Taking on a second job
Good morning!
It’s been a while but work has been kicking my butt-both jobs as a matter in fact. It makes me wonder how those people who start a business that eventually moves to being their primary gig manage do it. You know who I’m talking about: the person who works at her full time 40 hours a week desk job, while doing web design on the side at nights and on the weekend, or the person who combines a full time job with a part time job, making their work week 60 hours a week-or more.
Although I have two jobs (Full time job + part time job of 12-15 hours a week), there are people who manage to fit much more into their weeks. How do they do it? I don’t know for certain but here are some helpful tips for those of you who are considering taking on a second job.
Consider the cost
If you’re taking on a second job (versus volunteering), your goal is to make some extra money. Make sure that you will be making some money at the end of it. If you need to spend a lot of money on the materials for the job, or the uniform, or the commute (gas-wise), it may not be worth it as a part time job. Weigh the money required to do the job with your earnings.
Personal insight — My part time job is at a clothing store, where I get a 50% discount off the orginal price of all clothing and accessories. If I am working 12 hours a week at less than a dollar above minimum wage, and if I am buying these “bargain” clothing at a rate of $100 or $200 a month, this job would not be actually making me any money.
Consider the time
Similarly, make sure the time you’ll be spending to get to the job is worth the money you’ll be receiving. If your commute is so long that you’re spending one third of the time you’ll be working getting there, this may not be the big money maker you’re looking for. Something closer to home (if not in the home!) might be a better choice.
Personal insight — Because I take the bus to work, I’ve always tried to select workplaces that were close to home. There is nothing worse than working a long day, perhaps at two jobs, then having to commute for an hour to get home when all you want to do is fall into your bed.
Try something fun
If you’re truly lucky, both your full time and part time jobs are ones that you can’t wait to get to, that you get excited about, that you dream about (and I’m not talking about nightmares!). For some though, the full time job’s primary purpose is to bring in the money needed to live a certain way. So, when it comes to your part time job, why not try to find something that you really enjoy. Perhaps you love children and would like to work at play station set up in malls for children while their parents shop. If you’re passionate about coffee, why not try the local coffee shop (and think of all the new blends of coffee you’ll get to try)?
Personal insight — I was working at a grocery store when one of my mom’s acquaintances mentioned that she worked in a clothing store as manager. The store happened to be one that I spent most of my paycheques in already, so I applied to work there and I got in. As I worked there I discovered that I truly enjoy interacting with customers, especially when the customers become repeat customers and you get to know a bit about them and their lives. Working in retail (on a part time basis only!) was a very good fit for me.
If you’re considering taking on a second job, make sure you find something that you’ll enjoy, that pays you well for the time and money you’ll be investing. Perhaps in your part time job you’ll develop a full time passion.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:26 am
Great post!
One more thing to add … when I first started working for myself full-time, I was having trouble maintaining a consistent work ethic. It was just so easy to spend days zoning out in front of the TV instead of working! I ended up taking on a low-paying part-time retail job to get me out of the house and provide some semblance of structure to my schedule, and that really made my transition easier. (This is as opposed to a full-time job, which may provide structure but also drains an incredible amount of energy and time.) Today, I’ve adapted wonderfully to being my own boss, but I’m glad I had that early experience. Sometimes that extra job can actually provide the structure necessary to be more productive at your more pressing endeavors!