Retail Placement Programme Review

I really enjoyed my placement year at Lidl as I was given many opportunities to learn and develop my skillset. I was able to venture into numerous departments and even departments that were not originally planned due to COVID-19. I was given the opportunity to work with many different stakeholders and my opinion was valued. The placement at Lidl requires a lot of hard work but you can definitely reap the rewards. I would 100% recommend Lidl to any student looking to study a placement year.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues during my placement year, from day one I was welcomed into the team. I received recognition for the tasks I had completed and feedback which helped me throughout the year. I received overwhelmingly positive praise on projects and tasks that had gone well. I always felt part of the team and as if I had been working with my colleagues for years. I have built new relationships that I will be able to withhold for years to come.

I was given support from the Regional Training team throughout the year and we conducted monthly calls in order to see how my year was progressing and how I was enjoying the year. As the year is rotational I had different line managers throughout the year and all of them were invested in developing me and my skillset. If I had any queries there was always someone I could turn to for help or guidance.

Each department within Lidl has deadlines whether that is daily, weekly or monthly therefore there is always something to do. I believe you get out what you put in, if you want to push yourself and you want to develop they will give you the opportunity. I felt fortunate as I was able to work on a couple of projects that had a significant impact on the region! During my time in store I always felt busy and I really enjoyed it!

During the store rotation, I was given the keys to the store and regularly opened and closed the store as the shift manager. I then moved into the Regional Distribution Centre where I was given full responsibility on projects which resulted in saving the region thousands. Whilst in the RDC I fulfilled roles in Admin, Payroll, Recruitment and Training where I learnt a lot from my colleagues on how they approach different tasks on a daily basis. I was also asked to present in a senior meeting which was something I had never done before!

Following on from my placement year I believe I will be a better all round student as I will be able to prioritise, plan ahead and be efficient when approaching my studies. I will also be able to contribute to team projects at University as I have developed my communication skills to another level. I have also become proactive during my time at Lidl as I would pick up tasks and responsibilities which I can apply to my final year.

POSITIVE!!! Within the office there was a strong team connection, we all offered support to each other! The communication within the office was excellent we all knew what was to be completed and we all motivated each other on a daily basis.

The placement year was well organised as I was constantly in touch with the Regional Training Team, it was clear from day one they wanted us to succeed and learn as much as possible within the year. I was invited to numerous events such as Regional Meetings, Area Manager meetings and training courses.

I was given a training plan for each department I was in and clear targets were discussed with the relevant line manager before my time in that department began. Having discussed targets it helped us both understand each others expectations and constantly monitor how I was progressing over my time in the department.

As I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year at Lidl and worked with amazing colleagues I hope to gain employment when I graduate, as there graduate scheme looks right up my street!

I have made friends with fellow placement students across the country and colleagues within my region were very welcoming and showed interest in my development and career aspirations.

Affordable! As I lived at home.