Lidl & Kaufland Asia
2 opportunities
Singapore
1001-5,000 employees
Yee Jen Tan
Graduate Trainee fulltime in Sustainability
Bachelor's in Business Management
1. What made you join L&K Asia?
I'm Jen and I'm passionate about CSR, driven by the aspiration to do my part in healing our planet for all its inhabitants. I am a Sustainability Analyst at Lidl & Kaufland Asia and was part of the Graduate Programme batch of 2021.
I graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Management, majoring in Operations. Towards my graduation, I was undecided about my career ambitions and thus searched for job opportunities that allowed for me to explore my interests. I found out about L&K Asia through a job post on LinkedIn for the Graduate Programme, which offered four rotations through different departments in two years. As I was also interested in the supply chain and consumer goods industry, I felt that L&K Asia would be a great place to discover and develop my career interests.
2. What was your experience in the Graduate Trainee Programme and your decision to transit into a full-time role?
Throughout the two-year programme, I had the opportunity to express my preferences to join our different departments. My rotations were as follows:
1. Textiles - Merchandising
2. Hardgoods - Sourcing
3. Human Resources - Learning & Development
4. Sustainability
I was given many great opportunities to pursue my interests and challenge myself in all departments. Under Merchandising, I learned about the core of our business, explored the Product Development function and took an external course on the basics of textiles. In Sourcing, I managed the onboarding process for our suppliers, worked on a variety of strategic projects under Operations and had the opportunity to visit our factories in India and Malaysia. In HR, I led the content development of our internal onboarding platform, organised staff engagement events for the office and assisted our Talent Acquisition team for recruitment.
My managers and teammates provided me with great exposure and guidance, allowing me to step out of my comfort zone and learn more about my strengths and areas to develop.
With a personal interest in sustainability, I requested for a rotation to the department and was fortunate to join the team for my last rotation. Under Sustainability, I supported in research projects, data management, and led our company's annual Sustainability Week, an internal event dedicated to promoting a sustainability mindset amongst our colleagues. Leading Sustainability Week was my greatest challenge as a Graduate Trainee, and also my proudest achievement in the two years.
After a few months with the team, I communicated my interest to join full-time to my supervising senior and team manager. They made the case for me to convert permanently, considering the department's needs, my strengths, interests and career goals, and I was grateful and excited to join the team as a Sustainability Analyst leading on data and reporting. It was a smooth transition as I continued working on existing projects and gradually took on more responsibilities. With the increasing need to incorporate sustainability into all our business processes and corporate culture, I am passionate about our continuous work to make L&K Asia greener every day, taking responsibility for our impacts and offering more sustainable products for our customers.
3. Tell us your experience of the corporate culture at Lidl & Kaufland Asia?
Despite rotating across a range of roles and teams, the people and culture remained the same throughout. In all departments, I am grateful to have had capable and supportive supervisors to learn from, that invested in my development and credited my achievements. The organisation's structure is also flat, and I was given multiple opportunities to work with senior leadership, who are friendly and approachable. I am also most grateful to my fellow Graduate Trainees, who shared the experience together and continue to provide strong support and camaraderie.
4. What do you do after work or on weekends or how would you like to unwind after work?
Outside of work, I love all kinds of games, all kinds of crafts, and spending time with my family and friends.
5. What advices would you like to share to others to make the most of their Graduate Trainee Programme @ L&K Asia?
I would recommend the Graduate Programme to those who are interested to explore a variety of roles and have a strong willingness to learn. The experience is most rewarding when you are open-minded and push yourself to take on projects and tasks that are unfamiliar, learning all that you can out of it
Elva Teng
Global Supply Chain Management
Graduate Trainee in the Textile Devision
Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Hi, I'm Elva! Currently a Graduate Trainee working in the Textile Division at Lidl & Kaufland Asia.
I graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), majoring in Global Supply Chain Management. During my final year of study, I was unsure about my professional path, so I began looking for programs that allow me to explore my interests. I attended a number of recruitment talks back then and learned about L&K Asia's Graduate Trainee Programme, which offers three rotations through different functions in two years. Apart from my major subject, I was also interested in textiles, so I believed L&K Asia would be a great place for me to discover and develop my career.
1. How is your experience in the Graduate Trainee Programme?
Throughout my journey with L&K Asia, I have been to two rotations, which are
Textile - Sourcing
Textile - Product Development
Under Sourcing, I worked closely with my Sourcing Manager and gained hands-on experience in every aspect of the sourcing process, from supplier evaluation and onboarding to relationship management. It is also where I got my foundation knowledge regarding fabric and garment construction.
