Interview with area manager for Aldi, Nicola McGloughlin

How did you get started in your role?

I graduated from UCC in 2020 with a degree in food marketing and entrepreneurship, and I became aware of the Aldi Graduate Area Manager Programme through Aldi’s presentation at a career fair in UCC. I was really impressed with the quality of the programme and the investment Aldi makes in programme participants. I also had an opportunity to speak with two experienced Aldi area managers at the event and right then, I knew this was the job for me.

Why did you choose to work with Aldi?

I was impressed with the programme’s detailed structure and how it included spending time at every level of the operational business, starting as a trainee store assistant. I also really liked the fact that I would shadow experienced area managers, which I felt would help form a true understanding of what Aldi’s teams do, which I knew would prove really valuable in my career.

Formal training in Logistics, HR and Buying is also provided. I felt I was up for the challenge and that Aldi’s Graduate Area Manager Programme would be the perfect way to kick-start my career.

What are you working on at present?

I’m currently based in Cork city, where I have responsibility for four stores in Ballincollig, Mayfield, Midleton and Passage West. My day-to-day tasks include reviewing the stores’ weekly performance against KPIs, preparing communication packs for stores weekly, scheduling interviews for new staff recruitment, and completing shop floor walks to ensure the store is clean and of a high standard, ensuring an excellent customer experience. There are also meetings with store managers, directors and other area managers.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is definitely working with my amazing team. Like so many others, I transitioned from full-time education to my career in the middle of a pandemic. The team were great in helping me onboard and I was very lucky that the team of area managers made a huge effort to get to know me and the other graduates and made us all feel part of the team from the get-go.

In addition, no graduate employer pays as well from the outset as Aldi, and the starting salary for graduates is €65,000. There are also a broad range of benefits, including a fully expensed company car.

To read more of what Nicola had to say, click the link to the Irish Times article below