ALDI Graduate Area Manager Programmer reviews

No support Lack of positive feedback Treatment by store managers

Never known a job or grad scheme like it - unprofessional, ridiculous and utterly toxic scheme. No life -and a mental health and self esteem destroyer. Watched several of my peers leave before I myself got out. The assigned mentors have clearly never heard the definition of mentoring and the treatment towards their graduate mentees isn’t far off bullying. There is no nurture or support from mentors or directors. You have to work hard and be quickly self sufficient - which is fine if willing to work hard (we all were) - but you can’t teach yourself everything and if the store is struggling, there won’t be time for your learning. And before you think to feed that back to mentors or managers; be aware that instead of finding a way to support your training - you will be blamed. Praise is non existent most of the time but you will be critiqued on all matters - even if you are performing well, they won’t let you know but will instead nitpick you to extreme and pointless measures e.g., a cup in your car, the way you sit in a chair or how crumpled your notes are. It is beyond draining. The rules are outdated and they think paying high salary means you will tolerate all treatment, overwork and no life. You have to sign out of European Working Rights which means you work as the business needs and your life, your family, your health & safety - comes second. Graduates and for that matter all employees below area managers are undervalued and mistreated. You are not viewed as a person but simply a cog in the machine - which will be performance reviewed if it doesn’t spin fast enough. The recruitment is understandably vigorous, long and competitive. If you make it to the final stage you are selected by your area’s MD. Everyone selected has shown they are very willing to work hard, are open to challenges and quick learning - yet turnover remains huge. Of course, the salary is incredible and the car is a great perk. But you will quickly learn that money isn’t worth it. Do not believe promises of work-life balance or supporting your development. As another review said “believe all the horror stories” - it’s not about if you’re willing to work hard, it’s about if you’re willing to be treated like dirt and give up your life whilst you’re at it. I am bewildered how this scheme is so highly regarded and can only assume it is simply due to the benefits. A truly terrible experience and not like any employer I’ve ever come across. I would not recommend wasting your life or happiness on this scheme.