Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Managing Multiple Jobs At Once
Some of us take on second jobs to make ends meet. Some do it for a chance to do the work they actually enjoy. And some of us create our own second jobs to build a business or create our own projects. No matter what the reason, though, juggling more than one job is guaranteed to be a crash course in time management. If you’re not careful, the word ‘crash’ could become more than figurative.
How to do it, then? How do you juggle more than one job?
We all know that we’ll have to figure out a time management system when we take on a second job. Equally obvious is the fact that what works for one person (and their jobs) probably won’t work for anyone else. It’s up to you to find a system and stick with it. There are a few tricks, though, that can help.
Keep firm dividers between your different jobs. Even if you are the boss on your second job — you’re working for yourself — you have an obligation to keep that work separate from your day job. Focus on what’s in front of you. There’s actually a benefit to punching a clock when you work for more than one supervisor. When you’re on the clock for Company A, you know exactly which projects you should be working on. If Company A is paying for this time, you should be theirs, heart and soul, at least until you clock out. We all know that isn’t
Good records can also help. I’m not just talking about the calendars and task lists most of us rely on, either. Making sure that you have any contact information available no matter whether you’re at Job A, Job B or home can take some extra effort, but it’s worth it. The same goes for your notes and other paperwork.
What to do when your jobs interfere with each other?
There will come a day when an emergency comes up at Job A when you’re supposed to be taking care of something for Job B. It’s a fact of life. Unless you have very understanding supervisors or clients, you’re going to have to choose between your jobs. In the moment, it’s very hard to make that decision. I’ve decided between jobs based on which I enjoyed more, which paid better and which was more likely to fire me.
You can’t necessarily make decisions ahead of time, either. The best you can do is make sure you know which of your commitments is the priority when you’re thinking calmly and rationally. Beyond that, I’d suggest thinking about contingency plans. Personally, my contingency plan is very simple. I can pick up and move any of my projects to anywhere that has internet access. I’ve also been known to stay up late to get one of my own projects done — a certain project may not be a priority, but I try to get it done on time, no matter what else is going on.
I know plenty of people who bring their work to their primary job. It seems to be a favorite tactic of folks starting up a freelancing career or small business. I don’t think that’s the best way to manage a packed schedule. If you don’t have your primary employer’s permission, the arrangement is shady at best. That said, these situations do happen. If you’re in one of them, the best advice is to just keep things quiet. Give precedence to the employer who is paying you for this specific chunk of time.
How much do you tell the boss?
Some companies don’t want you to work anywhere else. They want you to put in your eight hours, go home, sleep well and come back rested. Others consider employees who go looking for other projects as assets — such employees have a jump start on networking and have a wider variety of experiences.
Unfortunately, most supervisors do not come with a label describing which variety they are. Because it can be very hard to figure out your boss’ stance, the general rule seems to be that you keep quiet on your extracurricular activities. I wouldn’t talk about Job A at Job B, although, if my boss was to bring up the matter, I’d be entirely truthful.
There are only certain circumstances in which your employer has any legal right to ask you to stop working at your second job. If you have a non compete agreement and your side job — whether you’re freelancing, working for the competition or providing consulting services — your employer can say something. If you’re on call for both jobs at once, your employer can say something. But in most other cases, your employer has no grounds to object.
How do you find balance?
Having more than one job doesn’t mean that you can’t have a life. In fact, it means that you need to make more of an effort to enjoy your free time and relax. While obligations like housework are important, you don’t have to let them take priority over de-stressing. Do what you can in the time you allot for such commitments and then go relax. Don’t worry. That stack of dirty dishes doesn’t have a hot date.
It’s not ridiculous to rethink how you handle your outside priorities if you’re working multiple jobs. Many of us are resistant to the idea that we shouldn’t do everything from laundry to home repair on our own. But sometimes the best choice is paying to have one less thing to worry about, if only so we can get back to work. It’s not a crime to have someone take care of some of your tasks.
WRITER'S BIOGRAPHY
Thursday Bram
Thursday Bram blogs about a variety of topics, from personal finance to small business. She is the author of an upcoming book on the tools and tricks you need to build a career you can take with you during long-term travel. More information about Thursday and her book, Working Your Way Around the World, is available on her personal site, ThursdayBram.com.
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Comments
Writer Dad says on August 5th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Right now, I’m trying to move into being a full time writer, but I have my regular bill paying ho hum job to attend to in the meantime. My solution: never sleep again.
Time Tracking says on August 5th, 2008 at 10:36 am
TSheets is a specialized time tracking tool that helps all types of professionals manage and track their time.
