As a student it's tempting to accept an offer quickly, especially when it feels like your first real chance. But not every offer that looks good on paper holds up in practice. Five signals to take seriously before you sign, and what to do if you spot one. We cover outright fraud, like fake job ads, in a separate article.
1. “Experience” is meant to replace pay
Does a company try to justify low or no pay with “think of the experience you'll get”? Ask further. If someone does ordinary work, there's an employment contract and so a right to at least the minimum wage; only in a genuine internship, where learning is central, is that different [1]. As of 1 July 2026 the minimum wage is € 14.99 gross per hour from age 21 [2]. Experience and a fair salary aren't mutually exclusive.
2. The tasks stay vague, even when you ask
“You'll help us with all sorts of things” sounds flexible but often means there's no thought-out role. An employer must give you, among other things, your job or type of work in writing within one week of starting [3]. Ask something concrete: what exactly will I be doing in the first month, and who do I report to?
3. There's no contract, or it comes very late
An employment contract can also be oral, but the employer must give certain details in writing within one week and within one month of starting, such as hours, salary, duration and probation. If you work every week for three months, or at least 20 hours a month, for the same employer, you may assume you have an employment contract [3]. Starting with nothing on paper is therefore a risk you don't need to take. Ask in advance for the basics: hours, salary, duration.
4. Flexibility only runs one way
Flexible hours around exams are a benefit of a working-student role. But if “flexible” in practice means you're suddenly expected to work more hours whenever it suits the company, while your side of that flexibility doesn't count, that's one-way traffic. With an on-call contract an employer must call you in at least 4 calendar days in advance; if called later, you aren't obliged to come [4].
5. You feel pressured to decide right now
“We need an answer today” for a role that runs a year or longer is rarely a good sign. A company that wants a good match gives you room to think, ask questions and, if needed, request a second conversation. Note that fraudsters also create urgency and make unsolicited offers. The Dutch Fraud Helpdesk advises not responding to unsolicited job offers and never paying for work for which you should be the one being paid [5].
What do you do if you spot one of these signals?
Don't sign anything before you have an answer to the question the signal raised: ask specifically about pay instead of “experience”, ask for the basic agreements on paper, or ask for a day to think it over. If a company gets irritated or evasive about a simple, reasonable question, you have your answer. If you doubt your rights, ask a trade union or the Dutch Legal Aid Desk (Juridisch Loket) for advice.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid: Heb ik recht op het minimumloon als ik stage loop?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid (2026): Bedragen minimumloon 2026, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Wat staat er in een arbeidsovereenkomst?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Welke contracten zijn er voor oproepkrachten?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Fraudehelpdesk: Ik heb gereageerd op een vacature, accessed 11 October 2026.
