Life on the run

A year and a half ago, couriers, postmen, pizza delivery, etc. worked mainly people with low education level or students and students as underworking. Today, when jobs in their field, or even just a skilled job is not easy to find, even people with higher education and many years of experience, it is not so.

A former sales manager or a bank employee, who works own shipping courier or pizza, unfortunately, many are no longer surprised. Live something on something right! But, like any other, the work of a courier - the same job. And do it someone has to. What are its features and what to expect man reshivshemusya to do this activity - this was the subject of this article. |

Courier (from Fr. Courrier - runner and lats. Cursus - to move quickly) - a person or company employed to deliver messages, letters and other correspondence, as well as small items.

In the ancient times and Middle Ages couriers called runners, messengers on foot or on horseback, was bringing a secret and pouches. In Russia, express mail service was established in 1701 by Peter I in the Smolensk and Archangel paths for extremely fast delivery of parcels with royal charters. Since the mid XVIII century military messenger called messengers, and delivering pouch - diplomatic couriers.

In the former USSR for correspondence, courier often used stamps "Courier" or a legend, and service marks of the hand. This postage, delivered by courier, belonged to a special category - "by hand".

Currently couriers are used to provide individual postal services under the following conditions: speed, security, delivery report, the mark of delivery, specialty and personal service. Couriers may also make mail delivery time to time, for example, daily e-mail. Courier Services in most cases more expensive than regular mail service.

Couriers different needs

Today couriers are used in a variety of companies engaged in various activities. And not just in logistics, the main activity of which is the delivery of correspondence and other small goods to their customers. It may be, and trading companies, many of whom are Internet shopping, and tourist - are invited to work the so-called "visa couriers" whose task is to take the documents of tourists in consular sections of embassies to get their visas. Also in the duties of visa couriers is to occupy and defend the place, which is rather big.

Kept in a state of courier companies and other profiles having a large document, especially when documents must be delivered to partners or customers in the shortest possible time. In addition, firms often employ couriers, whose task is to deliver a correspondence between the offices of the company itself and delivery of accounting documents to various government agencies: the tax office, foundations, statistical services, etc. (here couriers as well as in the case of the surrender documents on the visa, she must defend the queue).

It happens so, when a man called the courier, in fact, acted as an agent that is selling services or products, enter into a contract, invoicing, accepts payment by cash (provided that he has a portable cash register). In this case, call a courier officer incorrectly, but some companies still do so.

You - a letter, and you - sending

Vladimir M. graduated last year. But to go to work on specialty (engineer), he did not want to, and settled in August, sales manager for industrial equipment trading company. But this crisis erupts, encompasses, inter alia, and the company where he worked Vladimir. And because his probationary period has not yet ended, then dismissed him in the first wave - in October.

Checking a couple of months of work a manager or engineer, and not finding either the first or second, Vladimir decided to get even for some work. And then his eyes came across an advertisement in the newspaper about the selection of couriers logistics company. Vladimir called, arrived at a very conventional interview, which consisted in the evaluation of his appearance, and questions like "Are you prepared to carry out on his feet for 8 hours a day?", When he was hired.

Volodya entered into a contract which stipulated that his salary is 10 000 rubles, subject to the plan (on average - four trips a day, five days a week). That is, in fact, the work piece. All above - paid separately. In addition, all goods in the company fell into three categories: up to 500 grams - letter (with its delivery to pay 110 rubles), from 500 grams to 1 kg - packet (for her to pay 120 rubles), and from 1 to 3 kg -- parcel (160 rubles). For each additional kilogram over three pay 15 rubles.

For all time (and it is almost a year) monthly salary Vladimir ranged from 14 to 25 thousand rubles. The largest salary he received in January, because before the new year, companies that use the services of the company where he works, not only congratulated each other on holidays with cards and letters, but also gave gifts, and using a courier.

Remembering the first days of work, he complained that it was not easy at first - about the willingness to go throughout the day asking not in vain: the legs "buzzed", swollen and aching with the unaccustomed. But after a couple of weeks Volodya accustomed to his new job, understand, and even began to receive some pleasure from it.

Pluses, minuses and mishaps

The obvious pluses, according to Vladimir was the fact that he has, in general, there is no boss. Yes, and schedule a courier for free - the faster the job done, the faster he went home, since the work of roving, Volodya's performance in the process and make some of their cases, for example, buy something in a shop on the road or go to the post office to send a letter. But when it's good weather - you spend most of their working time outside the office even pleasant.

But, of course, the work of a courier, there are drawbacks. The main one - the inability to properly eat: eat in establishments catering couriers can not afford, and taken from the house going no place to warm up and eat. That and you have to eat mostly sandwiches, chocolates and other are not the most healthy products. Another minus - the dependence of payment on the amount of delivered goods, since the work piece. And this, in turn, depends on how many orders the company received. No orders - no work. No work - no money. Oh and one more negative - work in bad weather. As the saying goes, "good dog owner on the street will not let", and the courier and the snow and rain have long hours to visit the street.

Almost everyone can remember a funny or curious incident, which was in his work. So, Vladimir told how he delivered 15-pound bouquet of flowers. No, it was not 155 roses and 205 carnations. Bouquet was actually quite normal, just a rather voluminous, and held it in his hand was not very comfortable. Since graduation in size of delivered goods in the company does not, there are only gradations of weight, Volodya wrote in a report that the shipment weighs 15 kg, to obtain for its delivery of 340 rubles, and not 160 as for ordinary parcel post, which was equivalent to a bouquet weight.

Our reference

At the base of the portal Job.ru results for "courier, Moscow found 384 jobs with salaries range from 6 thousand (if part-time employment and flexible hours) to 40 thousand rubles (subject to your own car or a very high daily load - up to 15-20 deliveries a day).

In addition, the couriers, usually paid for the cost of mobile communications and travel on all modes of transport and fuel (petrol).

With regard to the requirements, they at least: the citizenship of Russia or the CIS countries, from ages 18 to 50, and sometimes up to 60 years, some companies require a minimum of experience in this specialty and knowledge of Moscow.