In which sectors can you work as a student?
As a student worker, you can find a job in almost any sector that needs temporary staff. The best known are hospitality, events, retail, administration and customer service, logistics and production, cleaning, transport, and beauty and lifestyle. Which sector suits you depends on your schedule, your experience and what you enjoy doing. Below you can read what to expect in each sector and what you need to arrange.
In which sectors can you work as a student?
A student job is not limited to the classic summer job at the chip shop or the supermarket. Companies in many sectors work with students to cover busy periods, for example during their permanent staff's exam period, around public holidays or during an event. These are the sectors you will come across most often:
- Hospitality: restaurants, cafés, hotels and catering.
- Events: festivals, trade fairs, concerts and sports matches.
- Retail and sales: shops, department stores and points of sale.
- Administration and services: reception, data entry, customer service and supporting office tasks.
- Industry and logistics: production, warehouse, order picking and packaging.
- Cleaning: offices, shops and other buildings.
- Transport and deliveries: driver or co-driver, depending on your driving licence.
- Beauty and lifestyle: hair salons, beauty salons and shops in that field.
Some jobs have requirements such as a driving licence, a minimum age or a language requirement. These are listed in the job posting, so always read them before you apply.
Student job in hospitality
For many students, hospitality is the first step into the job market. You work as waiting staff, in the kitchen, behind the bar or on dishwashing. Evenings, weekends and holidays are usually the busiest times, which fits well with a student schedule.
In hospitality you have an extra choice. In consultation with your employer, you choose which system to use: your 650 student hours or the 50 days of occasional work. With occasional work, social contributions are not calculated on your actual wage, but on a fixed, low notional amount (a flat rate). So ask your employer in advance which system they apply. If you want to know how your 650 hours and your 50 hospitality days relate to each other, check the Student@work website.
Student job in the events sector
Events are peak moments: a festival, a trade fair or a big sports weekend needs a lot of hands in a short time. You could end up working on reception and tickets, setup and teardown, bar and catering, cloakroom or stewarding.
The work is often short and intense, and you usually work on agreed days or in blocks. That is handy if you are only available at certain times. Keep in mind that you may work long days during an event, so agree on your hours clearly before you start.
Student job in retail, sales, administration and services
In retail and sales, you work in a shop, at the till or stocking shelves. You help customers, keep the shop tidy and support promotions or the sales. You do not need a specific degree for these jobs, just a friendly attitude and reliability.
In administration and services, you work indoors in an office. You work at reception, enter data, answer customer questions or support a team with filing and mailings. If you are studying a field such as economics, communication or an administrative programme, a job like this gives you experience you can later put on your CV. Organisational skills and digital skills also count here.
Student job in industry, logistics and cleaning
In industry and logistics, you work in a production hall or warehouse. You can prepare goods, collect orders, pack or assist on the production line. The work is often physical and follows set procedures. Safety comes first. If you receive work clothing or safety shoes, wear them and follow your team leader's instructions.
In cleaning, you keep offices, shops or other buildings clean. This often happens early in the morning or after office hours. For students with classes during the day, that is a practical solution. You usually get a clear task division and often work independently.
Student job as a driver or in beauty and lifestyle
As a driver, you can deliver parcels, transport goods or ride along as a co-driver. You usually need a driving licence and sometimes some driving experience. This is stated in the job posting. Students without a driving licence can often still work as a co-driver or in loading and unloading.
In beauty and lifestyle, you might work in a hair salon, a beauty salon or a shop selling care products. You welcome customers, keep the place in order and support the staff. If you have training in this field, you can sometimes take on more specialised tasks. That depends on the company.
How do you choose the right sector for your student job?
Start with your schedule. Do you prefer to work on weekends, in the evening or during holidays? Then hospitality and events are a logical choice. If you are mostly free during the day, look at retail, administration or logistics. Then consider what you want to learn: customer contact, organising, physical work or working independently.
Also think about your studies. A student job that matches your field of study gives you experience you can later show to an employer. A job that has nothing to do with it lets you develop other skills. Both have value. On student jobs you can see which vacancies are open, and on the page with locations for student jobs and flexi-jobs you can see what is available near you.
Practical: student employment contract, Dimona and your hours quota
Anyone who works as a student does so with a student employment contract. You sign it with your employer, even if you work more than your hours quota. Your employer files a Dimona declaration, the official notification of your employment to social security. Feel free to ask whether this is in order before you start.
These are the key points about your hours quota and your social contributions:
- Since 1 January 2025, your hours quota is 650 hours. The quota starts counting again every year from 1 January.
- Within those hours, you pay a solidarity contribution of 2.71% of your gross wage, instead of the 13.07% that is usual for a regular job.
- Your employer also pays a solidarity contribution, namely 5.42% of your gross wage.
- You may work more than 650 hours. For every hour above your quota, you do pay the normal social contributions.
- You decide in consultation with your employer whether you use your 650 hours.
- Your gross wage is what your employer has to pay you. Social contributions and taxes (withholding tax) are deducted from it. What remains is your net wage in your bank account.
Want to know how many hours you have already used? Check with Student@work. You will also find the explanation about volunteer work there, for which separate limits per quarter and per sector apply.
A flexi-job, by the way, is not an option for student workers. For that you generally need a main job or a pension. Do read on flexi-jobs how that system works, because after your studies it can become interesting.
Five tips for finding the right student job
- Determine your availability before you search. Know which days and hours you can work, especially during exam periods.
- Read the job posting in full. Pay attention to requirements such as driving licence, language or age, and to the working hours.
- Check the system in hospitality. Agree on whether your employer uses the 650 hours or the 50 days of occasional work.
- Agree on your hours and allowances in advance. Also ask about any meal vouchers or a contribution to your travel costs, because not every employer offers these.
- Build a profile. Put your experience and availability clearly online, for example as a shifter, so companies can find you quickly.
Frequently asked questions about becoming a student worker in a sector
Which sector can I start in without experience?
Hospitality, retail, events and cleaning often work with students without experience. You are usually trained on the job by a colleague or team leader.
Can I work in several sectors at the same time?
Yes, you can sign a student employment contract with several employers. Do keep track of how many hours you work, because your hours quota covers all your student hours combined.
May I work more than 650 hours?
Yes. After your 650 hours you pay the normal social contributions and you remain a student with a student employment contract.
Can I do a flexi-job as a student?
Generally not. For a flexi-job you need a main job or a pension. As a student, you work with a student employment contract.
Which sector is best for my CV?
There is no fixed answer to that question. Choose a sector that matches your studies or the skills you want to develop, such as customer contact or organisation.
In summary
As a student worker, you can choose from hospitality, events, retail, administration, industry and logistics, cleaning, transport and beauty. You base your choice on your schedule, your studies and what you want to learn. Always work with a student employment contract, check your hours quota of 650 hours and ask in hospitality which system your employer uses.
Get started right away with the current student jobs, check out the locations near you or read more tips in our blogs. Are you an employer looking for students? On the page for companies you can read how to find them.
