My journey to becoming a postman

I started with the Royal Mail back in July in 2024.

I applied via one of the Agencies they use called Angard. This involved an online application and I had to pop into the Royal Mail delivery hub I applied to for a short interview. Basically, so they can see you aren't insane or anything. Nothing more to it than that. 

The interview was in June and I was hired and started a month later (in July, as I said). For my first day I wore a pair of walking trousers and a t-shirt and trainers. This was OK, but I changed to shorts. You get quite warm when you are out delivering, although lightweight trousers seem to work just as well as shorts. 

Initially, you sign in at whatever time you want. I usually got there around 7am and signed in then, I would work and then sign out at whatever time I finished. You sign in on a paper based system, although this has changed since I started. Now it's done electronically. 

Anyways, I was with Angaard for a month or so before I was asked to join full time. This involved a bit more filling in of paperwork and getting access to the Royal Mail app etc. Once you have access to the app you can order the uniform, this is quite straighforward and it's delivered to the depot a few weeks later and then it should be given to you to take home. You then wear this to work. 

As a fully fledged Royal Mail employee, things work a bit differently. You are given a badge you use to sign in and out (this takes a while to arrive) and so you need to use the digital device to sign in before you get your badge. 

Once you get your badge, you sign in at one of the electronic sign in points when your shift starts and sign out at the end at one of the same points. They can be quite strict with the time keeping so make sure you sign in on time. 

You'll be shoved on a variety of different routes to begin with, until you get the possible chance to sign for a walk, this happens in seniority though so it might take a while for you to be assigned a walk. Even then, you may still be asked to do other walks, especially if you are new. This doesn't seem to happen if you have been there a while, a bit unfair, but then so are the post 2022 contracts. Not as good as the pre 2022 legacy ones. That's for sure. 

Anyways, that's about it! Good luck.