SINCE ITS INCEPTION in 2013, the mighty ‘Roo has conquered 130 cities around the globe and transformed the food delivery industry. The distinctive teal uniform of their riders has become a staple of the cityscape and can incite Pavlovian levels of excitement.
But what’s it really like to work as a Deliveroo rider? We spent a day with a fleet of riders to find out.
Spoiler: It’s not easy. At the most basic level, riders need to be physically fit, strong cyclists and love the outdoors.
For Deliveroo rider, Nicola, it’s all about the freedom of the role. “I wanted a job that gave me loads of flexibility and let me pursue my passion for cycling” she said.
“I couldn’t recommend it more for people that want to be active in their job. And it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.”
Sean has been working as a rider for over a year now. He says that it’s a challenging role but one that he finds really rewarding. He believes that to be a successful rider you need to have a positive attitude and a good deal of discipline.
“Nobody is going to be there to tell you to stay out and do more orders. It’s up to you so you need to be disciplined and put in the hours.” He works the “per drop” system which pays a fee for each delivery rather than each hour on the road.
He prefers to work evenings and weekends when it’s busy and he can make the most money. “I typically work 9-11 hours Friday to Sunday averaging 25 orders per day. Sundays are always very busy so usually I can get over 30 done.”
What first drew Sandeep to the rider gig was the fact that he could work and study at the same time. He carries out deliveries on his motorbike and really values the focus on road safety – it’s not just about the reflective gear, it’s also about the attitude.
“There’s never anyone putting pressure on you to just get there as fast as possible. Driver safety is a priority and that’s important.”
Roberto says getting to know your surroundings is a big advantage of the rider lifestyle, especially when you’re new to an area. “It’s a great way to improve your skill as a cyclist and explore the city.”
His advice for potential riders is to focus on customer service and be energetic. “You have to be friendly and good with people – not just customers but restaurant people too. It makes you feel good delivering food to people when they’re full of smiles and anticipation.”
For Lorcan, the best thing about being a rider is being his own boss. “I can work when I like and I don’t have to worry about a boss breathing down my neck.”
He’d recommend that any prospective riders pay close attention to the weekly emails which keep riders up to date on the busiest times to deliver.
Liam Cox, Operations Manager for Deliveroo Ireland, says the company’s mission is to create the best food delivery experience in the world.
The primary responsibility of his role is to ensure the number of riders on the road match the demand for the service and with Deliveroo rapidly expanding, they’re always looking for more riders.
“We’re building a really strong rider community here with great local partnerships and events.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes? You can find out more about joining Deliveroo below.
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