Placement Student Review

Overall my placement has been very enjoyable and has greatly exceeded by expectations. Due to the structure of the placement I was able to choose the modules I was most interested in and the areas that I wanted to develop my skills in. The modules I enjoyed most depended on a number of factors such as the ability of the department to adopt you as a ‘member of the team’ and the time your department line manager invested in you. This meant that you were given great exposure and you were pushed and encouraged to developed your skills.

For the vast majority of the placement I felt valued by my colleagues and also felt that I was adding value. There were a few occasions when tasks felt mundane, however they were tasks that had to be done and necessary to the smooth running of the department. Another point to note is that there were points when there was little for me to do or I had completed my set tasks. But if you take it upon yourself to ask if there is anything else to be done there is always something for you to be getting on with. A proactive approach is beneficial for any placement.

Every student has a Regional and Head Office point of contact. These are your contacts for support and guidance. They are able to answer your phone calls and emails. When you are within your departments your line manager will decide what you will be focusing on week by week. The teams around me were always willing to answer my questions and provide direction. All of my department line managers were supportive of my personal growth. One line manager in particular made sure that I progressed as much as possible and gained all-round exposure. I really appreciate this a I’m keen to go back into that department once I graduate.

As with any role your work load fluctuates slightly. Some days you will be very busy with many deadlines meet, other days the work load won’t be as pressing. I found that with good time management your work load will become pretty even across the weeks. It is important to note that Lidl expect you to work hard during your placement and good work ethic is vital. If start knowing these expectations you will progress within your role and manage your work effectively.

Throughout my placement I was given a great deal of responsibility in all the departments. From working on different projects to running shifts. All my work was adding value to the business. In order to be given more responsibilities within the departments it is important to make a good impression and complete your initial tasks to a very good standard. Once your line manager sees what you are capable of they are more likely to give you more responsibilities. For example I was given a seasonal stock allocation project. My manager took my allocations and then the stock was distributed to stores. Having the sole responsibility of running a shift was a highlight for me as I was managing up to 20 people.

During my placement I developed a wide range of skills. Without a doubt my time management will assist me during my final year of university. However most of the skills I’ve developed such as people management, communication and strategic thinking will assist me beyond my degree studies. This year has prepared me for my career after university and I wouldn’t feel as prepared without my placement.

Overall the atmosphere in all the offices/departments was good. Everyone got on with each other but at the same time individuals were focused on the job at hand. Due to the flat management structure staff felt comfortable discussing points with the head of department. This improved the atmosphere and everyone was working as a team, towards the same goal.

The placement was very well set up and structured. The first couple of months you’ll spend time in each department for basic training and an overview. This was really valuable as you gain experience in all the departments, get a feel for what you are most interested and start to build professional relationships within the business. Each department that I spent time in they knew how long I was going to be with them and what I needed to know/experience. Once each module had been completed I had an appraisal with my department line manager.

Personal training and development is a key focus for the company. The extent to which individual departments invested in me varied. The vast majority of departments spent time making sure I understood processes and provided me work that would be challenging. Some departments made sure I had formal training for certain roles.

The future employment prospects within Lidl are very appealing and they are keen for the placement students to apply for roles. There are a number of positions I am looking into applying for once I graduate and the graduate schemes that they offer are also very appealing. The fact that you’ve worked for the company for a year means that you have some really valuable contacts to reach out to in the future.

It was great to have another placement student within my region. Having someone who was having similar experiences and being able to ask each other questions was really supportive. The national placement meeting and two weeks spent in Head Office was a great opportunity to socialise with the other placement students and share experiences.

Being based in London not a chap place to live, however I found a really nice house where I rented one of the rooms. The opportunity to live in London was fantastic for socialising and enjoying the city.

Being based in London the Nightlife was great but in the immediate area around the RDC this was not the case as RDCs are located more often than not industrial areas.

There were a number of fund raising opportunities to get involved with throughout my placement.