Hiring one working student feels like a safe first step. But don't let that one working student carry too much for too long. These are the signals it's time for a second.
What are the clearest signals you need a second working student?
- Your current working student can't go on holiday or get sick without something structural falling behind
- Knowledge about a process lives entirely in one person's head, with no handover at all
- Your working student structurally works more hours than agreed just to get the work done
- You're seriously considering picking execution work back up yourself that you'd previously delegated
Is one overloaded working student more cost-efficient than two?
On paper, maybe. But one person who's structurally overloaded brings risks: dropping out through illness or leaving, and knowledge that disappears all at once if they stop. Two working students cost more salary but spread that risk. The statutory minimum wage is € 14.99 gross per hour from age 21 as of 1 July 2026 [1].
Does a second working student need to do the same work as the first?
Not necessarily, and often it shouldn't. A second working student can split the existing work, but can also pick up a new, adjacent piece, so the first can grow into more responsibility instead of continuing to share the same task list.
How do you avoid chaos when going from one working student to two?
Set out upfront who's responsible for what, so there's no overlap or gaps. Involve your existing working student in onboarding the new one: that strengthens the knowledge handover and gives the first working student a concrete signal that the role is serious enough to scale.
What if the budget for a second working student isn't there yet?
Work out first what the current situation costs you in risk and overload. If a working student leaves because of structural overload, you pay again for recruiting and onboarding time.
How VOIDS helps you think about scaling
VOIDS thinks along not only about the first working student but also about what a junior team looks like a year from now. For companies that hire regularly, VOIDS offers a monthly fee with replacement included as soon as a working student stops [2].
Sources
- Rijksoverheid (2026): Bedragen minimumloon 2026, accessed 11 October 2026.
- VOIDS: Werving & selectie (incl. cases), accessed 11 October 2026.
Transparency: VOIDS connects working students with organisations and therefore has an interest in this topic. We back up facts with sources and connect research and trends to our own experience from practice.
