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A second job can be
the perfect income booster -- if you work it right
By Robbie
Woliver • Bankrate.com
Looking for a little extra cash? Bored with
your day job? Try a little moonlight.
Moonlighting is the term used to describe the
process of holding down a second job, usually during hours after
the primary job is completed. But now, thanks to the Internet, a
moonlighting job can occur almost any time, even concurrent with
a primary job.
A way
to change direction
There are many reasons why people moonlight:
Work-week restrictions keep workers from expanding their earnings
at their primary job; moonlighting might help improve chances for
building credentials; or the moonlighting job might be a pleasurable
diversion, like a musician performing in a band at night while working
in an office by day.
But the No. 1 reason for moonlighting is financial,
says Susan Mitchel, the author of American
Attitudes. The worker's income from his primary job is insufficient
to pay the bills, or the worker's lifestyle is higher than the primary
job allows that worker to afford.
"They theoretically can live on that income,
but they live well beyond their means. That's the trend," she
says.
While people once moonlighted to simply support
themselves, today there are those who take on extra work to buy
a vacation home or perhaps buy a new car.
If you are considering supplementing your income, Mitchell has
some suggestions.
1. Seek
work employing new technologies
Try to find work where you primarily rely on the Internet or your
computer. This situation lets you work at home, which makes having
a second job easier on everyone.
2. Be realistic
Assess, realistically, the amount of time involved in the moonlighting
position and what you have to give up to do that work. Be clear
in terms of how much time it will leave you with your family. If
you don't go into it with that knowledge, Mitchell warns, you'll
be setting yourself up for failure. Make arrangements for chores
to be done for you, and don't forget: You need down time to rest
and restore yourself.
3. Break
into another profession
You might have to get some training as if you were seeking another
job, but it will open up the job market for you for future advancement
instead of stuffing envelopes. Educate yourself.
4. Start
off working for free
To break into a new field, use a very short-term position as a test.
You might find you do not want to invest time in it. If you are
thinking about becoming a lawyer, you might want to work for free
for a short period at a law firm before making the plunge. Otherwise,
you may discover too late that the time and money were not well
spent.
5. Have
a goal
Have clear financial and personal goals for the extra money you
will be earning. Use the moonlighting job to save up to buy a new
car or to move yourself up professionally.
6. Find work related to
your own
If you are not seeking out a completely new line of employment,
stick to what you know. For example, a moonlighting cop might want
to consider a nighttime security job at a local store.
-- Updated: April 23, 2003
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