Ann at One Bag Nation says on August 5th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I’m facing a similar problem. I have a new part-time contract job, and there are really no boundaries. I can get emails or phone calls at any time, and feel I have to respond.
I plan to talk with my employer and request that one or two days a week are non-working days so I can focus on my other life – that’s why I want to work part-time in the first place!
Christopher says on August 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Last summer I was working two internships (neither of which really paid, hooray music internships!) and juggling two jobs. I lived out of my paper planer. But I was pretty much constantly moving between internships, teaching guitar, and working at a crap part time job for some extra cash.
Shanel Yang says on August 5th, 2008 at 11:40 am
This post actually gave me a great insight into thinking about my health as a second job. It’s something I need to take that seriously and feel accountable to myself for. After my 10-day 100% water fast and 5-day raw food post fast which I chronicled at http://shanelyang.com/2008/07/.....log-day-1/ I realized needed something more permanent to keep my mind and body clear and in top shape. The problem was I was trying to do this without any serious exercising b/c that takes too much time. Just an evening walk to the grocery store was all I devoted to my health and my diet was becoming more like my pre-fast diet by the day. So, now I’m going to start thinking about my health as my second job with me as the boss of that job, too — just like I’m the boss of me in my blogging! I’m a tough boss, so this just might work. : )
Ellen Hart says on August 5th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Although I don’t work for two companies, both my husband and I own our own businesses. We do our best to keep our professional responsibilities separate, but it’s inevitable that at times we each feel the weight of both. Balance in work and play is key.
Tabs says on August 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Great post, it is almost a myth to say that one only has one job, because to achieve success in anything you have to wear multiple hats. If you own a business, you are the sales person, the pr and marketing department, the accountant, legal adviser, personal assistant and in some cases the janitor. Then you go home and do the same for your family.
What I have found in my experience is that once you as an individual start to understand that in order to be successful you have to do more than one thing your view of life will change. You will not make it if you do your one job go home and sit in front of the TV the rest of the night. No successful person wears only one hat.
Cheers
-Tabs
timgray says on August 6th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Almost every professional I know has two jobs because companies don’t pay enough. Problem is your health and family will start to deteriorate fast if you don’t give both jobs hard fast rules. Work From X-Y and that is it. turn off cellphones when you are at home in your down time. Also limit the amount of helping you do with friends… helping friends is great when you only work 8 hours a day, when you work 12 you will start to despise people for using your down time. Learn to say NO.
Finally, dont settle into that life, strive to find a single job that does what you want and pays what you need, then ditch Company A and B and work for your new C so you can get back to reality and sanity.
Me? I ditched A and B and C and went to work part time for D… I get paid what I need and I work 6 hours a day. that way I can hang with friends, do what I want, and feel very free. My health has never been better.
Kyle Sagaas says on August 6th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I agree with you. The insights you have so provided here helps and I have enjoyed this post. More power!
Scott says on August 7th, 2008 at 5:54 am
“Wow, holding down three jobs! How uniquely American!” – GWBush
sjh says on August 7th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I have been busy with a daily job and another book translation contract running in parallel. The buttom line of my daily job is – do not fall asleep while I should be awake. And I succeeded for two book translation with others.
But I have to be honest, that I will not try two jobs in parallel now, because it burns the middle night oil. And I don’t seem to have any real life except working.
That’s my two cents.
John B. Kendrick says on September 28th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
More than one job definitely requires a handle on multitasking. And I found the answer, for me at least, to be David Allen’s GTD (Getting Things Done) system.
I’ve written several posts about my experiences with GTD on my blog at http://johnkendrick.wordpress.com/how-to-gtd/ John
Kell says on October 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Great article that provided some great insights.
I think part of the trick is also to set a plan of your work and then work your plan. For me, this involves planning for about 15 minutes each Sunday night for the week ahead. This keeps me focussed on the things that I need to accomplish.
Kell
laptop says on November 24th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
good info. thank you to share this for us
willyraw says on January 31st, 2009 at 1:46 am
I work at the same company in one job. I did a second job for them because no-one else could do it and I didnt get paid at the time. A year and a half later they offered to pay me for the second job. I took a leave of absence from the original job to take the second job. The staff kept asking me to do the original job as well as the second job. I was in a position to get paid for both at the same time so I took it. I would have done both jobs while getting paid for one. What are your thoughts???
Ronald says on November 20th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Managing time is a difficult skill learned by a few professionals. Hourdoc.com can help you identify where your (and your employees) time spent and helps you analyze and improve your time management. Basically, It is a wonderful Time Tracking Software