Learn more about salary in a student job

You are considering a student job and and finding a lot of exciting companies that you want to apply to. Have you also familiarized yourself with what your labor as a student employee is worth? Make it part of the preparation for the job search to match expectations about salary and find out whether there is an opportunity to get extra benefits in the contract before you apply. This will help you stand stronger in a possible negotiation.

What can I expect in salary in a student job?

Each year, IDA sets an indicative minimum wage for its members. This minimum wage is also calculated for students looking for study-relevant work. It can serve as a reference during salary negotiations, but be aware that there is a difference between the private and public sector.
The hourly wage is inclusive of pension and calculated for students in a STEM-relevant job.

If you need a little extra help, don’t hesitate to contact IDA. You can always contact IDA’s legal advisers and get help with, among other things, salary checks and review of the employment contract before you sign. This also applies to student jobs – regardless of whether they are relevant to studies or not.

Get to know your rights as a student assistant

When you land a student job, it’s important to understand what rights you have. Because even if you haven’t graduated yet, you actually have quite a bit!

Your rights depend primarily on your number of hours and the type of work you do, and student jobs often fall under the Civil Service Act (Funktionærloven), which means you have certain minimum requirements.

The rights you have as a student in a student job are often the same as those that apply to full-time employees. These rights include, for example, minimum rules regarding termination, pay during maternity leave for birth parents, and pay during sickness.

For example, you are normally entitled to a notice period if your employer wishes to terminate your employment. But it can vary quite a bit depending on the length of your employment period and the contract. As for the salary, there is no statutory minimum salary for student jobs in Denmark, but IDA recommends that you negotiate the salary with your employer, even if you are “just” a student.

What if I get sick?

Here again, your rights depend on your contract and employment relationship.
If you are not employed under the Civil Service Act and there are no special provisions for pay during illness in your contract, you are normally only entitled to the sick pay rate for the hours you are on sick leave. Review your contract to determine if you are entitled to sick pay. If it is not mentioned, you can try to negotiate it.

Read your contract carefully – get IDAs help

Some employers may offer special terms and conditions in their employment contracts. It is crucial to read and understand your contract and make sure your rights and expectations are clearly defined. Check if the hours are guaranteed and understand the terms and conditions as they apply to you. It is important that you not only get meaningful work experience, but also fair treatment and pay for effort. Finally, do not hesitate to send the contract to us so that we can check it for any errors or omissions. Then you get peace of mind and a good start on the job.

Get help from IDAs legal advisors.

Benefits of a student job

Figures from IDA’s graduate analysis show that your unemployment period is reduced if you have a job relevant to your studies. Newly graduated IDA members who have had study-relevant jobs are, on average, unemployed 1 month less than the rest of the new graduates.

We also know that there is a greater chance of becoming a full-time employee if you have already become familiar with a company. A third of newly graduated IDA members find full employment with a company where they have had a student job, have had an internship with or both. (Graduate trend analysis, 2021)

You are undeniably in a stronger position when you have to apply for your first full-time job if you already have some experience before you finish your studies. IDA has carried out a survey among companies which shows that 73% of the companies surveyed recommend students to find a relevant study job alongside their studies. 41% recommend that you write a project and or thesis with a company. And 34% of companies recommend that you start looking for a full-time job before you finish your studies.

Find a balance between studies and work

Finding the right balance between everything on your agenda on a weekly basis can be quite a steep learning curve. Your studies are clearly the most important thing to focus on during this period of your life, so it is important to plan your time carefully and set realistic goals.
Decide for yourself what you want to achieve with your studies and job. No one gets to the finish line by going full blast on all fronts. One way you can make it easier for yourself is to pre-plan – as far as possible – working hours and study time. Also make it clear to your employer that there are times when you are less available and preferably also times when you have more time than usual.

Just as important as studies and work is integrating social activities into the plan. It may sound counterintuitive, but you get a mental surplus from having and keeping agreements with other people. Your mental health is increased by going out with friends or making it a fixed appointment to eat with your partner, where smartphones, laptops, calendars and everything else are put away and you are present. You get the opportunity to relax, relate to others and this reduces stress levels. Don’t just do activities with others. Spend time in your own company, whether it’s a run, a good book, a shopping trip or something completely different. Time in your own company is relaxation, where you don’t have to be anything to anyone (other than yourself).

Flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances are also key to a successful balance. Communication with employers, teachers and friends is important to ensure understanding and support in case of unforeseen challenges. Don’t try to get it all done on a weekly basis, but give yourself some flexibility in high-priority times. The vast majority of friends understand that you enter a bubble for a limited time and the vast majority of employers fully understand that you have less time when we are talking about exam time.