Summer job or part-time jobs while studying

A summer or extra-income job may be your first contact with the working world or your first experience of the engineering profession. In addition to achieving a more content-rich CV, it also provides you with practical, valuable work experience.

Many companies and organizations like to hire students for temporary jobs. For employers, it is an opportunity to gain access to fresh knowledge and new ideas while at the same time getting in touch with possible future employees.

Even if your summer or extra-income job is not in line with your qualifications or what you plan to do after graduation, it is valuable merit. You gain new knowledge and experience by working, taking responsibility and cooperating with colleagues and managers. Take this period at work to develop yourself and to build up your contact network for the future.

Achieving a secure employment situation

When you get a summer or extra-income job, it is important that you know what you are expected to do in the workplace, as well as how you are covered by insurance, etc. in your employment. This should be stated in your employment contract, which you must make sure you get in writing from your employer.

Find out if the workplace has a collective agreement or not. This affects factors such as overtime pay, sick pay, and insurance. If you are unsure of what applies in your particular workplace, contact the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers Helpline.

The Helpline can also assist you with other things that you are unsure about at your work, such as questions about employment conditions or salary.

Contact the membership service

Salaries for summer or part-time jobs

When applying for a summer job or a part-time job, it can be difficult to know what salary level to aim for, in order to be fairly compensated for your skills. The salary statistics from the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers can serve as a useful guideline.

For a summer job where you are able to make use of your engineering studies, the salary should be around SEK 30,000 per month. This can of course vary depending on, among other things, how far you have progressed in your engineering studies. If you are early in your education, the salary may be lower, while it is often higher if you are nearing the end of your studies. The amount refers to a full-time position per month, with full-time corresponding to 168 hours per month. Hourly pay is common for summer and part-time jobs.

The salary statistics provide an indication – a general guideline – of what you can expect in terms of salary level. Factors such as how qualified the tasks associated with the position are, as well as your competence and prior experience, may affect the actual salary offered. It is always possible to try to negotiate your salary.

Check whether the salary you are offered is inclusive or exclusive of holiday pay. In addition to the salary stated in the contract, you are entitled to holiday pay. This means that you cannot take paid vacation during the period of employment, but you should receive additional compensation for the vacation you earn, either distributed monthly or paid at the end of the employment period. Sometimes employers state that the salary is inclusive of holiday pay, meaning that the compensation is already included in the stated salary. According to the Annual Leave Act, holiday pay amounts to 12 percent of the salary. If it is included, to determine your actual pay for the work you have been employed to do, you should therefore deduct 12 percent from the stated salary.