Industrial Placement Review

I found the placement year very enjoyable on the whole, There were many challenges which, at the time I thought were so difficult to overcome. Despite these challenges the year has been so beneficial in so many ways, it has given my the best experience I could have hoped for from a year in industry.

I felt very valued by all my colleagues, in store and throughout my time with an Area Manager and time in head office, I was treated like a member of senior management and given a great deal of responsibility throughout. I was never treated like a placement student.

Level of support varied, I was given a lot of support at the start of placement. At that time I needed it greatly as I was still finding my feet and getting used to the company and culture. However, as the placement went on I feel like the level of support I was given decreased, probably because I did not require as much.

The work load was always pretty intense, and the level of responsibility was always great, Throughout head office time I was given numerous projects which required a great deal of work.

The level of responsibility was so high, in store I was running the shift within just a few weeks of starting, which at the time seems daunting, but was a great opportunity and i'm so grateful of it!

The skills which I learnt in Aldi are skills for life; confidence, professionalism, time management. Also learning to deal better with pressure has put my in such a good position for going into fourth year of university.

The atmosphere in store was great- team spirit was strong and despite it being so busy all the time, the team always made me smile. Going from that environment an office environment was something which took some getting used to, however, all the staff were always so friendly and helpful!

The work placement was so well set up, all the other industrial placement students in the region did the same work at the same time, so it was so beneficial to be able to discuss your experiences.

Training in store was excellent, my trainer manager invested the time and took me through my training book and I always felt I could ask any questions I had. Regular updates with the directors in Head Office was something I valued and appreciated, having the chance to voice any concerns and gain feedback on my progress was so useful.

The prospects of future employment are hugely appealing, however the company can not guarantee any employment after placement and I must re-apply to the company for the graduate scheme.

My fellow placement students and I got on very well, however there wasn't any real social scene. Aldi hosted an event known as the IP review, twice throughout the year whereby all the IP students from around the UK were brought together. This was an over night stay in a hotel with a casual meal, the following day there was an event which allowed us to get to know each other and hear all about each others experiences. This was something which was so valuable and very enjoyable.

The area which I lived in was relatively expensive, however, it was a very nice area.

Nightlife in the surrounding cities is good.

There were limited opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. However, I was given two day off per week, so it was important to make the most of these.