Industrial Placement Review

The time I spent working in stores involved a lot of hard work. These five months were very demanding but also rewarding because I really felt I was pushing the boundaries of what I was physically capable of. I was also part of a fantastic team which made my experience much more enjoyable. The second part of the placement was spent at the regional head office. Here I experienced working across all different departments from Logistics to Property. In terms of exposure to the actual business and the experience I gained, this second half was absolutely amazing!

Everyone that I came in to contact with throughout the company, from the store staff to the UK Managing Director were so genuine, respectful and interested in what I was doing that I really did feel like a valued member of the team from day 1.

Guidance and feedback were made on an almost daily basis. If you're not doing something right then expect to be told. If you're not being told to do something differently, assume you're doing it right. This is the way Aldi seems to operate and it certainly worked for me. Regular performance reviews are organised, particularily for new starters like an IP but feedback in passing from management and staff is also crucial to your development.

Aldi stores are run very much differently to a mainstream supermarket. I suggest you go and have a look at one and try to work out whats going on. Basically, there will be about 4 or 5 people doing what would require a many more to achieve the same sales at Tesco. Workload is made easier on the staff through efficient processes such as palletised stock and faster tills but each member of staff at Aldi still needs to work harder than one does at Tesco to get the job done. Minimised staffing costs helps Aldi offer low prices to it's customers. If you're afraid of hard work then this placement probably isn't for you because this job is physically tough. However, you will gain so much personally from the experience I strongly suggest it is worthwhile. After successfull working in an Aldi store, you are capable of almost anything. In the second half, compared to store work, in comparison you are putting your feet up. You work office hours Monday to Friday and this I would class as the typical balance. You certainly earn this priviledge though.

This business gives so much responsibility to its staff in general and this is what you want from a placement. I was running a store within about six weeks as an assistant manager and really felt like I was thrown in at the deep end. You certainly need this push on a placement to get things in perspective, to make you realise what you are capable of and achieve a sense of purpose and empowerment going forward. In the second half of my placement, for the last two months I was given the responsibility of organising a shelving refit for the whole regions stores. Expect things like this to crop up. This was the most enjoyable part of my placement and I feel so proud that my boss had the trust in my abilities to complete this successfully - which I did. You will not get this level of responsibility anywhere else. Fact.

Definite skills for life. I will never forget this year as it has played such a important role in the development of myself as a person, how I interact with others and to an extent it has re-aligned my life ambitions. If you are every in the same position as myself to be offered the industrial placement role at Aldi, consider yourself very lucky.

Professional office environment. What I would have expected of a productive office. Everyone was helpful and approachable.

Store work first and Office work second. The store experience was very well organised and I believe everyone follows the same process as it is derived from the Area Manager training scheme.The office time will e different for everyone because the work that needs to be done changes (not like stores) i.e. not everyone will get the chance to do store refits like myself, there will be another project that needs doing instead. Very well organised in general.

My dedication to the firm was matched by their dedication to my development. No complaints here.

I personally feel very proud to have Aldi on my CV and to be able to say that I have worked there but I know that my future lies elsewhere. The placement really sets you up well for beginning the area manager scheme and I know of people that have made the transition very successfully.

I was the only Industrual Placement for the 2010/11 year. I went on a night out with my store colleagues at Christmas and I want clay pigeon shooting with the area manager team - all fuly expensed

I lived at home. You'd have to ask my Mother :)

It doesn't matter. You wont have time to be going out as much but when you do, you'll have more money to spend so it evens itself out.

I went on three socials over the year. A night out, a meal at Christmas and clay pigeon shooting!