We’d all like to make more money, but I’m tired of advice telling me to ask for a raise. This asking for a raise crap doesn’t work when the employer is also having issues, so that tactic isn’t gonna work. I’m also tired of advice telling me to sell stuff on eBay. If someone else wanted my crap it’d be gone already, but they don’t so I can’t sell it. I don’t have time to deliver pizzas and if I did, I would have to compete with 100 other people who want to delivery those pies, plus it’s not too safe for female delivery people in New York, so that’s out the window. What’s left? Legally? Not much but whatever it is, you don’t want to risk pissing off your boss and losing the one stable job that you have.
- Whatever it is, you don’t want to do it at work. Multitasking has been taken to an all-time high since we are all trying to cram more into the same 24 hour day. The time that you don’t want to multitask is while juggling your side job at your day job. Remember, your boss owns your time while you are there and you don’t want to tick him off.
- Don’t blab about your side job to your colleagues. Offices like gossip and nothing is juicier than someone making more money while doing something else. In the interest of covering your ass, keep your mouth shut.
- Whatever you do, don’t work for the competition in your spare time. True, it’s easy to do what you know, but if that means taking a part-time job at a competitor, forget it. If you signed a non-disclosure or non-compete clause at your current job, you’re risking a nasty lawsuit. It won’t be worth it.
- Almost as bad is using company resources to help you complete your side job. Sure, we might all use the internet at work for personal browsing here and there (of course I would NEVER do that), but please don’t take home supplies that will help you with the side job. Corporate people like to call that stealing and there’s a place with iron bars where they send people caught stealing. You won’t like it.
- Don’t slack off at work. Good managers tend to notice a change in attitude towards your work or dwindling enthusiasm when you walk through the door. The last thing that you’d like to do is appear to dislike your job just because the grass might seem greener at the side job. If fact, your manager might take it as an indication that you’re gearing up to quit.
Yes, the economy does suck and I’d love to make more money too, but you want to hold on to your current job with a death grip. Remember, even a monkey grabs the new branch before letting go of the old one. Just keep that in mind.