To apply for a job as a postie?

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

It would be a career change, but it looks fun
Plus the hours, for the local available job is 10:30-3pm 5 days a week, so seems to work well with school.
Although saturday will be tricky.

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

Posted too soon...

Is anyone on here a postie? Do you enjoy it?

[FruitCider]

I did it for a while, great in summer, absolutely rubbish in winter. Also don't expect to finish anywhere near on time for the first few months!

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

I work outside now, always have done so the cold wet winter doesn't bother me much.

Is the late finishing because you have to get used to your round?

Why did you quit?

[DamnGood314]

I've thought about it too. Good money. I'm a bit scared of dogs though
Not all dogs but you know, dogs that live in houses down a lane who come charging at you with their big grizzly teeth.

[allthecarbs]

Does seem good doesn't it. The school hours are extremely tempting.
I'm not sure if I'd get bored doing the same thing day after day though.

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

Yeah damn not sure how I'd tackle the dogs. (Not literally). I guess you get used to the same dogs on your round. Maybe take some biscuits?

[GingerbreadGingerbread]

I'm tempted to do it to be honest. What's the pay?

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

Yeah allthecarbs my current job is quite diverse and I work with different children every week. So the postie job would be a bit montonus (sp?) but I like the idea of having a bit of alone time and then chatting with public too!

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

Around £10 an hr, give or take depending on age & time in employment

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

There's loads of vacancies on their website

[chameleon43]

I did it one summer - it's not a solitary job at all - you're all together while you sort the mail and then you chat to various people you see on your rounds.

Second what someone said about rounds taking a long time to start though - think they gave me an easy round though as I had it down to a fine art by week 3!

[SwedishEdith]

I've thought about this recently. If I was closer to retirement age, I'd be quite tempted to jack it in for a few last working years of healthy solitude.

[SwedishEdith]

Oh, that kind of chatting is ok. It's the pointless meetings and telecons I'd love to escape from.

[ButteredToastAndStrawberryJam]

Taking dog biscuits around with you is a good idea, I knew a postie that did that.
I did the job on Saturdays for a while. I think a good job once you get used to a good route. Especially as you don't mind the winter weather too much.

[allthecarbs]

Do you have to wear their coats or can you use your own? I'd worry about their coats not being warm and waterproof enough during the winter. Trivial, I know.

Also is it mainly men working there? I hate the thought if working in a 'manny' place iykwim. Eg a building site where their is a certain atmosphere.

[LemonBreeland]

DH did it for a few months as did a friend of mine while at Uni. Both of them said it was the fittest they had ever been while doing it. DH had a particularly hilly route though.

[ShotsFired]

Its not a bed of roses. I have read some really grim stories/accounts of how they are timed on their routes and that includes time spent waiting for customers to answer doorbells (or not) and if you run out of paid time, you have to just carry on till it gets done. Its not a cheerful stroll, they really have to set a fast march pace hauling heavy bags.

But every job has ups and downs, you need to decide whether these downs are better than your current job!

[Hoppinggreen]

Are you happy to wear shorts cos I think it's compulsory - even in the snow!!

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

Haha hopping that seems to be the case in our area too!

[Happyhippy45]

Funnily in was just thinking about being a postie yesterday.
A big mix of men and women posties in our town and a mix of ages too.

[SwedishEdith]

Yes, I can imagine some of the downs are not great. But, for a few years, with an end in sight, it might be manageable.

[heron98]

I'd love to be a postie (besides the dogs) but all the vacancies I've seen are 6 days a week and I'd rather have 2 full days off.

[FloatyFlo]

Do you have to drive to be a postie?

[sleepy16]

Husband been a postie for 10 years, loves his job.
When he is out on his round he is on his own which he loves, but also gets to chat with people he has become friends with.
You do get a good pension,shares etc so a good place to work for.
He does wear shorts in all weather, in his defence he says you can only get wet once.

[AlbusPercival]

Dad is a postie, I love his coat, its all warm and snuggly.

They also give you a dog alarm if there is a scary one on your route.