Assessment with Lidl, last 3 HRS! WTF!

FreedomJoe

Going for an Assessment with Lidl next week.

It last 3 hours! What is that all about?

3 Hours just for a Assessment at 6pm at night?

Clearly a sign of things to come!

Anyone have any ideas what this is and what to expect?



Read all the stories, and to be honest I would rather just not bother.

But lets face it, getting a job in Ireland is tough today.

I have tried finding lwork at loads of places and got no where, and with the government about to introduce Welfare cuts as in the Snip report a job is better than a life on the dole.

Im thinking maybe just stick to it untill I find something else/better, its easier to find work when your in a job than out of it.

Of course thats if i get a job with them!

I received this email from them

Thank you for your application. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to an Assessment Centre, which will be held in our Regional Distribution Centre at Lough Sheever Corporte Park, Castlepollard Road, Mullingar, Co. Westemath.

The Assessment Centre will be approximately 3 hours in duration.

Thanks

Kinetic^

I'd a 2 hour interview the other day. Felt it was a bit OTT tbh but I got the job so no complaints.

MagicMarker

What role is this for?

I would imagine the bulk to of the 3 hours to be waiting around, there'll probably be a lot of candidates there.

If you'd rather just 'not bother' then don't go and let someone else get it, god knows there's plenty of people who will bother.

the_syco

I think the 3 hour thing in a standard thing for Lidl and Aldi.

=-=

Kinetic^: well done

FreedomJoe

MagicMarker wrote: »

What role is this for?

I would imagine the bulk to of the 3 hours to be waiting around, there'll probably be a lot of candidates there.

If you'd rather just 'not bother' then don't go and let someone else get it, god knows there's plenty of people who will bother.

Its for a Store Manager position.

Its not a case of not bothering, its a case of beggers cant be choosers.

But when you read the issues with working for lidl, i.e 70-80 hours per week no family life etc its enough to put you off.

But as I say, I dont wont to be on the dole so I have to take what I can.

I just think 3 hrs is a little mad at 6pm at night!

Corruptedmorals

Induction? Lots of crappy training videos and handbooks to look at?

testicle

It's a group interview.

x in the city

how many hours a week...

70?


wtf

daveirl

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rediguana

I did the Area Manager interview with Aldi before. About three hours. Group exercises, cognitive tests, listening to some spiels - fun times.

I think an ideal working week is 20-30 hours. Enough to structure your week, but still leaving plently of time for leisure activities.

70-80 hours is crazy and anybody enjoying this type of punishment reminds me of the quote "Work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do with their time".

ScouseMouse

I worked for Lidl a few years ago.

You could work 90 hours and still get grief. Everytime you turn around there is someone in from head office. They say hello, how are you, and then ten minutes after leaving, you get a call from head office wanting to know why this is wrong, and this is not done etc etc.

They pay very well but managers dont last. I was one of eleven in a B&B in Limerick while we did training. One year later, I was the second last of the eleven with the company.

Ten minutes before you go home a district manager could walk in and give you a list of things to be done with a deadline of 9am next morning. There is a comlete disregard for employees rights as was demonstrated, last year, I think it was, where a district manager took them to court.
I will find a link a post it when i can, but in the meantime, here is some light reading for you.

http://www.octane.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=15370
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0406/1224244068228.html

oppenheimer1

You think thats bad, the last interview I has was an all day assessment. Group projects, presentations, verbal, numerical, personality and technical tests, as well as a one hour long grilling/interview. Afterwards I had to submit a urine sample for drugs test, attend a physical and get police clearance. Afterwards they asked me for feedback, all I culd say is that they were "thorough".

ScouseMouse

Man, things have changed since I was there. I had an interview with the Regional Director and was told to start in Limerick for training the following week. !!

I kid you not.

x in the city

daveirl wrote: »

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what work do you do, seems alot.! is that like over time etc?

Mrs OBumble

daveirl wrote: »

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I'm fascinated by this:

To work a 60-hour week, you must be working something like 8am - 6pm (or 6:30 if you have 1/2 an hour for lunch, Mon-Sat. Or perhaps 8am - 8pm (8:30 with lunch) five days a week.

Is this real? Do you do anything other than work? How???

