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Front page / Student life / Student jobs, internships, and project collaborations / How a student job can help you gain experience

How a student job can help you gain experience

To kvinder sidder og snakker udenfor, imens den ene smiler.
Making connections and networking while studying will increase your chances of nailing a permanent job when you graduate. We'll guide you!

Table of contents 

  • Advantages in having work experience while studying
  • Work is never irrelevant
  • Be explicit and show interest
  • Stay in touch
  • Advantages in having a relevant student job
  • This many companies recommend…
  • Working in a café is also relevant
  • Advantages in having a student job in general

Advantages in having work experience while studying

IDAs market insights show that having practical experience in a Danish work place is a clear advantage while studying. Maybe even more so for internationals who want to continue to live and work in Denmark after graduation.

From our market insights we can document that IDA members with relevant students jobs often get full-time jobs in the same place or spend less time unemployed before that first job after graduation.

The benefits of a student job – no matter if it is relevant for your profession or not – can extend beyond the immediate financial gains. They include personal and professional development, enhancing your overall skill set and making you more resilient in your academic and professional pursuits.

Learn more about salary in a student job

Work is never irrelevant

If you work as an intern, collaborate with a company on your thesis or find a student job, you often have an advantage when you enter the job market as a graduate. However, a spare time job at a café is never irrelevant.

Making connections while studying will increase your chances of finding a permanent job when you graduate. And for internationals it is even more beneficial as you get a first-hand experience with Danish work culture from a student perspective.

When asking companies what they recommend students doing to prepare for the labour market, the answer “work while you’re studying” gets the highest score with 73%.

Companies assign high priority to practical use of theoretical knowledge, and if your CV shows that you’ve been working while studying, employers can see that you haven’t only had your nose in your books, but you actually know how to translate knowledge into output. You know about preparation, cooperation, deadlines and everything you need to be able to do at a workplace. This is a huge advantage
Sanne Mattebjerg, IDA career counsellor
How to find a student job, an internship, or a company to write your thesis with

Be explicit and show interest

An important point is to verbalise that you want to be employed when you have finished your studies. Because this is not always obvious.

You should remember to say it out loud. It’s your own responsibility to ask and express a wish. You can’t expect them to guess what you want. Tell your boss: I’d very much like to continue here, and I picture myself doing this and that. Point at the possibilities yourself and do so in good time before you are to leave
Sanne Mattebjerg, IDA career counsellor
Don't forget your rights at your student job

Stay in touch

If you want to work in the company where you are a student worker, you will have a head start as you are already a familiar face.

It’s often easier for an employer to hire a person who they already know. They know you professionally and socially. They’ve eaten lunch with you, you’re linked up to the system, you know the culture and so on.

If you have stopped working as a student assistant, a thesis student or an intern, it is always a good idea to stay in touch.

You can link up with people on LinkedIn – this is the most popular social media platform in the Danish work setting, where you gain insight into what field others with your profile are working.

This is not onlya great tool if you want to return to the company in a permanent position once you have graduated, but you never know if the connections you made can help you move forward in other directions. Using your network through Linkedin and in general after graduation to find a job can actually propel you faster into a full-time job than only applying through the same channels every one else is using.

Try to stay in touch with the place you are imployed as a student worker. This may be by offering to present your thesis and by showing up physically if you have a meeting, or just stopping by. Visibility is good!
Sanne Mattebjerg, IDA career counsellor
Get the optimal conditions at your student job
Cultural integration
A part-time job can facilitate cultural integration by providing opportunities to interact with Danes and understand workplace norms.
Networking opportunities
Build connections with professionals in your field, potentially opening doors to internships or future job opportunities. 30% of all jobs are filled via network.
Skill development
Acquire and enhance skills that are directly applicable to your academic discipline, making you more competitive in the job market.
Understanding local job market
Gain insights into the Danish Model, understand employer expectations, and potentially discover new career paths.
Understand industry dynamic
Develop insights into the real-world application of your academic knowledge and understand industry trends and dynamics.
Time management
Learn to balance academic and work commitments, honing valuable time management skills.

This many companies recommend:

73%

of companies recommends working during your studies.

41%

of companies recommends to make sure to write your thesis/final project in collaboration with a company.

34%

of companies recommends to start your job search while you are still studying.

Working in a café is also relevant

Some people think: I have only been serving brunch at a café. Rather, you should translate what you've done into relevant competences: Have you kept duty rosters? Then you can coordinate. Have you balanced the cash register? Then you can understand finances. Have you worked with many different people? Then you can cooperate. In fact, there is no such thing as irrelevant work experience."
Sanne Mattebjerg, IDA career counsellor
What to know about salary and conditions when doing an internship as a Bachelor of Engineering

Advantages in having a student job in general

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Use IDA to your advantage

You have all the opportunities right in front of you to give yourself a competitive edge over other applicants. You can always talk to our knowledgeable career advisors or explore IDA Studiejobfinder.
IDA Student Jobfinder Personal Career Advice