Aldi Graduate Recruitment process:

Main training academy is in Bolton.

Company started in 1913 by Karl and Anna Albrecht (Albrecht Diskont is how the ALDI name came about).
The company split in to Aldi South and North as the 2 sons fell out over a couple of key issues. They still
both exist in Germany (North has a white background and South has a Yellow - we are part of the Aldi
South business).
It is still a family owned business with over 4000 in Germany and 1000 in US as well as worldwide.
Looking to open 70 new stores in the UK over the next 12 months - to add to the 660 already here.
Until 2011 they had approx 7000 employees in the UK.
They now have nearly 30,000 - so massive increase in recruitment in last 5 years.
Looking to recruit nearly 35,000 jobs over 7 years.

Aldi only have 1 Graduate Scheme:

Area Manager Graduate Programme - 150 recruited from 35000 applicants - there are 5 start dates.
Starting salary is £42k and Audi A4 (salary rises to £72k after 4 years).
Must have 2.1 (non-negotiable) and 240 UCAS Points (old system ie CCC from their top 3 A Levels)
Area Manager Scheme - 12 month programme.
1st few weeks based in store, Head Office and Logistics.
By week 14 you will have the keys to a store and will need to demonstrate everything from motivating a
team and hitting store targets. You will soon find yourself overseeing the running of 3-4 stores.
Their Graduate Scheme website page gives breakdown of 52 week training programme.
The role has 2 strands - Direct Leader and Personnel Leader. Your role combines both.
Visit each store 2-3 times per week audit Customer Service, Stock Availability, Health and Safety, Stock
Rotation, Merchandising Plans, Communications from HO to store staff, Disciplinary/Personnel issues. You
also do a Cash Audit once per week.
You also have an advisory role, more removed, working to support the Store Managers. Beyond the initial
store-based placement you would not be expected to jump on a till or put stock out. (unless complete
emergency!). Hours - no set hours, company state 50-55 hours/week but most work average of 60.
There is a Cover Partner system in place for days off/Annual leave.
You work 5 days a week but could be on any of the 7 days and the hours are not set. You could be starting
at 4am or finishing at 11pm.
This job pays very well - applicants should not be under any illusion that ALDI will expect them to work
extremely hard for this. They were totally open about this. It will not suit everyone and most drop-outs
occur in first 3 months when graduates have focussed too much on the money and car and not properly
researched the role/company/management system.
International Secondment - Approx 20 Area Managers per year (who have worked for 2 years as Area
Managers and shown exceptional ability) get the chance to live and work abroad for 2 years - Europe, USA,
Australia.They often then come back to a promotion.
Life after Area Manager Graduate Programme
All Head Office Director positions are filled by Area Managers eg Finance, Trade, Property, Logistics - they
do not recruit externally except for a small number of highly specialist roles (Audit).In addition they have
50-100 Buying Director roles at any one time - again all have come from Area Manager route - They
stressed the importance of having an understanding of the business from the store perspective.
Within the regions there are Directors and Managing Directors so you can also gain promotion within a
region.
Industrial Placement Scheme: 5000 applicants for 50 places £25k, licence and own car needed.
st
Placement applications open 1 August. This year there will be a small number of Corporate placment roles
available as well (Corporate Busying, IT, E-Commerce 1-2 for each) and they will be open for applications in
September. If complete a placement year successfully they will often be made an offer at the end of the
year to start after graduation (gaps to do a few months travelling before starting are looked on favourably).
Placement students will also be fast tracked through the Area Manager Programme (8 months rather than
12).
Placement year - 6 months in store, training first as store assistant then as Deputy Mgr, then quickly on to
covering for the Store Manager. For the remaining 6 months they will spend some time with the Area
Managers, then at one of the Regional Distribution Centres (4-5 months) learning about Goods in,
transport, etc.
Finally they spend the last month in Head Office looking at Admin, Training and Accounts. They are given
projects to complete towards the end to work on in teams.
Approx 50% of placement students go on to be Area Managers after graduation.
The process for placement students applying for the Area Manager role is being looked at. At the moment
they are often just interviewed as they have already been through all the other stages of the AMP selection
process to get on the Placement.

Selection Process (For both schemes though Placement students are scored less harshly on the SJT).
Before they start they should answer the 4 Self-Selection Questions online test - no impact on application -
gives you scenarios and you give a right or wrong answer. If you do well you are encouraged to click on the
Apply button. You can choose 2 regions (most do get their first choice, but not always).
Step 1: Situational Judgement Test 15-20 Scenarios - real life situations - 4 possible options.
Applicants are then told straight away if they have passed. If not they must wait 12 months.
Step 2: Application Form: Education, Employment History, Competency Based Qs, Why Aldi? What's our
Business Model? Spelling and Grammar - any minor mistakes will be noted so take care.
Step 3: Psychometric Tests - Saville Swift - they will be given 5 days to complete these.
Step 4: Video Interview - only 5 mins answers will be 30-60 seconds. Must prepare.
Step 5: Group Assessment - 6-8 people 2 ½ hours long. Will include a Group Task - must be able to
demonstrate they can lead without being overpowering, can they work as a team, can they encourage
others? Presentation Applicants are told they need to research Aldi as thoroughly as they can beforehand -
they need to have visited several Aldis on different days/times to be able to complete this task! They will
then be given 10 minutes on the day to prepare a 3 minute presentation. They are looking for commercial
awareness and a sound understanding of their business.
TIP: Speak to Aldi Store Staff and Managers beforehand, ask lots of questions and really get this across at
your Assessment centre/Interview.
Step 6: Final Interview with the Managing Director of the Region - 2 out of 3 successful at this stage.

Competencies looked for: this info is NOT on website - we were only allowed to scribble down!
Leads by example, Plans Ahead, Driven, Efficient, Team player, Confident Communicator, Passionate
about Quality, Delivers Solutions, Open.

TIP: Demonstrate a real enthusiasm for the business, show your energy and resilience.
Lots of useful info on their graduate website.