Industrial placement Review

A thotoughly enjoyable and hugely rewarding experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed the year. I has definitely been hugely beneficial. Although i expected to develop throughout the year, it is not untill you have actually had the expereince that you realise how much you learn about your own strenghts and weaknesses, and make huge leaps forward in your personal development.

During my store time ( Initlal 6 months) i was initially aprehnensive as to how an experienced store manager and team would respond to myself joining the team and asssuming a position of repsonsibility. However all the staff responded very positively. I recived excellent training and felt like a valued member of staff from day one. The second 5 months of the placement i was based in the Darlignton regional head office, I was taske with a number of projects. Working with senrior company directors was a daunting experience at the start of the year, however they were all very welcoming and were easily approachable should i need any guidance.

During the store time I felt like I had strong supervion from my store manager. My only critique is that I would have liked more scheduled updates throughout this period. During the second half of the placement based in the head office i had a number of projects to complete. Howver all of the members of the office team were always easily approachable and more than willing to help. Similairly company Directors were often forthcoming with their time, often giving up their own spare time, whether this was to practise running through presentations or simply providing feedback and guidance.

This is very important to stress. You will be given a huge workload. During your store time you will be working extremely long weeks 48 hours plus. Especially in the lead up to christmas when you have the chance to run the store yourself, you will often be working even more hours. Similairly during the second half of the placement Ihad a large volume of projects to complete. This is to really test your ability to manage your own workload and time appropriately. You will definitely feel like there arent enough hours in the day as the time will absolutley fly by. If you want a nice easy 9-5 placement for the year then this scheme definitely isnt for you!

No other company i believe has the confidence to give its placement students so much repsonsibility. During my store time, after conmpleting a training period you will have the oppurtunity to run the stpre yourself. You will be managing a team of 10-15 experienced individuals, with a real oppurtunity to lead a team. Opening the store, issuing tills, supervising deliveries, comlpeteing all daily paperwork, controlling inventories, managing a team in the lead up to christamas, are just a few of the tasks I experienced/ you will experience. During the second half of the placement i was taked with completing a vasriety of projects for the company. These are projects which relate to key areas of the business that have been identified for improvement. They are not projects that are set simply to be handed in and never looked at. The project outcomes have included recommedations which the company will look to implment moving forward, and as such I had the oppurtunity to complete a project which is directly affecting a multimillion pound business.

The potential to develop throughout the shcmeme is capped at you. You will be worked extremely hard, and given a vast amount of reposnisibility. This is all to test and develop you. providing you approach the scheme with a hard working attitude, then your personal development can be limitless. Although it is cliché to say, i feel i have developed vasytly throughout the year, and am developed a more rounded and determined individual as a result of the process. You will defiintely not leave the scheme as the same person that you are as you enter it.

ALDI is an extremely professional organisation, and as such the office culture reflects that. There are fairly strict rules in place, and a set of "un-written rules" which also govern office conduct. Although this was a huge change from University, it has definitely prepared me for the future transition to the working world after university.

Such is the way that ALDI runs, it is extremely organised. You will recived a detailed training plan at the start of your placement however this is subject to change dependant on the requirements of the business.

As stated previously your developement is dependant on you. ALDI will give you detailed training, and all the staff are willing to help. ALDI is a hugely results driven company though, so there is also a big emphasis on furthering your own self development, and taking this responsibility upon yourself.

I have throughly enjoyed the placement scheme. Given the oppurtunity I would love to return to the company on the graduate scheme.

N/A

I was in Darlington which is cheap.

You will be too busy at work to go out!

Schdeuled office team events occurred during the second half of the placement.