Maynia, you're spot on. I went to a registration event yesterday and they didn't even interview me- I was pretty much offered the job on the spot.
Process went a bit like this:
-turn up, man ticks your name
-join queue, have documents checked (and photocopies made, at your expense)
-sit in a room watching a crappy presentation, waiting
-called through for interview
I actually turned up over an hour late (oops) but no-one but the guy ticking my name was aware of this so it had no impact on my interview.
My 'interview' was actually just a guy checking all my documents, asking if I was fine with the shift times etc. then saying 'I want to offer you this job'. I was pretty happy as it's the first job interview I've ever had! Nice bloke as well.
I did hear other people in the same room being asked questions but it didn't seem too taxing - it was just a large room with quite a few tables set out, interviewer on one side, interviewee on the other.
My contract details are 6th - 23rd December at the East London Sorting Office; 6pm - 5am shift (there was a 7pm - 6am available) from Monday night to Saturday morning; £6.50/hour; no uniform, just turn up in something fairly practical. The 'training' is just arriving 20 minutes early for your first shift, presumably to be shown how to throw letters in a bag (the 'presentation' in the conference room displayed that well enough for me)...
My interviewer recommended asking that during the contract you can ask your manage if there's any more work going, as that's how a lot of people get into Royal Mail. I'll definitely be doing so.
It's pure doss. Just turn up sober and you've got a few weeks of menial labour and about £1k in the bag.
Good luck.
(If anyone here's done it before, could you tell me when you got paid? I'm hoping it's before Christmas...)
EDIT: If you've not received an email with the list of stuff you need, here it is:
Step 1 – Ensure that you have printed your application form. If you have not printed you will need to log back onto your application and click on “Print Summary”.
Step 2 – Print out the attached bank details form and complete and bring to the Registration session with you. Royal Mail can only pay you through a bank account.
Step 3 - Print out the attached Health Consent form and complete and bring to the Registration session with you.
Step 4 – Attached is a guide to what you will be required to bring to the Registration session. You will not be offered a job unless you have all of the required documentation.
You will need:
• Proof of Identification
• The correct Right To Work documentation for the UK
• Proof of your current address (must be the same address you have applied on your application form).
• National insurance number (although not mandatory it MUST be supplied if using with a birth certificate to prove your right to work). .
The attached form will detail all the requirements you need. You will be required to bring photocopies of each document as well as the original.
Step 5 – You will also be required to bring a passport-sized photograph (45mm x 35mm) this is for your Identity card when you start work.
REMEMBER – If you do not bring the required documents, you will be turned away from the event and we will be unable to process your application.
Step 6 – Finally, book yourself onto a registration event.
Follow the link below and log onto your application you will see all the available dates and times so you can book your event on-line yourself.
There are a couple of forms attached which I can email to anyone if you've not received it from RM for whatever reason.
My printer ballsed up yesterday morning and printed everything in a sort of red and blue stripe, yet they barely cared.