FreedomJoe

JustMary wrote: »

I'm fascinated by this:

To work a 60-hour week, you must be working something like 8am - 6pm (or 6:30 if you have 1/2 an hour for lunch, Mon-Sat. Or perhaps 8am - 8pm (8:30 with lunch) five days a week.

Is this real? Do you do anything other than work? How???

Not to mention travelling time too and from work.

Elessar

60-70 hours a week is nuts. Work to live don't live to work. Unless you really intensely love your job, for some reason.

Big inner

Got an email for this too, any idea what the assessment day is like? Is it an interview? and have loads of people got this too?

Cheers,

Big.

FreedomJoe

Big inner wrote: »

Got an email for this too, any idea what the assessment day is like? Is it an interview? and have loads of people got this too?

Cheers,

Big.

From what I have discovered its split into sections.

Around 30 people are invited along.

Each person gives a brief statement about themselves.

You then do a series of test that last around 20- 30 mins for about 8 questions.

Next is a a team task, the groups are split into 3. The test is to see how you work with others.

Finally a interview with them.

If you get through you will be invited to another interview the following week.

Big inner

Thanks FreedomJoe.

wmpdd3

JustMary wrote: »

I'm fascinated by this:

To work a 60-hour week, you must be working something like 8am - 6pm (or 6:30 if you have 1/2 an hour for lunch, Mon-Sat. Or perhaps 8am - 8pm (8:30 with lunch) five days a week.

Is this real? Do you do anything other than work? How???

My usual week is 8-6 4 days 11-10 1 day. (46hrs)

If I can't get the work done in that time then i'd do 8-8 2 days and 8-6 2 days and 11-10. (50hrs)

Welcome to retail:eek:

Can't say I love those hours but I don't have enough staff to deliver the work so I have to do it.

testicle

a 60 hour week is illegal.

D-Generate

I'm his brother and he works in finance and its from about 6:30/7:00 until about 18:30 5 days a week and also a bit of study at the weekend for the coming week.
A 60 hour week is not illegal but an employer cannot force you to work over 40 hours. If an employee chooses to work a 60 hour week then that is their own prerogative. Take for example self-employed people who work up to 80 hours a week often.

MagicMarker

testicle wrote: »

a 60 hour week is illegal.

lol

Stevecw

wmpdd3 wrote: »

My usual week is 8-6 4 days 11-10 1 day. (46hrs)

If I can't get the work done in that time then i'd do 8-8 2 days and 8-6 2 days and 11-10. (50hrs)

Welcome to retail:eek:

Can't say I love those hours but I don't have enough staff to deliver the work so I have to do it.

Well if you need some staff to help you reduce those hours, drop me a pm!

I am 9 months now without a job, and i am cracking up! Degree, 6 years finance experience, but nobody wants to even consider me!

I was tempted to go for Lidl, but 70/80 hours a week is just madness! Ok i will work, and do long hours but no job is worth that many!

wmpdd3

Yes no problem, I'd love to have you......am... I can't pay you, is that OK.

Every single retail place I know of has less staff working there compared to this time last year.

Firetrap

I think if I was unlucky enough to be unemployed, I'd give Lidl a try. It might not be a lot of fun but it pays better than the dole, you've got a purpose to getting up in the morning and it increases your chances of getting another job. It's not just in retail that the hours can be ridiculous either. I've friends who work in law and finance who have to put in the hours as well.

daveirl

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x in the city

seems loads of hours but fair play you must be coining it

is that legal/banking/stocks


to say its in london?

Gillo

daveirl wrote: »

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Is the working time directive not based in law, I didn't think you could actually sign something like that away, obviously you have to the choice to ignore it and get on in the company but to waive your rights.

I tend to work the nine hours most days and have had at time had to work much longer, tbh I don't mind the long hours once I'm kept busy it's a hell of a lot better than a short day just standing around.

givyjoe81

daveirl wrote: »

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Theres the crux of the matter, you like your job so the extra hours arent an issue for you, but 60hours a week in a hell hole is a death sentence, we werent put on this earth to work ourselves to the bone for some greedy corporation.

