Industrial Placement Review

Although it was a struggle to get used to, this placement has given me an invaluable insight into the fast paced retail world. Being able to tour the whole business is something unique that no one else in the company can do. You are given a full on year but it is beyond rewarding. It is much more challenging that any other placement, however what you get out of the year is so much more.

At first it was a struggle to fit in. Although everyone was very nice ad welcoming, you are settling into a new team with people who have been there for years. And as an incoming potential area manager, some people are sceptical of your abilities and maybe are not as welcoming as others, however you earn their respect and trust due to the amount of effort and hours you put in, so by the end of your placement, people are coming to you for advice.

Support is something that you constantly get at ALDI. With there being such high pressure and responsibility in your role, you need a solid support network to get advice and to listen to your thoughts and opinions. You build a close relationship with your fellow IPs, so you are there for each other and your personal mentor is always available to chat and have a catch up.

ALDI is well known for being tough and it is. There were some days over the year where I was working 60 hour weeks, especially over Christmas. However due to you being so busy, it doesn't feel like it....time flies! There is no doubt that you work harder and longer on this placement than any other, but with the amount of responsibility that you have and the amount that you have going on, it doesn't seem like a long week because you are so busy.

You are given so much responsibility from day 1. But week 6 you are running your own store, so in essence your own multi million pound business! You are in charge of the store's safe key in some weeks, meaning that you have the access to thousands of pounds and you are trusted with managing a team of people, so if you are looking for responsibility, this is the right placement!

I have developed so many more skills than I could have ever learnt at university. Working in such a high pressure and fast company makes you adapt and develop everyday. You grow in confidence and become not only a manager, but a leader. You develop communication, dedication, a work ethic and team work.

The office and shop teams are all incredible. Everyone is so hard working and I haven't come across a person that I do not like. Everyone is there to help you and they are all so supportive. Everyone always has time for each other and there is a real team work ethic throughout all of the departments that I have experienced

From day 1, I had a detailed structured training plan which outlined the whole year. Yes, this changed slightly over the year, but I was always kept up to date with any changes. A couple of departments that I visited did not seem overly organised or aware that we would be shadowing them, but the placement as a whole was structured and detailed.

The company invested in me a lot. I received full store assistant and management training as well as being able to go on a first aid course and become first aid qualified. In every department we would be trained in something new, from specific systems training, so learning how to drive fork lift trucks.

ALDI is all about its people ad people development so future prospects are strong. I would love to come back and work for the company after my final year at university and the chances of being kept on are high due to the select numbers that are employed on the IP scheme - with there being only 3 of us from thousands of applicants this year.

Due to the amount that we worked, there was not much chance for social opportunities. I often worked weekends which meant that I could not socialise as much as I would have liked to. Although there were invites to some events, I rarely attended due to them being based far away. It would have been nice to have had the time to attend more events.

When I did attend events, they were expensive, however with the amount that you work and the amount that you get paid I didn't really mind. Due to flexibility with the choice of area you were in, it meant that I could live at home and so could save money easily.

I personally did not experience that much of the nightlife. Manchester however I know to have a great nightlife and I know other people have enjoyed it but due to the amount that I worked and the late / early starts that I would be doing it meant that nightlife wasn't really something that appealed to me after doing a 60 hour week.

Some activities are arranged, however it is just finding the time to do them! I tended to not do anything outside of work, other than a few team based trips out. There were many things arranged towards the end of the placement, including colour runs, charity events etc. which were an option to me.