ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case that records the experiences of Matt Sosnowski, a management trainee with Lidl, a German-based European food discounter. Matt believed that his experience in international business and language skills would land him at least a middle-management-level job. Pursuing a career in international business was Matt's passion. The case provides students with an opportunity to assess the interview and hiring approach at Lidl. The students can also consider the factors that drove Matt to accept the management training position, despite some reservations. The case provides numerous examples of Matt's attempts to understand his situation and to develop an understanding of the organization's procedures. It gives students the opportunity to put themselves in Matt's position and identify alternative courses of action and, perhaps more importantly, to identify a plan of action. In August 2003, Matt finally secured a position with a company he liked.