More important things than money, such as a quality of life, and a life just at weekends isnt much of a life at all, no offence!

leeroybrown

Gillo wrote: »

Is the working time directive not based in law, I didn't think you could actually sign something like that away, obviously you have to the choice to ignore it and get on in the company but to waive your rights.

He's in London so UK law applies. In the UK you can officially waive the working week restriction on an indefinite basis. You can then rescind this waiver at your own discretion so long as you give adequate notice. It's fairly common in higher paid positions in the UK.

daveirl

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Mrs OBumble

daveirl wrote: »

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Ahh, now let me see:

Sports practice. Choir. Community work. Care for elderly relatives. Book club. Bingo night. Scout leader. Art class. Exercise. Learn a musical instrument - or play a gig with a band or in a session. Attend plays or concerts. Help the kids with their homework. Political-party activities. Residents association meetings. Study. Read. Learn a language. Plan a holiday. Bridge club. Yoga. Story-telling night. Meditation. Walking club.

That's just a few ...

No, I haven't done all the above. But seriously, normal people get involved with their communities, for the good of the community and themselves (if you've got no interests outside work and TV, you'll be in a pretty bad space if something goes wrong and you can't work).

budgemook

JustMary wrote: »

Ahh, now let me see:

Sports practice. Choir. Community work. Care for elderly relatives. Book club. Bingo night. Scout leader. Art class. Exercise. Learn a musical instrument - or play a gig with a band or in a session. Attend plays or concerts. Help the kids with their homework. Political-party activities. Residents association meetings. Study. Read. Learn a language. Plan a holiday. Bridge club. Yoga. Story-telling night. Meditation. Walking club.

That's just a few ...

No, I haven't done all the above. But seriously, normal people get involved with their communities, for the good of the community and themselves (if you've got no interests outside work and TV, you'll be in a pretty bad space if something goes wrong and you can't work).

Most of that sounds like work

daveirl

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x in the city

know what you mean there, fair play to ya as you are one of the few lucky people around the world who love their job it seems

when you got a good job and happy out the hours fly by, what do you do as a matter of interest.?

ArseBurger

JustMary wrote: »

I'm fascinated by this:

To work a 60-hour week, you must be working something like 8am - 6pm (or 6:30 if you have 1/2 an hour for lunch, Mon-Sat. Or perhaps 8am - 8pm (8:30 with lunch) five days a week.

Is this real? Do you do anything other than work? How???

That's a standard enough work week for some.

When I was in Ireland I used to get to work at 7am most days and leave at approximately 7pm each evening.

I still had a very active social life and I thoroughly enjoyed my job.

In my opinion, it's the workshy attitude and sense of entitlement that has developed in the Irish mentality that has us in the mess we're in today.

Euro_Kraut

ArseBurger wrote: »

In my opinion, it's the workshy attitude and sense of entitlement that has developed in the Irish mentality that has us in the mess we're in today.

Really?? Not poor economic policy and lax financial regulation?

I think its a bit much to blame the recession on the ordinary workers of Ireland.

Seaneh

80 hour weeks are nothing.

Try being a chef.

I have done 27 hour shifts!

budgemook

Seaneh wrote: »

80 hour weeks are nothing.

Try being a chef.

I have done 27 hour shifts!

I've done a 36 hour shift when I was managing a bar in London. I win.

ArseBurger

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

Really?? Not poor economic policy and lax financial regulation?

I think its a bit much to blame the recession on the ordinary workers of Ireland.

I don't think it's a bit much. The people voted in their leaders and didn't heed the warnings when they were given.

Society starts at the bottom and goes right to the top.

I also find it interesting that we Irish, as a whole, cannot accept that we are to blame for the mess we're in. We are bigots and begrudgers. However, most of all, we're liars. And the worst of it is, we lie to ourselves.

We got ourselves into this mess. We have to accept that, take it on the chin and move on.

I'm certainly not going to sit around pointing fingers and bang on about what if, and who should.

I'm honestly not looking forward to my holiday back to Ireland to listen to all this ****e for two weeks.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

JustMary wrote: »

Ahh, now let me see:

Sports practice. Choir. Community work. Care for elderly relatives. Book club. Bingo night. Scout leader. Art class. Exercise. Learn a musical instrument - or play a gig with a band or in a session. Attend plays or concerts. Help the kids with their homework. Political-party activities. Residents association meetings. Study. Read. Learn a language. Plan a holiday. Bridge club. Yoga. Story-telling night. Meditation. Walking club.

