Student Jobs in Gdansk: Where to Look and How to Earn

1. Oliwa & Przymorze Corporate Basin (Oliwa & Przymorze)

If you are studying at UG or Gdańsk Tech and want to gain your first CV experience, the area around the SKM Gdańsk Przymorze-Uniwersytet stop is your main goal.

• Olivia Business Centre (OBC) and Alchemia: This is where the offices of companies such as State Street, Bayer, Amazon, PwC, Deloitte, Thyssenkrupp and Kainos are located.

• What positions to look for? Junior Operations Specialist, Data Entry Clerk, Customer Support Associate, Helpdesk Specialist.

• Advantage: A very common option of hybrid work (e.g. 2 days from the office, 3 days from the dormitory/apartment) and schedules tailored to the schedule at the university.

2. Gastronomy and Tourism (Main Town, Shipyard, Garrison)

Gdańsk gastronomy is alive not only during the holidays. Although in July and August tourist traffic on the Main Island and the Granary Island reaches its peak, in the academic year life moves to other points.

• Main Granary Town and Island: Restaurants and hotels are looking for breakfast attendants, waiters, and receptionists all year round. Fluent English required (there is no shortage of tourists from the British Isles and Scandinavia even in November).

• Areas of the former shipyard (Montownia, 100cznia, Elektryków): A spatially unique area of seasonal and year-round work (the Food Hall Assembly Plant operates dynamically 12 months a year).

• Garnizon Estate (Wrzeszcz): A gastronomic area located close to the campus of the University of Technology and dormitories. A great place to work after classes – lots of original cafes, bistros and restaurants.

3. Fashion and Clothing Chains Sector (LPP and Shopping Malls)

Gdańsk is the hometown of the clothing giant LPP (owner of the Reserved, Cropp, House, Mohito, Sinsay brands).

• LPP Central Office (Gdańsk, Łąkowa / Dolne Miasto): The company regularly recruits students for purchasing, e-commerce, marketing and assistant departments.

• Shopping malls: Forum Gdańsk (Śródmieście), Galeria Bałtycka (Wrzeszcz), C.H. Manhattan and Galeria Metropolia. Work in showrooms offers a schedule usually set for 2 weeks in advance, which allows you to adjust it to colloquia and lecture sequences.

4. Logistics, Warehouses and Port (Pruszcz Gdański, Kowale, Baltic Hub)

For people who prefer physical work, a fixed schedule and no contact with the client.

• Logistics Centres on the outskirts of the city: Panattoni Park, halls in Kowale and around the Port of Gdańsk.

• Access: Most large employment agencies providing warehouse services (e.g. for Amazon or InPost) offer free employee buses that depart, for m.in example, from the Main Railway Station in Gdańsk or from the Railway Station in Wrzeszcz.

Where to physically look for ads? Channels that really work in the Tri-City

Not all ads make it to nationwide portals. In Gdańsk, the labour market is governed by its own laws.

1. Trojmiasto.pl – Absolute number one in the region

If you are looking for a local job (gastronomy, small trade, office help, tutoring, services), Classifieds Trojmiasto.pl beat OLX or Pracuj.pl.

• Tip: Set notifications to specific phrases (e.g., “student,” “assignment,” “flexible schedule”) and apply within the first hour of posting. In recruitment to local gastronomy, the order of applications is often decisive.

2. Dedicated Facebook Groups

Community groups in Gdansk are very active. Search for phrases:

• Jobs Gdańsk / Tricity

• Gastronomy Jobs Gdansk / Sopot / Gdynia

• Jobs for students in Gdańsk

• I’ll give a job to Gdańsk and its surroundings

Often, local owners of cafes or bistros from Wrzeszcz and Śródmieście do not post paid ads on portals, but write a post on the group: “We are looking for a barista for 2-3 days a week, student status is welcome”.

3. Career Offices of the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk Tech and MUG

University Career Offices have agreements with local employers who are looking for candidates directly among the students of a given university:

• Gdańsk University of Technology Career Office: The best source of engineering, programming and construction internships.

• Career Office of the University of Gdańsk: A huge database of offers from the finance/banking, philological (translation, customer support) and marketing sectors.

How to reconcile work with full-time studies in Gdańsk? (Practical Tips)

Combining full-time studies with part-time or 3/4-time work is feasible, but it requires precise planning.

1. Individual Organization of Studies (IOS)

If you take up a job in a profession related to your field of study or have very high academic results, submitting an application for IOS at UG or Gdańsk University of Technology allows for a flexible approach to attending lectures and setting individual dates for colloquia.

• When to submit? In the first 2-3 weeks of the semester (October for the winter semester, February for the summer semester).

