Your Guide to Royal Mail Careers
Updated November 20, 2023
- What Is Royal Mail?
- What Is the Job Application Process for Royal Mail
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- What Happens if You Fail in the Interview or Assessment?
- Special Recruitment Programs for Royal Mail
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- Top Tips for Securing a Role at Royal Mail
- Royal Mail Assessment Examples
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
The Royal Mail can provide an amazing career for a wide range of different workers. Whether you’re looking to post letters, excel in the tech department, work in the offices or do something else entirely, there is something for everyone.
However, some find the job application process a little challenging, especially because different forms of testing are involved.
This article will give you an overview of what the job application at Royal Mail looks like and how to prepare for it.
You'll also be provided with a list of special programs offered by the Royal Mail and examples of tests you might encounter on your Royal Mail exam.
What Is Royal Mail?
Founded in 1516, Royal Mail is the principal post-delivery company in the UK. Since then, the company has employed 140,000 employees across the UK and Europe.
Initially a government-founded organisation, Royal Mail was privatised in 2013 when its shares were placed on the London Stock Exchange. Today, it's owned by a number of shareholders.
The Royal Mail works throughout the UK, collecting, sorting and delivering mail.
Royal Mail separates its workload and roles into two categories:
- Corporate – Finances, marketing and management roles
- Technical – Engineering/operations
Since its privatisation, the company has expanded, now offering numerous services, including collection from homes and a wide variety of convenient business services.
Due to the wide range of positions the company must fulfil, the Royal Mail is regularly looking for new employees to complete a variety of roles.
These roles vary from Royal Mail part-time jobs and seasonal work to full-time roles, so if you want to work at Royal Mail, you'll be sure to find an adequate position.
Prepare for Royal Mail Recruitment at JobTestPrep
What Is the Job Application Process for Royal Mail
The job application process for Royal Mail careers is relatively simple. The process has three components:
- Initial application
- Online assessments and testing
- A competency-based interview at an assessment centre
Initial Application
The first step when applying for Royal Mail carrers is to find the position you are looking for on the careers page of the Royal Mail website.
When you find an open position, you must submit your initial application by uploading a CV.
Within 24 hours of submitting your CV, you will be invited to submit an initial application.
You will receive an application form you must complete and send back within 24 hours. The application can take 20 to 40 minutes to complete and is similar to many job application forms.
However, there are some differences. For example, you'll be asked about the specific skills you have gained in your previous role.
The skills you list here should align with the Royal Mails values and the guidelines for the competencies for the particular role you’re applying for.
You'll also be asked what restrictions and opportunities you see working at the Royal Mail.
Online Assessments and Testing
If your application is approved, you'll move on to the Royal Mail careers online testing phase.
This might include the assessment of your checking, logical reasoning, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning skills and overall personality type.
When you've finished the online tests, the results will be considered in the shortlisting stage. This can sometimes take a week after the closing date of the application process.
Once the shortlisting exercise has been finished, candidates will get an update via email. This may include an offer for the candidate to an interview.
Interview at an Assessment Centre
The competency-based interview will last about one hour. Depending on the role you’re applying for, you might also be required to participate in case studies, group exercises and presentations at the assessment centre.
You will be notified about the final outcome of your application one to two weeks after your interview and evaluation and the assessment centre.
What Happens if You Fail in the Interview or Assessment?
If you fail in your initial attempt to pass the Royal Mail test or interview, you must wait at least six months before you can apply again for Royal Mail vacancies.
However, there are several things you can do while you’re waiting to resubmit your application.
For example, if you have had trouble with your interview, you can work on improving your interview strategy.
You can also learn from any other mistakes you made on the application. If you haven't prepared for the exam, you must practice more vigorously for the next one.
Special Recruitment Programs for Royal Mail
There are special roles and recruitment options for specific roles at Royal Mail.
These include the following:
Seasonal Christmas Workers
Royal Mail Christmas jobs are designed for those who want to work during the winter period.
This is when the company is often at its busiest, and the roles offered are demanding, although well-paid. The application for this is more streamlined than for a regular position.
You have to apply and send documents, and once they’re verified, you'll receive an offer. Seasonal workers can either look for Royal Mail part-time jobs or full-time roles. They can later apply for regular roles that become available.
Apprentices
There are apprenticeship roles that allow candidates to learn and work at the same time. The positions range from Vehicle Maintenance to Engineering to Project Management and Finance. They also vary in length depending on experience and position.
For example, the Project Management apprenticeship lasts two years, while the Advanced Engineering and the Finance apprenticeships last for 3-4 years respectively.
Graduate Opportunities
There are also graduate opportunities within Royal Mail recruitment that allow candidates to find a secure position in a more senior position.
To apply for a graduate program, you must have a degree that meets the Royal Mail's minimum requirements and have the right to work full-time in the UK.
You don't have to be a recent graduate. However, you must pass three stages of the hiring process:
- Online application
- Online tests and assessment
- An interview at an assessment centre
Top Tips for Securing a Role at Royal Mail
There are several tips for securing a position at Royal Mail. These include:
Step 1. Learning the Core Values
As with any other company, understanding the core values of the business and doing your best to align interview questions to these core values is one of the fundamental strategies for acing the application interview during Royal Mail recruitment.
The core values you must learn and adapt to might also depend on the type of role you’re applying for.
Besides reviewing Royal Mail’s values, pay attention to the outlined competencies for the position you seek to gain.
This should give you an idea of what the hiring manager will look for you during the evaluation and interview process and help you align your answers to what's required.
