Lidl (pronounced as [lee-dhll]) is a European discount supermarket chain of German origin that operates 7,000 stores. In Germany, it is Aldi's main competitor. The full name of the company is Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG. It belongs to the holding company Schwarz, which also owns the store chains Handelshof and Kaufland.
Lidl (l-E-dl) has established itself in over 17 countries. It was founded in the 1930s by a member of the Schwarz family; then called Schwarz Lebensmittel-Sortimentsgrosshandlung. In the 1970s, the first Lidl stores of today's incarnation opened.
In the UK Lidl is attempting to quickly increase market share, and has already opened over 500 stores.
Graduate Recruitment
[Edit]Lidl are a very aggressive graduate recruiter. They are constantly advertising and targeting their jobs to graduates because trainees on their schemes suffer from very high burnout rate. Trainees are known to work 70 hours or more each week, usually over twelve hours every day and commonly work at weekends too.
Many graduate are unable to cope with this very hard work pattern and consequently leave before the end of the two year scheme.
Application Requirements
[Edit]Lidl are looking for graduates with good communication and management skills.
Lidl's three year graduate schemes offer training and development to trainees and should allow trainees to work in every area of retail and retail management.
9 July 2009 - 4:34pm
Digby
I don't know how useful this is but I have a bit of info on the reality of the graduate store manager scheme if anyone's interested:
In terms of hours, you're usually contracted for 50 h/p/w which are work on a rota system of 5 days in 7. However, it is rare that you will not work considerably more than this in a week. The additional hours necessary can vary depending on the quality of store you train/work in but it is very common to simply be required to remain at the end of your shift until the job is done.
The standard of training is quite variable and there seems to be little structure in the training program or progression thereafter. There is no real set time period in which you are a trainee and after which you will be given a store to manage. It is possible you will stay as a trainee store manager for a considerable amount of time until a vacancy arises for you to fill. You really are expected to hit the ground running and long hours, responsibiity and the corresponding accountability should be expected from day one. You need to be proactive and hardworking to meet the high standards the company expects of all its employees.
That said, the pay is good and progression is available if you earn it and as for it. I believe the current starting salary for a trainee store manager is as high as £27k and it is not unheard of for store assistants to progress to district manager within the company. There does not seem to be a great deal of transparency in terms of promotion and progression but the opportunity is there and the company does value those who work hard and do their job properly (although you may not feel valued after a year of 70 hour weeks). It also gives you great experience if you wish to make a long term career in this level of retail.
I am going on second interview with lidl (final interview). Does anyone know what should I expect?????
Thanks,,,,