In: Operations Management
Pls Summaries the entire article below:
PROS AND CONS OF A SECOND JOB
There was a time when moonlighting—taking on work in addition to
your full-time employment—was for under-employed workers and the
severely cash-strapped.
Today, even working professionals can be cash-strapped, and people
in all fields and income groups are supplementing their main income
by moonlighting. For some, the second job isn’t just for the bucks
but also for the skills and the sense of being a free agent.
And although extra part-time jobs used to be verboten, many
supervisors are flexible about a team member who picks up a gig on
the side.
Experts suggest weighing the pros and cons carefully before you
take on a second job.
Pros
Money—That’s still the biggest reason people take on extra work.
And with gas above US$4 a gallon—and rising healthcare premiums,
and income freezes—extra income can be a lifeline.
Security—“Many professionals today are looking at second jobs as a
fallback because they feel, correctly, that their main job is not
completely safe,” according to John McKee, president and founder of
BusinessSuccessCoach.net and author of “Career Wisdom.”
Freedom—A second job or career can bring psychological benefits,
such as the feeling of not being shackled to one company, experts
say.
New skills—If you’re thinking about switching careers but can’t
take the plunge, taking a part-time job could be a way to test the
waters or boost your entrepreneurial skills, McKee said.
Cons
Time—Do you really want to spend 10 or 20 hours a week on another job, not to mention the commute hassle and the disappointment of significant others who’d rather see more of you, not less?
Conflict of interest—Consulting for a direct (or even indirect)
competitor can put you in a dicey situation, according to J Daniel
Marr, managing director of the New Hampshire law firm Hamblett and
Kerrigan.
“This is a big issue in software and industries where you use part
of what you learned from your primary employer,” Marr tells Yahoo
HotJobs.
“Employers insist they have rights to your intellectual
property.”
Performance slippage—One reason many employers look askance at
moonlighters is the fear that they’ll burn out. Some companies may
demand your full time and attention, even off-hours.
Employer irritation—Even if the company allows moonlighting,
supervisors might not like the idea. “Some will say angrily, ‘We’re
paying this guy x dollars a year and it’s still not enough?’” Marr
says.
Tips to make it work
If you are considering a second job, the experts add these three
tips: Pick an unrelated field—You’ll reduce the risk of burnout and
conflict of interest. A nurse who builds websites part-time, a
marketing professional who teaches music, or an insurance adjuster
who moonlights as a landscape architect would be safer bets.
Check with HR—Many companies have moonlighting policies. But even
if they don’t, it’s wise to see if your second job might be a
conflict, especially if you’re considering a professional part-time
job or one that’s related to your full-time job, Marr says.
Consider why you’re doing it—“Supplementing income is fine, but
it’s best if a second job is part of an overall life and career
plan,” McKee says. “Otherwise you risk scattering your
resources.”
The article talks about the advantages and disadvantages of another job or a part time gig that individuals might undertake in addition to their primary job. The pros of this is that it allows employees to supplement their income and also acts as an insurance against possible loss of their primary job in the future. Also it allows them to test their new skills before taking on a full fledged position which requires the newly acquired skills to be used.
Major disadvantages include having to put in extra hours and more work load for the individual which may lead to burnout. Also there could be issue of conflict of interest if the part time gig is in a related field to that of primary job. Also too much workload may lead to exhaustion and lack of performance for the employee.
The way to ensure that the part time gig can work out is by taking on a job which is unrelated to the primary job and also the secondary job adds some value to the overall career and professional path of the individual.