When speed is of the essence: student support for last-minute bottlenecks
Staff absences, additional orders and unexpectedly high demand rarely give weeks’ notice. It is often only once operations are already underway that it becomes clear that existing capacity is insufficient. Companies are then faced with a difficult decision: to postpone tasks, place an additional burden on their own team, or seek support at short notice. Students can offer a practical solution, particularly for short-term and straightforward tasks.
Short-term staffing needs arise in a wide variety of areas. Examples include:
* Setting up and dismantling an event
* Admission, cloakroom or guest services
* Seasonal demand at markets and in retail
* Additional support in catering or service
* Stock-taking and inventory checks
* Help in the warehouse or with a move
* Data entry and digitisation
* Postage campaigns and preparation of documents
* Covering for staff on holiday or sick leave
* Support during a temporary surge in orders
Not all of these tasks require extensive training. Provided the procedures, responsibilities and timeframe are clear, students can often provide productive support very quickly. This not only eases the pressure on the rota, but can also prevent orders from being left undone, events from being understaffed, or specialist staff from having to take on additional routine tasks on a permanent basis.
Even a short-term assignment can be worthwhile
A student job doesn’t have to last several months. Sometimes two people are needed for just one day of a course. In other cases, it might involve ten shifts during the Christmas market or a few weeks’ help with a stock-take.
Such assignments are also attractive to students: they can often be easily combined with their studies and do not require a long-term commitment. As a result, short-term opportunities also appeal to people who would not currently be available for a traditional part-time job with fixed weekly working hours.
To ensure the placement process runs smoothly, the job offer should be as specific as possible. The following details are particularly important:
* exact dates and times of work
* number of people required
* place of work
* clear job description
* hourly wage
* any necessary clothing or equipment
* physical requirements
* language skills required
* preferred method of contact
Quick does not mean unprepared
Even for a short-notice assignment, there should be a point of contact who can explain the tasks and remain available. Any necessary documents, work equipment or access details should be ready before work begins, if possible. A brief induction of ten or fifteen minutes can make all the difference as to whether a temporary worker actually takes the pressure off or initially creates extra work. Three clear points of information are helpful:
1. What needs to be completed by the end of the assignment?
2. Who makes the decisions if there are any queries?
3. What can the student decide on their own – and what not?
It is equally important to respond promptly to applications. Anyone needing support this coming weekend should accept or decline the students we’ve matched as soon as possible. If no reply is received, they will understandably look elsewhere.
How the STAV placement service works
You create your job offer online and specify how interested students should contact you. Once we have reviewed it, the offer is published. We match you with suitable students, who will then get in touch with you by telephone, email or by submitting the application documents you have requested.
You can post an offer even if the assignment is due to start in just a few days. In our experience, a suitable candidate can sometimes be found within a day. We cannot guarantee this – but your chances increase significantly if the tasks, working hours and remuneration are clearly and attractively specified. How the placement service works
You will generally only incur costs with STAV in the event of a successful placement, i.e. if you actually employ a candidate placed by us. You can find the current details in our terms and conditions.
Even short-term jobs must be registered correctly
A single day’s work also constitutes an employment relationship and must be registered in the proper manner. A short-term job is not automatically considered short-term employment for the purposes of social security law.
Whether a role constitutes a mini-job, short-term employment or another type of employment depends, amongst other things, on its duration, earnings and any other employment the person may have. It is up to you, as the employer, to assess the situation under social security law. The Minijob-Zentrale provides up-to-date guidance on this matter.
Don’t wait for the next peak in orders – start by sending us a job offer now!