That's just a few ...

No, I haven't done all the above. But seriously, normal people get involved with their communities, for the good of the community and themselves (if you've got no interests outside work and TV, you'll be in a pretty bad space if something goes wrong and you can't work).

WTF sort of crap is that post? "normal people"... what a load of bullsh!t. Some people are extremely content with very little interest. You don't have to do anything during the week. If he wants to work 60 hours I say fair play. I don't even see it as being a lot to be frank. I worked 70 hours a week plus 2+ hours a day traveling... oh I was knackered but damn was I rich.

Firetrap

The thing is that it's currently an employer's market. Working in Lidl, let alone working all those long hours, might not be to everyone's taste but there are far more people interested in getting jobs there now than there used to be. I'm sure plenty of people would gladly give up quite a few of those free hours in the day they have at the moment (all 24 of 'em) to work there.

Euro_Kraut

ArseBurger wrote: »

I'm honestly not looking forward to my holiday back to Ireland to listen to all this ****e for two weeks.

Ah, but we have missed you so much....

You may have a pointed in there somewhere but you need to be carefeul about calling and entire race of people bigoted.

I accept that people voted for unsustainable economics - but they had little choice but to as all main parties and media outlets exposed that type of economics. I cannot accpet though that our resession was casued by Irish people being lazy.

Would you say the same about Iceland? Latvia? Spain and that other countries that have taken a hammering recently?

TheBlock

ArseBurger wrote: »

We are bigots and begrudgers. However, most of all, we're liars.

A bit over the top no?

wmpdd3

OK you win, you should apply to LIdl as the store manager and the assistant manager!

Mrs OBumble

Emilee Dazzling Superscript wrote: »

Some people are extremely content with very little interest. You don't have to do anything during the week. If he wants to work 60 hours I say fair play. I don't even see it as being a lot to be frank. I worked 70 hours a week plus 2+ hours a day traveling... oh I was knackered but damn was I rich.

And then those people who don't do anything outside work get made redundant, their whole world falls apart and we start seeing pathetic posts here about them being bored and depressed.

I take it you didn't have a partner or children when you were working those sorts of hours? Or that you think it's OK for small children to not see one of their parents six days a week (because with those hours with even a small commuting time, that's what will happen).

I had a spell of working 48-50 hour weeks for a month (boss was away and I was covering): I wasn't effective after the the first week, was simply so tired (from the mental rather than physical effort) that I wasn't using time well, and things took longer than they should, which of course made the next week even worse.

Frankly, if a job is taking more than 40-ish hours/week, you should be asking yourself what you're doing wrong that you can't get it completed in a reasonable time (with the obvious exceptions of roster-driven junior doctors and German super-stores).

Gale

If you ever want to gain an understanding of how whole swathes of a society can support a regime such as the Nazis, how brain washing and propaganda can lead to ordinary people doing ridiculous things, how we can all be made surrender our human rights, take a Management role with Lidl, they have developed the nastiest company culture on the planet.

I was sacked from a District Manager role within Lidl after 7 months.

Big inner

Evening all,

What is the dress code for these assessment centres? Also what is the format for the 3 hours?

Thanks in advance,

Big.

ArseBurger

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

I cannot accpet though that our resession was casued by Irish people being lazy.

Would you say the same about Iceland? Latvia? Spain and that other countries that have taken a hammering recently?

Having lived and worked in Spain recently, I must say a resounding yes. They are a great people socially, however they lie and avoid work to beat the band. And they are openly racist in the workplace. I had an Italian working on my team in Spain and he was institutionally victimised and forced out of the workplace (after I had left and a new manager took over the team). In Ireland he would have had a case for constructive dismissal. In Spain he was just a Guiri.

Iceland and Latvia? No idea. I haven't lived and/or worked there.

I've lived and worked in Ireland too. Hired and fired. Recent graduates are lazy and have a sense of entitlement. Generally the workforce are lazy.

That's a generalisation though. So probably only true for the majority.