We caught up with Hannah, an Aldi Area Manager who was formerly on the General Managment Industrial Placement scheme, to find out about how the Placement helped introduce her to life at Aldi.
The Industrial Placement Programme was a fantastic introduction to life as an Area Manager
You spend six months in Head Office as part of the General Management Industrial Placement. It meant that I could experience every different level of the business. I saw how the business works, and built really valuable relationships. You realise quickly that everyone is there for each other, regardless of their position. There hasn’t been a single day where I’ve felt on my own. For example, my first Christmas as an Area Manager, my Store Operations Director called and visited me a lot more than usual to make sure that I was succeeding. It was our busiest period of the year, so the support at that time was really crucial for me.
I love how diverse, challenging and exciting my role is. But I also like having a real impact on the business. When I make a decision that improves my area, it has the chance to go across the whole of the UK. In fact, Aldi always encourage you to bring your own ideas to the table. My advice to anyone looking to do either an Industrial Placement Programme or the Area Manager Programme is just be yourself. I know it sounds cliché. But it’s so important. Everyone is different at Aldi, and that’s why it works. So make sure your personality shines through.
Find out more about Aldi here.