Industrial Placement Review

Overall the Aldi placement is as described, tough but very rewarding. I cannot imagine any other placement providing me with the level of responsibility or potential for professional development that Aldi provide. It us true that you have to be a very particular time of person to succeed with the company. The business requires a large amount of flexibility and commitment but rewards you accordingly. Throughout my time on the placement I have completed a variety of roles ranging from managing a store to completing projects for regional directors.

Value and respect is something that is earnt through your hard work and commitment to your role. Despite my age and relative lack of experience, i always felt valued by my colleagues in store who were always willing to provide feedback in order to aid my impovement and allow me to develop in the management role.

Each IP is assigned an Area Manager mentor to assist and providing training and guidance to you throughout the year. Part of the placement involves a period of grading by your Area Manager to assess your performance in the Assistant Store Manager role. Sometimes the feedback provided can appear harsh however the aim is always to help you develop and not personal. Due to the nature of the business, Area Managers can often be moved around, meaning I did have more than one mentor during the year. This does take time to adapt too.

The Aldi placement is as described, it does involve an average of a 50 hour week. In store this does involve shift work which can range from 5am starts to 22:30 pm finishes as well as weekends. This does have a massive impact on your ability to socialise outside of work. In store you are always constantly on the go because there are always things to be doing. Usually once you enter the head office side of the placement you move to a normal mon-fri pattern. During this time you are expected to manage your time effectively to ensure each project is completed on time.

I think i would struggle to find a placement that gives as much responsibility. A large proportion of the placement involves acting in the Assistant Store Manager role. Part of the role involves the managing of an Aldi store. Also during your head office time you are placed on projects that have a real impact on the business.

I have learnt more on this placement that I had in the previous two years of university. It has provided me with key life skills as well as allowed me to develop my own management style and leadership ability that i will take forward and use in my future career.

While in store you develop a close relationship with your fellow managers and with the store assistants. The atmosphere within the store i worked in was great. Once you move to the head office everyone is very friendly and willing to make time for you in order to help you out or answer your questions.

The placement is very structured and clear. You are provided with a clear training plan at the start of the placement which provides an overview of the whole year. Another plan is provided once you enter the second half of the placement within head office. This lists the length of time within each department.

As previously mentioned, your AM mentor spends a large amount of time training and developing you throughout the year. You are also provided with store training materials to take home and read. The 7 week grading plan also allows you to discuss your progress weekly with your AM an take on board any feedback provided.

Within most regions, you have a final update with your Store Operations Director and then the Managing Director. In these meetings you are told whether or not you will be offered the Area Manager role. There is not a maximum number of roles avaliable. If the MD thinks you are good enough then he will offer you the role.

Aldi is not the sort of business that holds social events. Work and social life are seen as two seperate things. Very rarely did I attend any social events.

Lived at home throughout the duration of the placement.

Due to the amount of time i spent in work I rarely got involved in any additional activities outside of work.