Placement Year Review at Aldi

The Role

Role Description

Worked in store for five months as an assistant manager. Running the store in the absense of the store manager. Ordering stock, managing the staff and replenishing stock.

Worked in the regional head office for five months experincing all aspects of the business. Shadowing colleagues within these business units gave a great insight into how the business operates. I had the responsibility of organising a regional shelving refit.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

The time I spent working in stores involved a lot of hard work. These five months were very demanding but also rewarding because I really felt I was pushing the boundaries of what I was physically capable of. I was also part of a fantastic team which made my experience much more enjoyable.

The second part of the placement was spent at the regional head office. Here I experienced working across all different departments from Logistics to Property. In terms of exposure to the actual business and the experience I gained, this second half was absolutely amazing!

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Everyone that I came in to contact with throughout the company, from the store staff to the UK Managing Director were so genuine, respectful and interested in what I was doing that I really did feel like a valued member of the team from day 1.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Guidance and feedback were made on an almost daily basis. If you're not doing something right then expect to be told. If you're not being told to do something differently, assume you're doing it right. This is the way Aldi seems to operate and it certainly worked for me.
Regular performance reviews are organised, particularily for new starters like an IP but feedback in passing from management and staff is also crucial to your development.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Aldi stores are run very much differently to a mainstream supermarket. I suggest you go and have a look at one and try to work out whats going on. Basically, there will be about 4 or 5 people doing what would require a many more to achieve the same sales at Tesco.

Workload is made easier on the staff through efficient processes such as palletised stock and faster tills but each member of staff at Aldi still needs to work harder than one does at Tesco to get the job done. Minimised staffing costs helps Aldi offer low prices to it's customers.

If you're afraid of hard work then this placement probably isn't for you because this job is physically tough. However, you will gain so much personally from the experience I strongly suggest it is worthwhile. After successfull working in an Aldi store, you are capable of almost anything.

In the second half, compared to store work, in comparison you are putting your feet up. You work office hours Monday to Friday and this I would class as the typical balance. You certainly earn this priviledge though.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

This business gives so much responsibility to its staff in general and this is what you want from a placement. I was running a store within about six weeks as an assistant manager and really felt like I was thrown in at the deep end. You certainly need this push on a placement to get things in perspective, to make you realise what you are capable of and achieve a sense of purpose and empowerment going forward.

In the second half of my placement, for the last two months I was given the responsibility of organising a shelving refit for the whole regions stores. Expect things like this to crop up. This was the most enjoyable part of my placement and I feel so proud that my boss had the trust in my abilities to complete this successfully - which I did.

You will not get this level of responsibility anywhere else. Fact.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Definite skills for life. I will never forget this year as it has played such a important role in the development of myself as a person, how I interact with others and to an extent it has re-aligned my life ambitions.
If you are every in the same position as myself to be offered the industrial placement role at Aldi, consider yourself very lucky.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Professional office environment. What I would have expected of a productive office. Everyone was helpful and approachable.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Store work first and Office work second. The store experience was very well organised and I believe everyone follows the same process as it is derived from the Area Manager training scheme.The office time will e different for everyone because the work that needs to be done changes (not like stores) i.e. not everyone will get the chance to do store refits like myself, there will be another project that needs doing instead. Very well organised in general.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My dedication to the firm was matched by their dedication to my development. No complaints here.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

• Company Car
• Company Parties/Events

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

I personally feel very proud to have Aldi on my CV and to be able to say that I have worked there but I know that my future lies elsewhere.

The placement really sets you up well for beginning the area manager scheme and I know of people that have made the transition very successfully.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I was the only Industrual Placement for the 2010/11 year. I went on a night out with my store colleagues at Christmas and I want clay pigeon shooting with the area manager team - all fuly expensed

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I lived at home. You'd have to ask my Mother :)

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It doesn't matter. You wont have time to be going out as much but when you do, you'll have more money to spend so it evens itself out.

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I went on three socials over the year. A night out, a meal at Christmas and clay pigeon shooting!

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

This company has a lot to teach people and the Industrial Placement is a fantastic way to learn much of this over 11 months. It will be a hard 11 months but you will be in such a great position once you finish it in terms of experince and personal development. Just go fo it!

Review 5/6 for Aldi

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