Industrial Placement Student

Whilst studying Economics at the University of Plymouth, Jack Rivitt took the opportunity to get out of the classroom and into the working world with an Industrial Placement at Aldi, as part of his sandwich degree course.

The 23 year old went through a comprehensive training scheme during the 12 month placement, spending time in different stores, and shadowing an Area Manager, as well as a stint in the logistics department at Aldi’s Regional Head Office in Cardiff.

After excelling in his Industrial Placement, Jack returned to university to complete his final year and upon graduation, was offered a permanent role with Aldi as an Area Manager. Jack was attracted to the fast-track management scheme on offer. He said: “I was eager to get back into the business and start my career in retail management. Aldi has an excellent management scheme and had recently been crowned The Grocer Gold Employer of the Year, so I knew I could have a long, rewarding career with Aldi if I worked hard.”

Jack is currently the Area Manager across Aldi’s Milton Keynes stores with a range of responsibilities, and explains: “On a typical day, I’ll make a visit to a store in my area to see how things are going. First of all, I’ll check the standards on the shop floor, ensuring everything is clean, tidy and presentable. Then I’ll have a look at the sales targets to make sure the store not only looks good, but that the business is running efficiently. I’ll flag any issues with the Store Manager and coach them through how to arrive at solutions.

“The training I’ve received throughout my time at Aldi has been very structured and incredibly insightful. During my Industrial Placement I had a jam-packed schedule for the year, which was really useful as I got to experience all sides of the business and see how each department supports each other. This gave me an idea of what was expected of me with regular milestones to monitor my progress. I found this allowed me to develop my time management skills, which are key to my current role.”

Jack added: “I really was thrown in at the deep end but I enjoyed learning on the job and the fact there was no waiting on the side lines. I think I learnt a great deal about myself and what I was capable of, which is something I found incredibly empowering. This approach is quite unique to Aldi and it isn’t for everyone, but personally I thrived in this environment and I believe this is what helped me progress so quickly, as you’re given all the support you need to succeed.

“If you want to succeed at Aldi I think you need great people skills, determination and an eagerness to get stuck into learning about every aspect of the business. From Industrial Placements, through to Area Managers, if you put in the work you can have a really rewarding career at Aldi with real job satisfaction.”

Jack believes the best part of working at Aldi is the people: “Everyone I’ve come into contact with has been really friendly, eager to help and approachable. As an Area Manager I get the opportunity to oversee a number of stores, which I really enjoy as I get to work closely with a diverse mix of people. I also really enjoy the personnel management side if things, as I am responsible for all the recruitment and training for the store teams. Of course, another huge selling point is the salary, as Area Managers start at £44,000, rising to £75,360 after four years, and receive an Audi A4 from day one.” He added.

“There are some great benefits for Aldi colleagues too, from the Bike to Work scheme, to discounted gym membership, plus plenty of discounts from a variety of retailers.”

To anyone looking to apply for a role at Aldi, Jack suggests paying a visit to a local store, adding: “If you want to work at Aldi I think it’s important to get to know how each store, as well as the wider business, operates. Go into your local Aldi and have a look around, observe the different roles of the team and how they work together. Then go home and do your research on Aldi as a business, including its key values and company history.

“I’d also say be honest about your capabilities in your application, as working at Aldi is hard work and it’s not for everyone, so be realistic about what you can do and Aldi will provide you with the training you need to get you up to speed.

Jack is excited about his future with Aldi and adds: “I’m looking forward to where my career is headed as I really enjoy working for Aldi and plan to progress in any way I can. The future is looking bright and I’m just eager to learn, support others and be the best I can be.”