FAQ Students - Transparent answers to all your questions
Recruit a Student has been the student staffing agency for flexible work and talented students since 1999. Every day we connect companies with ambitious students in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Do you have questions about working through Recruit a Student? Find clear answers below about salary, payroll tax credit, accruals and more.
Salary and payment
When is my salary paid?
Working through Recruit a Student? Then you receive your salary weekly in most cases. Payments are made on Wednesday afternoon, so you will have the amount in your account on Thursday or Friday.
Tip: Check your payslip to verify the amount paid.
How much do I earn per hour?
Before you start working at a client organization, a gross hourly rate is agreed upon. This is based on the client's collective labour agreement (CLA). Your hourly rate can be found in your online workschedule.
How and when do I receive my payslip?
Depending on the client's payroll cycle, you receive your payslip weekly or every four weeks. You receive it by email no later than Friday of the week following the week you worked. Payment is also processed at that time. Once you have received your payslip, you can assume the payment has been made.
How do I read my payslip?
Your payslip shows you exactly:
- How many hours you have worked.
- What your gross and net pay is.
- How much has been withheld for accruals and taxes.
Read the detailed payslip explanation here.
Do you still have questions? Contact the Recruit a Student branche where you are registered.
Tax and payroll tax credit
How much tax do I pay?
The difference between your gross and net salary consists of taxes and contributions that are automatically deducted.
- Gross salary: the amount before tax and contributions.
- Net salary: the amount you receive in your account after deduction of taxes and contributions.
The amount of tax you pay depends on how many hours you work and whether you apply the payroll tax credit. If you work variable hours, you may pay more tax in some weeks than in others.
What is the payroll tax credit and how does it work?
The payroll tax credit means you pay less tax on your income. You may only apply this credit with one employer at a time.
When registering with Recruit a Student you can indicate whether you want to use the payroll tax credit. Want to change this later? Simply let the branch where you are registered know.
How and when do I receive my annual income statement?
Every year you receive your annual income statement for the previous year no later than last week of January. It is sent by email.
Your annual income statement shows:
- When you earned in the past year.
- How much tax you paid.
Via the Tax Authority you can check whether you are entitled to a tax refund. You will need the details from your annual income statement for this.
Accruals & holiday pay
What are accruals?
An accrual is a percentage of your salary set aside for holiday days, holiday pay and short-term absence.
- Holiday pay amounts to 8% of your actual wages (gross wages excluding supplements etc.). This is accrued on top of every worked hour (excluding overtime) and paid out in the week of June 1.
- Holiday days are accrued in proportion to the number of hours you work. Recruit a Student reserves a fixed percentage of your hourly wage for this. This is stated on your payslip.
How and when are accruals paid out?
Accruals are automatically paid out when you have not worked for a maximum of 6 weeks. Upon request, Recruit a Student can pay out holiday days earlier.
Holiday pay is automatically paid out in the first week of June.
Hours and sick leave
How do I submit my worked hours?
Every week you must submit your worked hours before Monday 12:00 noon. The exact method depends on:
- The client organization.
- The arrangements you have made with the Recruit a Student branch where you are registered.
Your contact person at the Recruit a Student branch will explain exactly how this works.
What should I do if I am sick?
Are you sick when you were scheduled to work? Always report sick before the start of your shift to:
- Recruit a Student (your legal employer) call and email your sick report. A sick report by SMS or WhatsApp is not valid.
- Your client organization (the company where you work) you will find the contact details in your online schedule.
Outside office hours you can call the emergency number listen on the voicemail of your branch, or the general number 088 522 00 00.
If you are unable to report in yourself, someone else may submit the sick report on your behalf. Please read the absence protocol before you start working.
Practical and other
How long does it take before I matched with a client?
After your registration we get to work for you straight away. How quickly you are matched depends on your availability, region and the type of work you are looking for. In many cases we have a suitable offer for you within a few days. Do you have specific preferences? Make sure to mention them clearly when registering, so we can search more effectively.
Can I work through Recruit a Student if I also have another part-time job?
Yes, that is possible. Do bear in mind that you may only apply the payroll tax credit with one employer at a time. If you earn income from multiple employer simultaneously, you risk having to make an additional tax payment at the end of the year via your tax return.
Not sure? Let us know when registering that you also work elsewhere and we will be happy to advise you.
Am I entitled to supplements as a student (evening, weekend, public holiday)?
This depends on the collective labour agreement (CLA) agreement applicable at the client organization. In many cases you are entitled to supplements for evening, weekend and public holiday shifts, in accordance with the client's CLA. These supplements are processed in your payslip.
Your contact person at Recruit a Student can tell you which supplements apply to your specific assignment.
Can I change my availability at any time?
Yes, you can always update or change your availability via your online work schedule or through the branch where you are registered. Make sure to do this in good time so the schedule can be adjusted accordingly. You cannot simply cancel agreed shifts. You always need to contact your account manager for this in time.
What if I have a conflict with my client organization?
If you encounter a problem at your workplace, always contact your Recruit a Student account manager first. As your legal employer, we are on your side and will help you resolve any conflicts or misunderstandings with the client organization.
Can I work if I have a foreign passport or residence permit?
This depends on your nationality and residence status in the Netherlands or Belgium.
- EU/EEA citizens are free to work in the Netherlands and Belgium without an additional permit.
- Non-EU citizens generally need a valid residence permit with the right to work, or a work permit.
Not sure whether your situation meets the requirements? Get in touch with the branch nearest to you. We will look at the possibilities together.
What do I need to arrange before starting work for the first time?
Before you start, Recruit a Student will ensure everything is in order administratively. What you need:
- A valid proof of identity (passport, ID card or residence permit).
- Your BSN (citizen service number).
- Your bank account number (IBAN) for salary payments.
- If applicable: proof of enrolment at an educational institution.
Your Recruit a Student contact person will guide you through the registration process and let you know if anything else is required for your specifc assignment.
Are you ready to get started?
Register for free today and benefit from weekly payment and thousands of vacancies.