ALDI reviews

I had an AWFUL EXPERIENCE. It was 10 weeks long, the first half I was a cashier and worked as a store associate at ALDI...literally in the grocery store, for 5 weeks. The other half was still spent in the grocery store everyday. I scrubbed gunk off the floor in my business clothes, and was sent to do mindless little tasks just to keep busy every single day. I scanned every single item in the store several times. I checked for expired food, and price changes. I learned absolutely nothing professional, no marketing skills, and very few management skills, and used my brain very little. On top of that, you have to drive everywhere, to all different store locations. I added at least 4,000+ miles on my car in just 9 weeks. They don't give you their wifi and you can't use their store computers either (how futuristic) so get ready to use all of your data when you sit in the store or they have you research something all day for 12 hours! Oh did I mention the hours are terrible? The internship says 50 hours a week but I work at least 60 or more. And it doesn't get better as time goes on at that job. The district managers that i have worked with have been there for two years or more and are consistently working over 11 hours a day, every single day, so I would assume you have no life. Overall, unless you are 100% committed to accepting the District Manager full time position once you graduate college, I would absolutely not do this internship. It is physically grueling, and it is pretty much nothing related to your major. You will gain no relevant knowledge or professional skills towards your major, that you're paying college tuition and going to school for. If you're trying to gain professional experience, seek another opportunity. If you're trying to make good money and don't care about the learning experience, or about having a life, work at ALDI.

First day they take you for lunch then you drive over to the stores you'll be 'training' in. My 'mentor' told me I wouldn't need the postcode of the stores 1hr away and proceeded to drive off down the M1 at 80mph leaving me inevitably lost and stressed, a great way to start! Training is non-existent, they'll drop you into a store and expect you to just know how to do things and complete tasks at the same speed as people with years of experience, just madness. I was asked by my 'mentor' to reprimand a Store's Assistant Manager with 10+ years experience on my 4th day. Because I did this tentatively (as I think most people would!) I was told 'you've been here for a while, you need to toughen up'. Generally work 60+ hours weeks which was expected given the salary. HOWEVER the way the shifts are spread out (6am or midday starts) means your sleep pattern is ruined. Once did a shop inventory and worked 6am-11pm then back in at 5am to finish at 5 that afternoon. A healthy 29 hours worked with 6 hours between shifts (2 of which driving!) As other people elude to the other Area Managers are fine, except from the ones who have been there for a few years. One told me with pride how he had worked a 110hr week which gives you some idea of their mindset. Once had to drive for 6 hours on my day off as a store manager had locked the key in the safe so backwards and forwards from the head office. Led to me falling asleep whilst driving (you need the days off to catch up!) and nearly crashing which ultimately made my decision to leave much easier.