2. Night shifts – urban night transport (N-ki)

Working overnight in warehouses or in gastronomy requires knowledge of public transport at ZTM Gdańsk after 11:00 p.m.

• The main night lines cross at the Main Station (e.g. N1, N3, N4, N14).

• SKM runs less frequently at night (technical breaks between 01:00 and 04:00 in the morning during the week), so check the night bus schedules in the Jakdojadę or mPK app.

3. Choose task-based work

The most comfortable job for a full-time student is the one where you are accountable for the effect, not the hours spent from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Examples: copy-writing, remote helpdesk, graphic design, social media moderation, online tutoring.

What to watch out for? Traps and scams in classifieds

Unfortunately, students often fall victim to unfair practices. Here are the most common threats on the Gdańsk labor market:

• “A Hassle-Free Trial Day”: A trial day in gastronomy or trade must be paid and documented by a contract (e.g. a contract of mandate for 1 day). Forcing you to work for free for 8 hours under the pretext of “checking your skills” is illegal.
• No contract and “undeclared work”: As a student up to 26 years of age on a mandate contract, you do not pay PIT tax or social security contributions. Therefore, the employer does not bear high additional costs of your employment. Working without a contract does not give you any legal protection and prevents you from demonstrating experience on your CV.
• Financial pyramids / “Data entry work for PLN 10,000 a month”: If an ad on Facebook sounds too beautiful, does not require any qualifications, and the recruiter asks you to pay an entry fee or open a bank account from his reflink – run away. This is a phishing of personal data.

Checklist: How to prepare for recruitment in Gdańsk?

• Update CV: Add the student’s status (university name, field of study, year of study, full-time/part-time mode) at the very top.
• Define availability: Precisely list the days and hours on which you can work (e.g. “Tuesdays from 15:00, Thursdays all, Weekends flexibly”).
• Make a Sanepid booklet: If you want to work in gastronomy, food trade or food logistics, it takes about a week to get tested at Sanepid in Gdańsk (Dębinki Street) and opens the door to 50% more offers.
• Create a LinkedIn profile: If you’re targeting corporations in Olivia/Alchemia, a well-completed profile in English is mandatory.
• Download the certificate of student status: You will be relieved of this obligation from the dean’s office immediately after the start of the year – the employer will need it to sign the mandate agreement.

Niche and unusual sources of income in Gdańsk (About which the competition is silent)

In addition to classic work in gastronomy, trade and BPO corporations, the Gdańsk market offers a number of specific, local opportunities for earnings, resulting directly from the maritime, trade fair and cultural character of the city.

1. Exhibition and Event Industry: AmberExpo and Gdańsk International Fair

Located at 11 Żaglowa Street (Letnica, right next to Polsat Plus Arena), AmberExpo is one of the most important trade fairs and congress centers in Poland.

• Events: TRAKO International Railway Fair, AMBERIF Amber Fair, Baltimpex, garage sales, conventions (e.g. Gdańsk Tattoo Konwent) and job fairs.

• Required roles: Host/Hostess, guest registration service, technical assembly/disassembly of stands, cloakroom service, event security.

• Rates: From PLN 35.00 to PLN 50.00 net/hour (often paid immediately after the end of the event or in weekly settlement).

• Where to look for ads? Directly in event agencies (e.g. Sopot/Gdańsk Event Staffing) and on FB groups: Hostessy Tricity / Praca Eventy Gdańsk.

2. Maritime, Marinas and Work on Water

Gdansk is the capital of Polish sailing and maritime tourism. In the season from May to the end of October (and partly throughout the year), people are sought to operate the water infrastructure:

• Imperial Marina, Marina Gdańsk (Szafarnia) and marinas in Górki Zachodnie: They are looking for auxiliary boatsmen, people to issue and clean water equipment (scooters, canoes, motor boats without a patent).

• Water Taxis and Catamarans (Motława): Ticket sales at the waterfront at the Long Embankment and mooring service.

• Rates: PLN 32.00 – 40.00 net/h + free admission to the sailing community and the possibility of making free patents (a frequent employee benefit).

3. Short-term rental service (Airbnb / Booking)

Gdańsk has over 8,000 apartments intended for short-term rental – mainly in the Old and Main Town, the Granary Island and in the coastal strip (Brzeźno, Jelitkowo).

• Role: “Property Manager Assistant” or key delivery person/condition controller between check-ins.

• Specifics of work: Work mainly from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (window between check-out and check-in). Ideal for part-time students or people who have “windows” in their plan at the university.

• Earnings: Often settled on the prepared apartment (e.g. PLN 80–130 per apartment, which takes 1.5–2 hours with practice).

