General Management Placement Review

Could not fault the organisation of the placement at all. Every part of your placement is planned to the highest detail and given to you in a training plan on your first day. Even with COVID-19 creating uncertainty the business has not stopped from prioritising my training and my development throughout this period.

Every person I have worked alongside has been welcoming within the Bathgate region. Every team you are part of they want you to make an impact and give you responsibility. I could not have asked for better colleagues throughout the departments I have been apart of, from my store time to head office I have always been valued and integrated well.

Area manager mentor provided constant support and kept in regular contact throughout my 12 months. Support comes from all angles in the business, even directors are invested in understanding how you are getting on whilst giving you support and guidance. My management throughout my department have been excellent- every single of has been fully supportive and offered great advice.

I believe you can never be too busy in this business. There is always something to do within Aldi. Being delegated responsibility and tasks on a daily basis allows you as a placement student to make a real impact in the business. You aren’t just kept busy with small useless tasks- what you do has a direct impact on the success of the business.

You’re given great deals of responsibility. You are expected to take this on and perform like any other member of staff, just because you are a placement student doesn’t mean they expect less from you. Being valued as another member of staff is great- you’re not going round making cups of tea and coffee like many other placements. Getting stuck in and rolling your sleeves up!

My attitude towards work has developed greatly, I am 100% sure I will go back to university as a harder working individual. I will approach my work in an ‘Aldi mentality’, using all resources to get the job done to a high standard in an appropriate time. Every part of training will stay with me throughout my professional career

Every team I worked with worked incredibly well together with great experience throughout- which was great for my training. There is always going to be some form of tension in a working environment due to a clash of opinions although there is always a sensible outcome to which the business always comes first.

Incredibly organised. There is always going to be parts in your training which may be changed, but this is to facilitate the needs of the business. Although there was minimal changes even whilst working through a pandemic. Very impressed with how well this was all planned throughout my 12 month placement.

Fully invested in me, never at one point did management or other employees hesitate to help me- always in hand to give support and advice throughout. Investing their time into making me a better employee which has allowed me to develop professionally greatly across this 12 month placement scheme at Aldi.

Awaiting my feedback from all management, but IPs have been fast tracked into AM roles in previous years. Something which I’m very much hoping I will be considered for by the end of my placement. Seeing the emphasis the firm puts on internal promotion is incredibly exciting to see throughout.

I was the only placement student within the region although socially throughout the working day there is a perfect balance between hard work and socialising. Using break times to catch up with fellow colleagues is a perfect way to unwind from the busy working day within store and head office.

I was living in Edinburgh but between this area and Bathgate for my store and head office time. Both of which were good.

No nightlife at Aldi- apart from Transport nights.

Lots of events on with Teenage Cancer Trust- in which you had to raise a certain amount of money to complete these events such as a skydive etc. Charity golf day in Scotland although sadly in my year COVID-19 affected the majority of these and for this reason I wasn’t able to enjoy this more.