What is your experience/advice/opinion on working 2 FT jobs?
Asked by
tedd (
14088
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November 5th, 2012
I currently work as an analytical chemist (my official job title is SR Lab Tech). I’ve worked in my current position for a little over 3 years (including 6ish months as a contract worker). Long term I have aspirations of becoming a Forensic Scientist, and I have been applying for jobs in that field nationwide for some time, as well as educating myself more on the field via classes and textbooks. I have also maintained a part time job on the side, working about 20 hours a week (when you include drive time) tutoring an autistic boy. I need the part time job in order to afford my extensive student loans.
In my recent string of searching for forensics jobs I found a chemist opening locally. It’s a job doing work similar to what I’m doing now (I do more physical chemistry, working with metals now, this would be more organic/pharmaceutical, but still doing QC work using similar principles). The job pays slightly less than I make now, and would be full time like I have now. The catch that has me interested is that they offer second shift. Meaning I could feasibly work my current full time job, and this job.
Originally (and admittedly still now to some level) I was not that serious about the idea of working two full time jobs. But it has dawned on me that with no free time to spend the money, and nearly twice my current income coming in, I could potentially pay off my student loans in 4 or so years, or at least bank some money.
In reality I doubt I would handle such a workload for 4 years. Though I haven’t worked less than 60 in pretty much 4 years, and have often approached 80 when you throw in other commitments; it’s much more spread out (I work weekend hours or have breaks in my day). But the thought occurs to me that I could work the two jobs temporarily while still looking for a forensics position. If I found a forensics spot within the next 6 months, I would be fine dropping both jobs like a bad habit… and I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t use the extra cash it would afford me.
What do you guys think? I have an experience working more hours than this for one extended period in my life, and it was miserable. But the work was far more strenuous, and the money wasn’t even comparable. What’s your opinion, is the half of my brain that says this is stupid right?
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7 Answers
Make sure you get enough rest. It will be more of a grind than you anticipate. Plan your meal times so that you get nutritious food. Don’t give up on exercise. you need to fit it in somewhere.
Well, I am older, and have always been kind to myself. My opinion is that life is too short to half kill yourself for any pursuit. Money seems to be more important with every passing generation, until now it seems to be the only thing that matters. More important, even, than family, relationships, your health, or maybe getting some enjoyment out of life.
From my past experience in this, your original first boss will start to get angry when your performance drops one day, and you now always seem to be tired.
This is what I learned age 19 or so, when I was so fit I had a 6 pack and could run for hours without stopping. I hate to think what I would be like if I tried to do the same thing again 10 years on.
It might work for awhile, but as @poisonedantidote you won’t be able to keep up the same quality of work as your current employer expects from you.
You can only do it for an extended period if you have no other responsibilities, such as family to care for and such.
If you don’t have a life, then work could be your life and it would be fine. But if you ever wanted to do anything else, you won’t be able to as long as you work two jobs.
How many hours a day for each job? How much time to get from one to the next? When will you eat? And more to the point, when will you fluther?
As you are already working 60–80 hours a week, you probably could do it but why do you want to do this? You mention yourself you probably couldn’t sustain it long term and I would concur with that view. You will burn out and that’s not a good thing. Why do you want to do this? Just to pay off your student loans? Excuse my ignorance but I’m not in the US so I don’t know how your loan system works, but can’t you take longer to pay them off? Is there a reason you have to pay them off so quickly?
I’m all for paying down your debt but not killing yourself with work. I can’t remember if you have a partner but I am sure you have friends and family and this would not only be potentially harmful to you in terms of stress but it is likely to damage your relationships.
Some companies are very funny about moonlighting too. Will both organisations be okay with you working two jobs? I sort of feel the work you are doing with your autistic student has a human element to it. You are helping this young man and that would help dispel some of the negative aspects of working long hours. Just working long hours for money, without the human aspect, would be more soul destroying I suspect.
Unless there is some reason why you have to do this, I would say don’t. Life is short.
Just don’t make yourself miserable. You have a girlfriend right? Don’t you like to see her? Or get outdoors and enjoy some free time every once in a while? You’ll have very little, and might be able to stand it at the beginning, but I would really really avoid doing this. It will become a strain on nearly all aspects of your life. I agree with @Bellatrix life really is too short to do nothing but work.
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