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Interview with Kinga, a courier at InPost.

I was sceptical. I thought he wouldn't be able to cope. The packs would be heavy, the nails would break, the outfit would get dirty. Now I know it was a shot in the arm. We have six women working in our branch, and there are almost 600 of them nationwide, out of a total of 3,500 couriers. What do I appreciate about them? Unbelievable organisation,
And at the same time unbroken peace of mind. And that, in this job, is worth its weight in gold," says Kinga's boss, who works as a courier with InPost.

How's that for nails?

As you can see, it can be done. I had a manicure done some time ago, and it is still intact. The nails are secondary here though. I'm the kind of person who likes my job. And I chose it because I can drive a lot.

Is this your car?

No, the carrier I drive with for InPost. I previously got a Transit and now have a Peugeot Boxer. A very pleasant car.

Yes, given that it weighs about two tonnes. And you how much, if you don't mind me asking?

48 kilograms, why?

How does such a petite girl manage in this job?

Anyone could do it, really! I previously helped a colleague at a car dealership
and I imported cars from Germany. There were times when I had to sit behind the wheel of a trailer. With this kind of assistance, it's not a problem. The cars I drive now drive like any other. And when it comes to carrying parcels, I'm not complaining.

How much do the packages weigh?

The heaviest 33 kilos. However, I have an area where there are only single-family houses. I drive up to the house and hand the package to the customer. If it is a strong man, he takes it himself. I find it funny when customers see a female courier, they immediately want to help her. This happens often, whether I have a small or a large parcel to deliver. Sometimes I take advantage, because why not.

What does it take to be a courier?

An active category B driving licence, and our boss adopts a one-year accident-free driving rule. He told a story about a lad who really wanted to work with us, but had been driving a scooter all his life. After 100 metres behind the wheel of a Transit, the boss had to give up, even though the lad promised to do quite well.

So, an active driving licence. Anything else?

You can have your own car, but you don't have to. If you have your own, you have to have it printed with the InPost logo - these costs, as far as I know, are reimbursed to the employee. You also need to have a clean criminal record.

What was your first day at work like?

It was stressful, as it always is in a new job. I wasn't afraid that I wouldn't cope, but that my boss wouldn't trust me. I was well aware of the stereotypes in the industry. You'd think a courier would be a typically male job, but it is... At the beginning, I spent two weeks travelling around my area with my boss, learning the topography of the district. There are currently seven towns in my area around Wieliczka. During my trial period, I scanned parcels and cleared collection charges. Then I was thrown in at the deep end. And I'm doing quite well.

How many parcels do you usually have to distribute?

The standard is 50 parcels, with up to 90 during busy periods. If you plan your route with your head, it really is possible. It gets hot at Christmas.

Can you get enough sleep?

No, it's a waste of a day. I start work at 6 and finish by 4pm at the latest. When there are fewer parcels to be delivered, I can run my errands or ask my colleagues in the area to drive some of mine. That's how we help each other. By 12 o'clock I'm usually delivering collections, and then I collect postage from customers. At the end of the day we have a handover and settlement of the collection parcels.

Do you need to carry cash?

A small yes. Because still quite a lot of people prefer to pay in cash. Fortunately, we all have terminals and the customer can pay electronically for a collection parcel.

Is it a risky job? Can it be dangerous?

You have to exemplify safe driving to avoid a collision or accident. Cars break down, you have to bear that in mind too. Other things don't happen. And somehow I am not afraid of them. I go to every customer with a good attitude and it never crossed my mind that it could be otherwise.

Do you have pepper spray in your pocket?

No, I don't need to. I graduated from security officer school and a solid self-defence course. Fortunately, it doesn't come in handy at work for me, but you never know.

Who are the women couriers?

In our ward there is a colleague of a mature age and she is doing very well. Many of us live normal lives: they have families, boyfriends, husbands, children. We are happy. We work, we travel, we earn. We have time for our hobbies or holidays. Profession courier has a bad reputation: that it's edgy, that it's poorly paid. I'm fine here and I don't want to change anything.

Why are women suited to this work?

Apparently we are better organised, but I notice something else. When dealing with women, clients suppress their grievances and dissatisfaction. They don't shout, they don't swear. This comes in very handy when a delivery is delayed or when there is a high volume of orders, such as before Christmas. Any of us would be perfectly capable of doing this job.

And how much does a female courier earn?

As much as a man. In a full-time job with a carrier who travels in InPost, it is between 2,500 and 3,500 zloty on a pure basis. In this industry, the salary depends on the number of parcels. That is why good organisation is so important. The better you plan your route, the more parcels you will deliver.

How do I find a job as a courier at InPost?

I came to the company from OLX. I answered the carrier's ad and in a few days I was already sitting behind the wheel. The best thing to do is to look on the website or ask your couriers in the area. Sometimes even the customers I deliver parcels to ask if they could start working for InPost like that. They want to change their situation and my example shows that it is possible and it can be really fun in such a job.