“It’s a great culture. It makes you proud to work here”

Charlii started as a Deputy Store Manager with us in 2017. She’s since joined our warehouse team as an Assistant Team Manager and we’re very happy to hear that she sees her future career being with Lidl.

What were you doing before you joined Lidl?

I actually worked for a competitor as a Deputy Store Manager. Then I heard Lidl were recruiting for store management positions. Lidl seemed like a company that really held the same core values, had a good stock trend and offered opportunities for progression - so it was something I really wanted to be a part of.

And what does your current role involve?

I manage the Distribution and Recycling areas of the warehouse. Distribution involves working with wholesalers, getting stock from our area of the warehouse and out to stores in our region. I write schedules, organise vehicles, sign drivers in and out, check the warehouse isles and ensure what's picked by our Selection department is insulated correctly and sent out on the appropriate lorry.

In Recycling we manage all the waste that comes back from our stores. I oversee how the team process it, store it, organise waste collection, and look at ways we can gain revenue from the waste to help keep our customer costs down.

I’m also responsible for managing the teams of course. I’m a people-person, so really enjoy this side of the role as well.

What’s the day-to-day work environment like?

It's busy, but it's ever-changing, which is something I love. No day is the same. I know everyone says that and it's a cliché, but it genuinely isn't the same. You never know what you're walking into. Everything's keeping you on your toes, but in a positive way. And so, the general work environment here is pretty positive and everyone comes to work, we have a laugh, but we get everything done that we need to.

What’s the training and development like?

When I originally joined in Sales, I went through what's called the LTA, which is the Lidl Training Academy. After that Lidl offers a vast number of courses, even for topics like mental health awareness. It's just brilliant that they really care about us as leaders and how we impact our teams. They give us all the knowledge we need to be better and manage our teams in the best way, keeping everyone on a happy, positive level, which is nice.

How about the work/life balance?

I have a pretty good work-life balance which allows me to manage my time around my three year-old son. You do have to manage your own time as well, so it’s what you make of it. I work 47 and a half hours a week, which is quite a lot, but you can get everything done in that time and go home. You have varying shift patterns too, which means you can have a bit of flexibility to do things when you want them.

Has the reality matched up to your initial expectations?

Yes, I came in knowing that it would be a challenge, and it would be hard work. However, actually being here, and being integrated and seeing how everyone's got such a good support system, it far exceeded my expectations of the environment I was going into.

What sort of qualities would someone need to do your job?

I think they need to have passion and pride for the work that they do. There’s a lot to do and there's a lot to manage, but if you’re passionate about it - and you care about it – it can be pretty easy. If you come in with a positive attitude, people skills and a can-do kind of attitude, then I think that's all you really need because you get all the support to succeed. It's just on you as a person to make the most of your surroundings. It’s a big team here and there's hundreds of employees. You have to be a people person and enjoy your work.

What four words would you use to describe Lidl?

Fast-paced. Ever-changing. Rewarding. Fun.