4. Cultural Institutions: Shakespeare Theatre, ECS and Museum of the Second World War

Gdańsk’s flagship cultural institutions employ hundreds of students annually to serve the audience and tourist traffic.

• Gdański Shakespeare Theatre (Bogusławskiego Street): Work as a ticket clerk, audience service and cloakroom attendant. Work mainly in the evenings and on weekends.

• European Solidarity Centre (ECS) and Museum of the Second World War (M2WŚ): Operation of information points, distribution of audio guides, guarding exhibits in exhibition halls.

• Advantage: Very high work culture, flexibility and the possibility of working in representative points of the city.

Travel time from dormitories to work zones: Logistics Table

Before you accept a job offer, calculating the time and cost of travel is crucial. Here is a realistic breakdown of travel times from the main student clusters by Gdańsk means of transport (ZTM / SKM) during rush hours:

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Formal pitfalls: What do you need to know before signing a contract?

Ignorance of legal and tax regulations can cost you the loss of student status or the need to pay additional taxes.

1. Validity of the student ID card – the trap of October 31 and March 31

In order for your employer to exempt you from social security contributions and PIT tax (which gives you a higher net salary), you must have a valid student ID.

• Attention! Cards expire exactly on October 31 (after the summer semester) and March 31 (after the winter semester).

• If you do not raise your ID card at the Dean’s Office on time, the employer is legally obliged to deduct the full ZUS contributions for a given month from your salary. As a result, your salary of e.g. PLN 3,500 will decrease to about PLN 2,550!

2. Work on several contracts of mandate at the same time

You can work in 2, 3 or 4 places on a contract of mandate at the same time (e.g. weekends in a restaurant in the Old Town + 2 days a week in a corporation in Alchemia).

• With each of the employers, you retain the right to 0% PIT and no ZUS, as long as you are not over 26 years of age and have provided each of the companies with a certificate of student status.

3. Reaching the age of 26 during the academic year

Most students think that the tax exemption lasts until the end of their studies. This is a mistake.

• The PIT exemption and the lack of ZUS contributions are valid exactly until your 26th birthday.

• From the day after your birthday, your employer will start charging contributions and tax according to the general rules, which will reduce your net hourly wage by about 25-28% unless you negotiate a gross rate increase.

How to negotiate a higher rate at a job interview in Gdańsk?

The local labor market is competitive, but recruiters in Gdansk appreciate specific attitudes and skills.

• Highlight knowledge of Scandinavian or German languages: The Tri-City is business-related to Northern Europe. Knowledge of Swedish, Norwegian or German at the B2 level gives you an immediate bargaining chip for a rate of +10 to +20 PLN/h more for Customer Care / Junior Analyst positions.
• Declaration of availability during “difficult periods for the employer”: Declare your readiness to work on long weekends (e.g. May Day), during the St. Dominic’s Fair (late July and early August) or during the Christmas and New Year period. Gastronomy and trade will pay more for an employee who does not run away from the city for every long weekend to his family home.
• Hybrid/Night Ready Work: If you’re applying to data centers or technical support in Olivia, Night Shift Availability (serving U.S. or Asian customers) automatically increases your hourly rate with a night work allowance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How much will I earn on hand with a mandate contract and student status?

In the 2026/2027 academic year, your gross rate is equal to your net rate. If you sign a contract for PLN 32 gross/hour, you receive exactly PLN 32 net/h on your account. The PIT exemption (for people up to 26 years of age) and the lack of social security contributions make you earn more than a person who does not have the status of a student in the same position.

2. Is it easy to find a job in Gdansk with no experience?

Yes. Sectors such as catering, retail (shopping malls), warehouse work and customer service centers (call centers/BPO) are constantly recruiting people with no experience, offering initial training. Knowledge of English and availability are key.

3. Is it possible to make a living in Gdańsk from full-time studies and casual work?

Yes, but it requires you to work about 80-100 hours a month. With an average rate of PLN 35/h, this gives a net revenue of PLN 2800 – 3500. Such an amount allows you to cover the cost of a room (approx. PLN 1200-1600 with fees in 2026), semester tickets and food.

4. Where to look for an office job with knowledge of foreign languages?

The best place is the Olivia Business Centre and Alchemia business parks in Gdańsk Oliwa. If you speak German, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, you can negotiate the starting rate in the range of PLN 45-60 net per hour, even in junior positions.

The Tri-City labor market is extremely absorbent for students. Thanks to the combination of the powerful business services sector (Oliwa), extensive tourism and gastronomy (Śródmieście, Sopot) and maritime logistics, finding a job tailored to the schedule at the Gdańsk University of Technology or the University of Gdańsk is only a matter of good search.