Emerging Talent Placement Student Review

Different rotations hold different responsibilities. When working in sales, you will complete shift manager training, meaning you run the shop floor and manage the team around you, working through the task list, including cash handling. When if office rotation ( I did supply chain), I was handed a list of suppliers to manage from end to end. When working in logistics, my main responsibility was controlling the intake and movement of 1500+ pallets daily between my team.

The development of my skills has been endless, and has continued to come to fruition post placement, offering numerous opportunities and pathways. The biggest development points in my experience was: - Understanding the importance of varying communication to suit audiences. - Delivering presentations, meetings and result to senior management & regional directors. - Building rapports with team members across the business. - Work ethic and leadership quality’s. - Holistic thinking/thinking outside the box. - delivering feedback, both positive and negative but still achieving desired results.

Responsibility was given based on individual performance and attitude. There is a standard level of responsibility, for example, shift manager training. But this can be developed to whatever you’re comfortable completing. I was allowed to become a key holder for my store, safe holder, complete training sessions and performance manage employees. Moving into the warehouse, I was allowed to perform in roles crucial to the daily running and organisations of a large scale warehouse. I was also approached by senior managers to complete projects/audits within our region, providing feedback, results and suggestions which then went on to be implemented and actioned, a great feeling!.

Support and guidance is endless, there are dedication training mentors or take care of you from day 1 to the vary end, holding monthly reviews and meetings to support you and advise on next steps. There are regular appraisals so you can identify areas to improve and strengths you hold, and management are frequently involving you with projects and tasks, providing training on the job and frequently reviewing performance. The training at Lidl is one of their biggest strengths, whatever you want training or developing, they have a workshop for it!

Varied from store to store, region to region. But the Lidl ethos, working culture and team dynamic was all of a very high standard, very welcoming, everywhere.

I could not have enjoyed my placement year any more, from start to finish I felt valued and wanted, which made me perform to the best of my ability and grab every opportunity presented to me. The doors and pathways it has opened for me I would never have imagined. It’s hard work, but so rewarding.

Yes

Make sure you research Lidl and understand the business model it operates, the ethos is stands for and the CSR work it completes, for example. Make sure you’re prompt, prepared and focused for whatever task is ahead of you. Make sure to get your personality across, coming onto a placement year isn’t just about what you can bring to the table (because at the start, its not a lot!) it’s about how well you will fit the business and culture.