Retail Placement Student Review

As a whole, it has been a great opportunity to see a rapidly growing retailer from all angles and get properly stuck in with tasks and projects in the majority of the rotations. I have enjoyed learning about how the Lidl brand functions and the plans for it to grow in the future.

This is largely dependent on the rotation undertaken, however, in Sales working in a store I soon found my place within the team and was able to use positive relationships formed to put me in a good place when leading shifts as a manager. At regional level, you soon become familiar with everyone in the RDC and many are keen to catch up and find out how the scheme is going and what you've enjoyed so far.

During my store training, I received continual support from my colleagues including my Deputy Managers and Store Manager Coach. I was able to ask if I was unsure of anything and also take on additional responsibility for a key KPI within the store. In logistics the training plan is a lot more loosely structured and based on observational learning, something I found challenging to adjust to having come from a very active role in store at a busy time of year. Advice - meet with managers regularly to go over what level they'd like you to reach.

Anywhere in Retail leading up to the Christmas period is going to be busy and Lidl was certainly no exception! There was always something to be done throughout the day. When I became regionally based, I regularly found myself out and about visiting stores and conducting audits. If one area isn't so busy depending on the time of year you can ask around to see if there's another area you can gain experience or help out in.

In store I trained as a Shift Manager, which gave me responsibility of running shifts and managing the store team & placing stock orders etc. In all areas you are seen by people as a trainee manager and receive the courtesy from your colleagues that comes with that - as well as the responsibility. I have taken on tasks and projects throughout the year on behalf of senior sales managers and presented back my findings - this something I've really enjoyed.

The nature of the rotational programme with Lidl has allowed me to find out what I really enjoy and what I don't so much. This has given me increased focus on what I want to pursue as a graduate career and will allow me to make more informed choices when applying. I've really built on my analytical, management and people skills throughout the year.

The majority of people have been really friendly the atmosphere is really relaxed compared to what I imagined it may be at the start of the placement. Lidl encourage a personal approach to office culture and it's been really refreshing to be able to chat to even the most senior managers in the corridor about something as standard as how your weekend was!

This point again was dependent on the rotation. I found Sales to be really well organised/structured and it was very clear about the targets I was supposed to be achieving from the beginning. I found Logisitcs to be a lot more vaguely organised at times and wasn't always clear on what I was meant to achieve at times.

I attended numerous training courses throughout the year and got the opportunity to sit in on lots of high-level meetings even at Head Office level. I really built up my independent working skills this year. Lidl like someone who has an appetite to take on something more and rise to the next challenge and they reward that accordingly.

Depending on the department and location I would like to pursue a future career with Lidl. Graduate careers with the company are very popular and the placement scheme is great in the sense that it allows you to see the area you'd most like to work in in the future.

I spent two weeks with half of the group of placement students at Head Office in Wimbledon. The fortnight allowed us to form a great group of friends that we hope to maintain even after the placement has finished. I would however have liked more opportunities to share experiences with my fellow placement students aside from the two week experience.

Bristol is as expensive as any other major UK city besides London and has plenty to do.

I didn't really get to experience the nightlife in Weston that much however I have been on a few nights out in Bristol which have been good fun and fairly cheap.