Aldi

Aldi is a global supermarket chain with over 7,000 shops worldwide. The firm is also one of the world's largest privately owned companies.

Graduate Scheme

The Aldi graduate scheme is called the Area Manager Graduate Training Programme. This lasts for one year and offers graduates management training, the chance to work in many different roles within the company and the prospect of rapid promotion.

Salary

The Aldi graduate scheme starting salary is one of the highest offered by any graduate employer in the UK at £40,000, with a company car. Trainees can realistically expect to earn in excess of £60,000 after three years at the company.

Geographical flexibility

Graduate trainees at Aldi need to be highly geographically flexible and prepared to spend a large amount of time travelling. Once hired, you may be positioned anywhere within the UK, and may be moved at any time. Trainees will also need to travel extensively within their allocated region, in order to visit the four to six stores that fall within their jurisdiction as area manager.

Work diversity

During the first six months of the Aldi graduate scheme, trainees must spend their time doing each of the less-skilled store jobs that they will eventually manage. For example, trainees will mop floors, work on supermarket check-outs and stack shelves. After this inital six-month period, trainees will officially take on the responsibilities of an area manager.

Working Culture

Aldi's graduate area managment trainee positions offer applicants one of the highest salaries of any graduate role in the UK - £40,000 a year immediately after graduation. Successful hires will also be provided with a company car (the infamous Audi A4) and promised rapid promotion, if they do well.

The Aldi graduate scheme, which officially lasts for one year, offers a good start to graduates with an interest in the retail industry, or gaining experience in management positions.

The firm seem towork their graduate trainees hard. Applicants should expect to work 60 - 100 hours each week, spread over six or even seven days a week, throughout the length of the graduate scheme. There is little time for a social life, or even a life outside work during the Aldi graduate scheme.

Reports indicate that the drop out rate of graduate hires at Aldi is quite high. Not everyone is prepared to work as hard as Aldi expect, and many graduates lured in by the very attractive starting salary do leave the company after a few weeks, or months.

Those who stick with the company are promised, and seem to acheive, swift promotion. Graduates have been known to become directors after just five years.

Trainees are expected to spend time working in every job role offered by the company during the graduate scheme. This includes less-skilled roles such as shelf-stacking, working on tills and cleaning, as well as office based roles such as logistics, trading, financial administration, property and central buying.

Although the Aldi graduate salary and company car are attractive, reports suggest that Aldi offer very little else in the way of benefits to trainees. Staff kitchens are apparently not even stocked with tea and coffee; staff must buy their own.

The Aldi graduate scheme is tough, and will only suit graduates intent on earning money, gaining experience or achieving rapid promotion in the retail industry/management. Trainees must possess great leadership skills and be able to communicate effectively with employers at all levels. It is also essential for trainees to have a good level of physical fitness, to cope with the excessive amount of work, and have a great deal of geographical flexibilty, as they must relocate as and when the company decide.