a management cull is imminent and you will be thrown in with a pack of starving wolves all fighting for the last surving scraps of thier careers!

[llcoolh]

Leaving a career in teaching to become a postman. YOU must gone nuts !!