Postal Delivery Worker
What is the work like?
As a postal delivery worker, you would sort letters and small packages before delivering them to homes and businesses.
You would normally work in a district delivery office and have a round or 'walk' covering several hundred addresses. You could also work in a larger mail processing centre, dealing with incoming and outgoing mail for delivery across the country and overseas.
Your duties would include:
- sorting mail, by hand, into address order on a sorting frame
- operating automated mail handling equipment, known as integrated mail processors (IMPs)
- delivering mail on foot, using a bicycle or by van
- collecting customer signatures for registered post and recorded deliveries
- picking up mail from post boxes, post offices and businesses within the district
- dealing with wrongly addressed or returned mail
- moving mail to and from processing centres, delivery offices, railway stations and airports.
If you are a postal delivery worker in a rural area, you may have extra duties, like delivering milk and other goods.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any specific qualifications to do this job but your interview would usually include an aptitude test. The tests are designed to check that you can read addresses properly and spot errors.
For driving duties, you would need a clean current driving licence.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
See the Royal Mail website for details about careers in the postal service.
What further training and development can I do?
At the start of your job, you would usually receive two to three days' induction training at a head office, before moving to your district delivery office. You would then train on the job, under the supervision of experienced staff.
You could work towards NVQ Level 2 in Mail Services. This qualification has units on:
- sorting mail
- delivering mail
- using automated systems
- collecting and transporting mail.
Where can I go for more information?
148 Old StreetLondon
EC1V 9HQ
Warren Farm Office Village
Stratford Road
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
Tel: 0870 242 7314
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries are around £15,000 a year.
- With 12 months' service, this rises to around £17,000.
There are extra payments for unsocial hours, driving duties and other responsibilities. Postal workers in and around London usually receive a higher salary.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
In a full-time job, you would work up to 40 hours a week, including Saturday mornings. Your shifts would usually start between 5am and 6am, finishing around 1pm. You may have the option to work nights, part-time hours or overtime, particularly at Christmas.
You are likely to cover at least 2 or 3 miles each day on your deliveries. Your mail pouch could weigh up to a maximum of 16kg at the start of your round, although you may be able to use a mail trolley or bicycle. You would be expected to work in all weather conditions.
Your employer would provide you with a uniform and footwear.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a good level of fitness
- reliability and honesty
- good time-keeping and the ability to keep to a delivery schedule
- good reading, writing and maths skills
- the ability to deal with repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently
- basic computer skills for clerical tasks, such as re-directing mail
- a confident and polite approach to dealing with the public
- the ability to work alone or as part of a team
- an awareness of health and safety issues.
What opportunities are there?
See the Royal Mail website, or contact your local delivery office for information about job vacancies. You can find addresses in the local phone book or by asking at your nearest post office.
With experience, you could be promoted to higher grades, such as supervisor and manager.
You could use this type of work to move into parcel deliveries, courier jobs, post office counter work, or customer care and administration within district or main offices. You could also find delivery work with other licensed mail operators.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in a new window)
Postal Services Commission (links to other licensed mail operators)
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