Step 2. Understand the Hiring Process
The Royal Mail hiring process is challenging, and depending on the role you seek to fulfil, your abilities can be assessed across a broad range of skills, from verbal reasoning and numerical knowledge to real-life situations working with customers to case studies.
Not only is adequate preparation time needed to perform your best in areas, but you also need to know which areas to practice.
Hence, it's a good idea to research what will be required of you during the application and recruitment.
This will allow you to tailor your preparation strategies according to the requirements, which will result in better performance.
Adequate knowledge of the required tasks will enable you to prioritise study time and focus only on the aspects you need to conquer and find challenging.
Step 3. Adequate Attendance
While there is no dress code for the online assessment, ensuring you attend the in-person interview in professional apparel is advised.
Wearing a smart suit signals professionalism, which hiring managers appreciate and remember during the shortlisting stage.
Wearing professional attire will also give you the confidence to showcase your desire to do a superb job as an employee of the Royal Mail, display your knowledge of the company, job requirements and any information you've gathered about innovations, initiatives you've learned about while researching your future employer.
Step 4. Vigorous Practice
Practising the Royal Mail assessment questions is necessary for passing the test. This test is part personality test and part general knowledge assessment and practising it will help you learn what type of questions you might expect on your real-time test.
You'll familiarise yourself with the test format, job role requirements and situations you might encounter when working for the Royal Mail. You'll learn more about the testing conditions and experience the Royal Mail assessments before you take them.
This way, you can learn from your mistakes and get used to the time limits too. When practising free or paid online tests, you'll also have the opportunity to view your scores. They will help you estimate how you did on the assessment and let you see how much more preparation you need.
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You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.
Royal Mail Assessment Examples
While there are plenty of examples to find online, to give you a headstart of a better understanding of how this test works, below are a few examples.
Besides the questions, you'll also find solutions and explanations.
Which of the following is the correct spelling of the word 'assessment'?
a) Assesment
b) Asessment
c) Asesment
d) Assessment
In which of the following situation would you use formal language?
a) Writing an email to a colleague or client
b) Discussing details about an upcoming meeting or presentation
c) Conducting/going through a job interview
d) All of the above
If a postal worker can deliver 30 parcels in 15 minutes, how many parcels can they deliver in 45 minutes?
a) 60
b) 45
c) 90
d) 75
If 30% of Royals Mail's 900 correspondents use the company's delivery service, how many correspondents use the service?
a) 600
b) 450
c) 500
d) 270
A customer reports receiving a damaged parcel. What do you do?
a) Call your supervisor
b) Offer a refund
c) Ask for more details
d) Defer responsibility
The easiest way to apply for Royal Mail jobs is by completing the online application process. Once your application is accepted, you must complete a short initial assessment within 24 hours. Then you wait to be invited to an interview or further testing.
Your salary at Royal Mail will depend on your position, qualifications and experience level.
For example, an apprentice would only earn around £6.82 per hour, while a Driver might get £19.03 per hour.
It’s also worth noting that the National Living Wage in the UK for those aged 23 and over is currently £10.42 at the time of this article.
Similarly, the average salary of a beginner Sales Professional would be £19,000 per year. Meanwhile, an experienced Finance Partner can earn up to £69,373 yearly at Royal Mail.
This depends on what role you’re applying for at Royal Mail. For example, for apprenticeship programs, you will need five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or higher in maths, English and, for some positions, science.
There are many types of Royal Mail jobs available. The jobs provided by the company include posties and sorting personnel, drivers, operational managers, indoor facility workers, employees at the technology department and head office, feet maintenance workers, engineers and apprentices, among others.
The Royal Mail offers plenty of job opportunities. However, those who fail to prepare adequately for the application process might find it hard to land a job.
As long as you can identify and adhere to the company's values and prepare by doing practice tests, you should have no trouble finding a posting at Royal Mail.
The Royal Mail will invite you to an online assessment within 24 hours of the initial application. Once you've completed the assessment and the shortlisting exercise is finished, you will receive an update via email advising you whether your application was successful.
This typically occurs within a week after the job application is closed and all the candidates are assessed.
Anyone over 16 years of age is eligible to work at Royal Mail. You should also possess a National Insurance Number, Passport or Birth Certificate, and Proof of Address in the UK.
Depending on the position you’re applying for, there might be other requirements like holding a valid UK driver's license and five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or higher.
Both regular and seasonal employees of Royal Mail are paid weekly. Employees receive their salary at the end of the same week they've earned it.
Until 2013, Royal Mail was functioning as a government department or public corporation, and its employees worked for the government. However, in 2013, Royal Mail shares were put on the London Stock Exchange. After their sale, the company passed into the hand of shareholders. Therefore, an employee of Royal Mail works for a private company.
Working at Royals Mail comes with many perks, including opportunities for personal growth, the ability to meet one's goals and having a clear sense of purpose both in the current position and where one's goals are heading.
Royals Mail training is relatively short. New employers have a mandatory eight hour classroom-based course to attend on their first day of employment.
This depends on the role, but working at Royal Mail can be demanding, especially in terms of physically for posties. Physical demands can also cause mental stress. It's also a high-responsibility job, which also adds to the tension. However, employers typically report having a good work-life balance, which counteracts the effects of stress.
Final Thoughts
With Royal Mail, you can have a secure career with plenty of opportunities for professional growth. Hopefully, you've found here everything you needed to learn to find and secure a role with Royal Mail.
The job application might seem simple, but you still have to pass the shortlisting stage along with the test. It’s best to be prepared to give yourself the best possible chance.