My current rotation in Product Development has provided me with numerous possibilities to explore my creative side. I was assigned tasks that required Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D Software application skills, which I had never learned before while studying business and believed I was capable of. Being able to learn these software is undoubtedly a highlight as well as a professional win for me.
With the foundation built from the prior two rotations, I am looking forward to apply all I've learned to the upcoming rotation in Textile - Merchandising.
2. What motivates your passion for your work and learning in this environment?
What drives me to be passionate is the people here. I value the time and effort they invested in educating me. Despite my lack of experience with textiles, they are willing to teach me from the ground up. Every coworker has their unique area of expertise, therefore there is always something I can learn from everyone.
3. What advices would you like to share to others to make the most of their Graduate Trainee Programme @ Lidl & Kaufland Asia?
L&K Asia is a place full of chances and challenges. I never feel bored because I am constantly learning new things, which is the goal of the Trainee Programme.
If I could give any new Trainee one piece of advice, it would be to be to be adaptable to everything, and you will experience things you never would have imagined enjoying.
Tari Chung
Graduate Trainee in Food & Nearfood - 2022
Bachelor of Science, Food and Nutritional Science.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in the food industry, and how did you choose to join the Graduate Trainee program at L&K Asia
Hi, I'm Tari and I've always been a 'foodie' from a very young age. This lifelong love for culinary experiences has naturally led me to pursue a career in food industry. I joined the 2023 Graduate Trainee programme in Lidl & Kaufland Asia and I'm a quality consultant under Food and Near Food Department.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in food and nutritional science. Prior to graduation, I had been actively exploring places that aligned my passion for food and quality assurance. I discovered L&K Asia through LinkedIn job posts and noticed their commitment to excellence/ quality and have a positive workplace culture. Intrigued by these and the rotation opportunities, I figure L&K Asia matches my career aspirations and would be a perfect place for me to grow.
2. How is your experience in the Graduate Trainee Programme
Throughout the programme, I have been fortunate to receive support and respect for my preferences from L&K Asia, which allowed me to remain in the same department for over a year. This approach differs from the typical rotation pattern, and I truly appreciate the stability it has provided, as it has significantly enriched my understanding of food quality.
Under Food team, I learned about the essence of maintaining high quality and safe food, supported the whole process of new product to launch and the even had the chance to join a Food Sensory Training Workshop with MMR.
Along the way, I have explored a lot of new food categories and gained experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, e.g., Merchandising, Artwork & Packaging, Production support team, to achieve common quality goals. After several months with the team, I reckon there are still a lot to learn in FNF department and I communicated my interest to stay. My supervising senior and team manager took my preference into consideration, and I was grateful to continue working with the team, gradually involving in more new projects and responsibilities. The program has provided me with the flexibility to pursue a business function that I am strongly interested in, making my journey here more fulfilling.
One of the key highlights as a food quality consultant is the factory visits. Going on food factory enables me to learn about aspects of food production and quality assurance. I could minimize the gap between knowledge and practice, finally gain insights from the entire production line, handling raw material to packaging stage; observe how factories implement their quality control plans, and make sure the food products are safe and consistent. These hands-on experiences are valuable for me to understand the food production landscape and offer practical insight for my career.
3. Can you share your thoughts on the culture and communication
Although I haven't been in many teams, I still figure the company is highly collaborative and supportive. My teammates are always willing to share their knowledge and mentor one another, creating an environment where learning and personal growth are encouraged. Also, I appreciate that there is no strict hierarchy within our team, which fosters a 'comfortable' place for open communication and allows everyone to contribute ideas freely. This structure not only empowers individuals to take the lead on projects but also promotes a sense of ownership and accountability. In addition, the company also takes care of our well being and offers activities throughout the year. I was lucky to enroll into the fluid bear making workshop and had a lot of fun with my friends.
4. What advice would you give to future trainees about making the most of their experience in the program
To make the most of the programme, I would recommend future trainees to embrace challenges. Challenges are opportunities in disguise. When faced with difficult projects, approach them with a positive attitude. Embracing challenges build resilience, improve problem-solving skills, and ultimately enhance your confidence in workplace. Moreover, take advantage of all available resources. Attend workshops, training sessions, and webinars offered by L&K Asia. Continuous learning is essential in any field, and staying updated with industry trends and skills will enhance your employability and effectiveness.
5. What are some of your favorite activities or hobbies outside of work
I find joy in baking and cooking, experimenting with new recipes and sharing delicious meals with loved ones. Spending time with friends and family is equally important to me, as it allows me to relax and it's a perfect way to wind down after a busy day. I also love playing badminton and hitting the gym regularly, which helps me maintain my fitness and relieve stress.