Rob joined Aldi in 2014 after completing an International Relations Degree at the University of Birmingham. We caught up with him about his time at Aldi as an Area Manager.
There’s always something happening at Aldi. You’re learning every day.
When I saw how structured the Area Manager programme was, it gave me a real focus. I know it’s Aldi’s advertising strapline, but every day really has been amazing. I don’t know of any other graduate programme where you’re responsible for millions of pounds within 18 months or less. You’re shown the task, told how to do it and then you have to complete it to a really high standard. It’s quite defining how you react to that; how you summon up the confidence and self-belief to achieve great things. You need to be a strong leader but also learn from the support of the bigger family: your mentor, your team, your Store Operations Director. Everyone’s working hard to help you achieve your best.
There’s always something different going on at Aldi. Even now, three and half years into my role, I have to deal with things I’ve never come across before. I’m still developing all of the time. You do have to be resilient though, because things can go wrong. But that’s natural. It’s about what you learn from the experiences and how you move forward.