Placement Student Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed all 3 rotations on the placement programme (Sales, Logistics, and Office), as well as the two weeks spend in Lidl's UK Head Office. Each rotation gives you a realistic insight into what it is to be a manager in that department. I was given suitable tasks and responsibility and all of my colleagues were approachable if I needed advice or guidance. It has allowed me to grow in confidence and develop skills in a way university does not always allow.

My colleagues were always happy to help me with my tasks if required. Equally, they were happy to allow me to shadow them to gain an insight into their job role/responsibilities/daily tasks and let me get really involved. They were genuinely interested in the placement programme and wanted me to do well.

There has been a strong sense of support and guidance from day one on the placement programme. I approach my managers with any problems or when guidance was required. They all had a good understanding of the placement programme and the level of training required. Any progress reports from my university placement officer were completed promptly.

I had a good work balance. I always felt able to approach my managers if I had finished all my tasks and required more work. Equally, I felt able to ask for help if I was struggling to complete work within the required time frame. If I had a quiet day, I would use it as an opportunity to help other colleagues with their work.

I am happy with the responsibility I have been given throughout my placement. I felt challenged without feeling overfaced. I have been given numerous opportunities to work on projects throughout the year. Once I became confident within a rotation I would be given relevant responsibility, but always knowing guidance or advice was there if I needed it.

I strongly believe I have developed skills and knowledge that I would have struggled to develop through university study alone. I feel much more equipped and confident in my own ability to enter the graduate job market. I feel I will gain better marks in my final year of study, as I have real work experience to apply to the theory in assignments.

Having worked in store, the warehouse and the office I have had the opportunity to work in a few different settings. Each one had an overall good atmosphere. The people I worked with were friendly to talk to, interested in my experiences in other rotations on the programme and always happy to help me if I needed it.

From day one, the placement programme was very well organised, both from a Head Office and regional perspective. At the beginning of each rotation I would be provided with a detailed training plan for both myself and my manager to refer to. There was good communication and each department was expecting me when I arrived on my first day.

I am happy with the training and development offered to me throughout the placement programme. I have had the opportunity to attend training courses such as Emotional Intelligence, Grievance and Investigations, Recruitment and Interviews, as well as obtaining my Personal Alcohol License, which allows me to approve the sale of alcohol in store.

Lidl offers very competitive graduate programmes such as Graduate Management programme, International traineeship and Junior Buying Manager. Previous placement students have gone on to obtain places on these graduate programmes and beyond within the company, which is something that motivates me to do well and make a good impression on the placement programme.

There are three national meetings for placement students, which include a training session and an opportunity to socialise with each other. When spending two weeks in Head Office you are there with other placement students so there is always someone to meet up with after work. Usually, there is more than one placement student in each region, meaning there is someone to talk to who is in the same position as yourself.

The cost of living was relatively small for me as I decided to live at home throughout my placement. However, the cost of living and socialising within the area is quite cheap regardless whether you have the opportunity to live at home or not. There are 3 large cities which are in reasonable travelling distance which means there is lots to do during holidays or days off.

Newcastle is within travelling distance of my place of work and so the nightlife is good and relatively cheap, which is good for those that enjoy socialising in their time away from work. Durham and Leeds are also in reasonable travelling distance and both have good bars and restaurants to enjoy.

Around Christmas, everyone made the effort to socialise outside of work and attend Christmas meals and parties. There are also numerous opportunities to socialise with the other placement students when attending the national meetings. Working alongside another placement student means there is always opportunities to socialise with each other outside of work.