I Want Your Job: Postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/ca ... 84272.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We sing along while we work'

Interviewed by Alex McRae
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Peter Asagba, 38, is a postman who works in Peckham, south London. He won the National Bravery Award at the Royal Mail's 1st Class People awards.

What do you actually do?

Being a postman is a public service. It involves working in the delivery office, sorting mail into general and individual sections for each postman to collect. While we work, we sing along to the radio, tease each other, and talk about things like football. It helps us to get the job done. Every postman has his own area of several hundred addresses that he covers. Once we've sorted the mail, we head outdoors and deliver it.

What's your working schedule?

I start work at 5.30am, although officially work starts at 6am. I sort my mail first, according to the exact order in which the streets are arranged, so that later I won't have to search for a particular letter or parcel. I have my customary cup of coffee, and then at around 6.30am I do some general sorting. My delivery round starts when we've finished sorting, depending on how much mail there is – usually 9am to 10.30am. Most postmen finish by 2.30pm, but I often don't finish work until 4pm as I have a very heavy round, and want to make sure every last parcel has been delivered. Then I head home and doze off in front of the television.

What's the best thing about it?

I really like meeting people, and now that I've been doing the same round for three-and-a-half years, I see lots of familiar faces. People smile when they see me coming with their mail. I've made a lot of friends.

What's not so great about it?

Barking dogs can be very unpleasant, and there are certain buildings where I have to lock up my trolley. I've had it stolen three times. The third time the police caught the people who'd stolen it – but as they were being arrested there was a violent scuffle, and I had to intervene to help one of the officers. I was recommended for a bravery award after that, but I felt I was just doing my job. I feel responsible when people's property is stolen.

What skills do you need to be a great postman?

You need dedication, patience and social skills – it's all about public service. Sometimes I have to work beyond my actual finishing time, and my patience can wear thin when I'm out on my round and someone spots me and keeps asking whether I have a letter for him. Not every postman is that sociable – some just want to get on with the job and won't give anyone a whiff of a smile. We're trained in how to sort letters and parcels, and how to write delivery cards if someone is out.

What advice would you give someone who wanted your job?

When I applied to work in the post office I did it through the post. Now I'm told it is done through the internet. The job has got more difficult, because there are too few people doing too much work, and I've suffered a back injury from bending down when letter boxes are at the bottom of the door. I would ask a postman whether you can accompany him on his rounds for a couple of days, to get a feel for whether it is for you. You have to get used to getting up early – I never was an early riser, even at school.

What's the salary and career path like?

You could progress from being a postman into management, with experience. The starting salary is roughly £15,000 a year but that rises quickly. If you're working in London, you would usually earn more because of the cost of living.

For more information on working as a postal delivery worker, visit the Royal Mail website at http://www.royal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; mail.com; or the Postal Services Commission at http://www.psc.gov.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

[brothermagrew]

Another idiot who seems by all accounts to give Royal Mail at least half an hour freebie every working morning

[Rowdy]

[quote="TrueBlueTerrier"]http://www.independent.co.uk/student/ca ... 84272.html

What skills do you need to be a great postman?

You need dedication, patience and social skills – it's all about public service.

But obviously not a management requirement.

[Yahoorsur]

What's your working schedule?

I start work at 5.30am, although officially work starts at 6am.

Public service, not servitude
,he says he does'nt finish untill 1600,if he is that keen on OT why not come in on his proper start time and work untill the finish,he'll get an extra 30 mins per day,which is to 2.5hours per week,46 weeks x 2.5=115 hours per year=approx £920 per year and he's giving this to RM for free,he must be very well off if he can do that.

[General Mannerheim]

He might be one of them posties who works over his time and doesn`t book as he`s scared of the management or does it for free as he`s very social minded and loves his job.

[kwikpost]

start's before his duty time and work's on after it. with people like him in the job we don't stand a chance of improving our work load's

[tiredwalker]

I'm surprised he's not telling us he uses his car and justifies it by saying its to ensure he gets the mail out quicker being so customer focused.

[DGP1]

His heavy duty will never get fixed if he keeps giving RM extra time for nothing and he was recommeded for a bravery award for helping the police TBH the more of a kicking the police get the funnier I find it (lots of police are nothing more than bullys in uniform who can't fight unless they outnumber people).

[dvbuk55]

Another idiot who seems by all accounts to give Royal Mail at least half an hour freebie every working morning

Yea! No worries though he has been captured and returned to the asylum.

[smokerjim]

His heavy duty will never get fixed if he keeps giving RM extra time for nothing and he was recommeded for a bravery award for helping the police TBH the more of a kicking the police get the funnier I find it (lots of police are nothing more than bullys in uniform who can't fight unless they outnumber people).

I reckon there must have been at least a dozen other RM workers more deserving of an award - but RM might have been worried that they weren't lickspittles or spineless ( and more likely to verbally kick off on the stage to :lfo ) so matey got it instead, as he is tamed and docile.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

They should have given the award to Roger Annis. A man who brought pleasure to his customers, and performed a service to the environment. Pity they forced him out of his job!

[pocky20]

why do use lot think like this if he works over his time so wot he is just doing a good job and keeping his head down whats wrong with that its not like rm is going look at this guy we ars geting x amount of work out of him and its silly to think they are am sure they have better things to do than that lol but if you think am wrong thats ok to but it seems you guys are saying dont give them any thing lol work to rule sort of thing and well at time am in early but i smoke and will have two or 3 in my shift so that make up for it or do you think am a fool to lol get a grip lads stop clock wacthing and you will enjoy your day better :mfo :mfo :mfo

[BELIAL]

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/ca ... 84272.html

We sing along while we work'


For more information on working as a postal delivery worker, visit the Royal Mail website at http://www.royal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; mail.com; or the Postal Services Commission at http://www.psc.gov.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

"Go down Moses" and "John Browns body" are two of our favourites ,

[moggymoz]

why do use lot think like this if he works over his time so wot he is just doing a good job and keeping his head down whats wrong with that its not like rm is going look at this guy we ars geting x amount of work out of him and its silly to think they are am sure they have better things to do than that lol but if you think am wrong thats ok to but it seems you guys are saying dont give them any thing lol work to rule sort of thing and well at time am in early but i smoke and will have two or 3 in my shift so that make up for it or do you think am a fool to lol get a grip lads stop clock wacthing and you will enjoy your day better :mfo :mfo :mfo

Now I know I've had a drink or 2 but Can someone point me in the right direction to a translate button on my computer cos I cant make head nor tail of this

[pocky20]

why cant can you not read what part of it dont you get is it the work bit or happy in your work let me know what ist is and am sure i can and will help you .