I work at Aldi currently. Yes it is hard work in comparison to other supermarkets (I previously worked at another supermarket). The pay now starts at 7.95 ph as a store assistant but a bit less as a stick assistant (you don't have to remember all of the codes as a stock assistant) I am a store assistant and was first nervous about remembering all of the codes. However, most codes are on the bags of the fruit and veg (they are the only ones u need to remember). After a few weeks u will remember all of the codes e.g carrots 33, yellow peppers 837, mixed peppers 16 etc.
Pay goes up every year for four years I think until it hits around £10 ph as a store assistant. Each store will have a till speed target (ours is 950 items an hour) u will get in trouble if u miss this consistently. As u will if u are over or under ur £1 till difference allowance per shift. You are performance reviewed periodically also by store management ( they will let u know how your doing). To clarify this whole break thing. At aldi 6 hours shift constitutes a 15minute break, 8 hours 20 mins an 10 hours 39 min break. HOWEVER there is an optional unpaid 30 minute break if u want it (no one in our store takes it). Your entitlements at work should be displayed clearly in your canteen as ours is.
I was interviewed via a one-to-one interview with an area manager and it was very fast paced with quick fire questions. E.g what do you know about aldi? What can affect inventory at aldi? Why should we choose you over other candidates? They will want to know what you currently do and have previously done. DO NOT LIE you will be expected bring in references from previous jobs (particularly your most recent). I have seen many new applicants do group interviews and they do numeracy tests etc e.g how much change do I get from £20 if I spend £13,67 (6.33). If u pass your interview the area manager will contact u promptly (mine did the next day) and they will arrange for u to do a work trial at the store u applied to or a nearby one. After that they will contact u to let u know the verdict ( again this happens quickly). All in all the application process is rigorous and nerve racking much like most interviews. Make sure u do abut of research and get across tha YOU WANTthe job, don't just go through the motions.
I've been at aldi for about 6months and am studying property at uni aswel. I am at uni 3 days a week and usually at work for 3 days doing 30 hours overall. My day off I do coursework and revision. If u are studying it is very hard to get a work life balance and I am struggling but it will be worth it I the end. One other thing the rota's for your shifts should be done a month in advance. THE SHIFTS ARE NOT FIXED and the times and days you work will change every month which makes it hard to plan for other things. As a store assistant or stock or deputy you should be doing a MAXIMUM of 40 hours a week anything over this you are paid time and a half and aldi don't like doing this because it affects their productivity ratings. So it is not I there interest in making or asking u to do this in my experience.
Stock take is once a month on a Sunday where everyone manually counts all of the products in store (it's not as bad as it sounds) and will probably be your longest shift! Mine is usually 12 hours. Good money though and it goes quick because u are always busy.
Overall I like working at aldi. Renumeration is good,and I enjoy the aldi culture and the way they do and expect things done. They expect you to work as you should with any job. The whiners just don't like graft in my opinion. Don't apply if u think it will just be a checkout job or stacking shelves because u will be I for a horrid shock. Mornings u work deliveries and have to tick all the products off on a list and put it all out. They will test the pallets by adding and taking away things to make sure that you are doing it properly so you CANNOT get away with just putting it out. Customers are expected to put their shopping straight into their trolleys and pack at the bench as this means less waiting time for customers and quicker service. HOWEVER, this canalso cause big rows with customers as it is a culture shock and when they refuse to put it in their trolley they can ever pack fast enough and where u scan so fast it becomes a pile of shopping and things can fall/break or re scan which means a manager had to come and override the error correct usually.
I have listed most of what you will probably get at aldi in regards to most things. Hope this helps.