Multiple Jobs? How Would You Do It?

MikeDawg asks: "With so much uncertainty in the current job market for tech workers, and with varying financial situations; are you required (or want) to work a second job? I'm in one of those situations. I work as a bartender during the days and weekends, and I work as a mainframe operator during the night. Often browsing classified ads for positions, I see ads for jobs that pay a minimal amount more than my current tech job, and a possibility for less stability (see this Slashdot Article). Do you think it would be a better idea for someone to work two somewhat secure jobs, getting paid a little bit less, or going for a higher paying somewhat insecure job? I also run into varying conflicts such as scheduling if I would like to try and maintain two jobs, which is never fun (Don't even ask about how happy my girlfriend is). So my question to you out there, would you rather work 2 secure jobs, that pay a little bit less than what you could be making, or would you rather get paid a touch more, and work for 1 less secure employer?"

Comments

Neither.

[Anonymous Coward]

I would rather work for myself, have absolutely no stability between jobs - but rake in piles of money.

If you have the option: keep one stable job - but your 2nd should be something that is risky but with potential for serious personal wealth if you strike it rich.

Start a small business doing something that you have always loved. Lean on the stable job for a while, letting it support you until your "dream" job takes over and is obviously the one thing that you should be doing (although it may take a while to figure out how to become profitable). Your job will be as stable as you make it - and vastly more rewarding than bartending or babysitting somebody else's computer.

Re:Neither.

[Anonymous Coward]

I am doing exactly that. On my full time job I am working for an insurance company as a web developer.

For my part-time job I have started a company with another bloke developing Estate Agent Software. At the moment I am the one doing all the work, as he is a salesperson (and has all the knowledge and contacts), but as soon as the majority of the system is finished it is his turn to sell it.

It is already producing some money but not much at all.

Eventually we plan to go full time on this but only time will tell.

Now that I have a family...

[SoCalChris]

I have a very secure job that pays a little less.

I've got great benefits though, and that more than makes up for the lower salary.

Re:Other Variables

[glorinc]

Your second question there is actually some of the feedback I wanted to listen to, as I said, my main job, is a mainframe operator on a 1976 mainframe, no huge advances in technology there, but about all it gives me is more time to log as a "mainframe operator", which I might add is not a career option I'd like to see.

If being a mainframe operator is not a position that you want to stay in career-wise, you still might want to try moving up via the mainframe path. The step from operator to system programmer is big, but since you already have familiarity with the iron, you might be able to present a case for a promotion more easily within the mainframe tech, rather than on a new platform. (consider that in this economy, competition will be fierce for more popular platforms) Mainframe sysprogs are getting older, and it's becoming tough to find replacements when people retire. Plus, assuming you have a good reputation at your workplace, they know you are a good worker / can learn quickly, etc.

I would begin building my skills in the slow periods at work, and try to find a good sysprog to "help out". Once you complete some project work, you can begin talking promotion / salary increase to your management.

Best of luck!

What is the fallback?

[AlecC]

You obviously have the ability and willingness to do a number of different kinds of jobs. What is the fallback situation? If you go for the higher paid, but risky, job, how long will it take to get another bartender job?

Round here, tech jobs are pretty specialised and don't come up all that often. If you lose your tech job, it may be months, or an enormous commute, before another comes up. But bartender jobs come up all the time. There is a high turnover, and a lot of places where the skills needeed are essentially the same. New bars etc. seem to be opening every month or so. Nobody with a respectable level of experience in the catering industry need go without a job - of sorts - for more than a couple of weeks.

Likewise your mainframe job. Sounds quite specialised. What is the turnover? If you leave politely, explaining why it is a good career move, higher pay etc., arrange that they have you phone number for any "I forgot" queries, what is the chance they would take you back within a finite time?

Basically, what is the worst downside of losing the risky job? Of course it isn't nice losing any job - but if all that happens is you and up back at your current position after a couple of weeks, go for it.