48 Week Undergraduate Placement Student Review

I loved the entire 48 weeks of my placement programme and didn’t want it to come to an end. I’m looking forward to going back to University to finish my degree before getting straight back out into the real world as a graduate, preferably with my placement employer Lidl as I loved the culture so much.

From day one I felt valued by my colleagues, for the most part I was treated like a permanent member of staff rather than a trainee which I feel helped me develop knowing that everyone was prepared to help me where needed. Everyone is busy at Lidl but this didn’t stop any member of staff taking time out of their day to give me a hand or answer a question I may have had.

The support and guidance I received was second to none, my Regional Training Consultant and line manager at Head Office Training and Development were hugely supportive and kept in close contact throughout the year to check on my progress and welfare. Whilst I undertook each module I also had the support of each line manager I worked under, all of these managers were very approachable and happy to help.

Understandably this varied from department to department, the time I spent in store was probably the busiest area I worked in as you are on the frontlines serving customers but that’s retail and I loved it. Aside of this I was busy in all departments and was never sat around waiting to be handed more work, the responsibility you are given means managers often delegate some of their tasks to you.

During my placement year I was given a lot of responsibility, a great deal more than I had anticipated I would be given as a trainee. At Lidl you are given as much responsibility as your line manager feels is suitable. If you prove that you can effectively deliver projects on time then you will be rewarded with further tasks and responsibility. If you work hard then you will be rewarded accordingly.

I have been fortunate enough to develop a plethora of new skills over the past year. At the start of the year I was nervous just talking to customer assistants and the idea of talking to Store Managers was terrifying. However, by the end of my year I was talking to Area Managers on a daily basis and even presented to Directors. These new found skills will not only help me in my studies but also after I graduate and start my career.

It varied from office to office, some were more interactive than others but they all had a good atmosphere with everyone happy to help where needed. The Team Lidl motto ringing true throughout the business.

So well organised I would find it hard to fault it. The reason this programme was so appealing to me was because it allowed me to explore all corners of the business in four 8 week modules of my choice. At my induction I was given a calendar which listed where I would be each week of the year, I just had to select which areas of the business I wanted to spend time in.

The Personal Training and Development I undertook this year was probably the most rewarding part of my experience. As I have already touched on I was shy and reserved at the start of the year but being thrown into the deep end in the real world was just what I needed. Throughout the year I have undertaken training as a result of rotating various departments which has allowed me to develop an understanding of so much more than just sales for example. I think this is what sets this placement apart from others, the opportunity to see so many different parts of the business as opposed to just one as would usually be the case.

Future employment prospects are very appealing with Lidl, if you perform well during your placement year the expectation is that you will return upon graduation. My training and development has been invested in so heavily that when I return my knowledge of the business will be far more extensive that a graduate who hasn’t completed a placement year. Lidl also may market leading salaries for graduates and are very good at promoting internally which I feel is an important consideration.

Very much so, the other placement students from around the country and I met 4/5 times over the course of the year which was always a lot of fun. This was usually for meetings and training sessions but we also had dinner and drinks which gave us an opportunity to catch up and share experiences.

I lived at home during my placement year so the cost of living and socialising was the same as I was used to.

The area I worked in was on an industrial estate so not a great deal going on but when based in Head Office the nightlife was much better as we were staying in South West London with easy access to Central London etc.

Not whilst at Belvedere so much as I lived quite far from my office. However when at Head Office with the other placement students there was much more to do and we had a very enjoyable two weeks.