Lindsey writes:
Hi. I am considering the idea of taking a second job on top of my regular full-time job. I see it as a chance to pay off some debt and get back on my feet, while helping my family. I have excellent skills, so I am not so worried about difficulty in finding a job, but I am worried about the effects of so much work on me and on my family life. Any thoughts?
Somewhere between 7-8 million Americans hold a second or third job… and most do so to simply earn a living or to help earn extra money. Moonlighting is tough — it’s hardest on you (because you will have no free time) and your family and friends (because they will never see you).
Here are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job:
- Check your main employer’s policies. Before you even consider looking for a second job, take the time to check your current employer’s policies about holding outside employment.
- Understand your reasons for taking a second job. If it’s purely monetary, you may be able to talk to your current employer to pick up extra shifts rather than take a second job.
- Consider a trial basis. Moonlighting in short doses — to accomplish some short-term goals — usually works better than working multiple jobs for long stretches of time.
- Find a job that interests you. Perhaps you have a boring office job as your main job, so try something fun like being a tour guide or other more unusual job for your second one.
- Consider second jobs that are less stressful. If your first job is a pressure-cooker, find a second one that is relaxing to you, such as pet-sitting or tutoring.
- Find jobs that are geographically close to each other- - or to your home. Your time will be limited enough without adding a long commute to your second job.
- Seek out new opportunities with new employers. If you are contemplating a career change, but are not sure of your next career, use second jobs to test out some of your career ideas.
- Reduce your load. If you are working multiple jobs, it’s probably time to cut some of those extracurricular activities.
- Carve out time for significant others. You must find a way to schedule some time with your family and friends or those relationships will suffer… and if you have a partner, be sure s/he is okay with your plans.
- Know when it’s time to quit. Whether it’s when you reach your financial goal or when you are beginning to mentally or physically breakdown, you must r educe your load… though that does not necessarily mean quitting your second job (if it has become your new career passion).
Read more in my latest article published on Quintessential Careers: Moonlighting in America: Strategies for Managing Working Multiple Jobs
See also this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs for Consultants, Freelancers, and Gurus
Rebecca writes:
I have a question regarding interviews. I currently have a full time job, but am looking for something new. Unfortunately, in just the few phone calls I have made, it seems as though most companies interview between 9 and 5. How should I handle this? Is it rude to try to make an appointment for earlier or later? For companies near my office, I can schedule an interview during my lunchtime, but some places that are farther away might take half a day of travel. I only have a limited amount of vacation time, and while one or two days for a viable job option would be fine, I don’t want to waste all my vacation days on jobs that might not pan out! What is the typical protocol on this?
Yours is a very common misconception among job-seekers. Many, if not most, employers are willing to work around the schedule of their top candidates. Thus, many employers are willing to schedule before- and after-hours job interviews… and some will even sacrifice the lunch hour to schedule interviews. So, when you get to that point of scheduling interviews, simply ask the employer for a convenient time for both of you.
As for the employment opportunities where the prospective employer is located some distance from where you work and live… that’s a different issue. It’s obvious for these interviews, you will need to burn a personal day or vacation day. No question. But you can avoid using up all those days by being very selective in applying for jobs that require that kind of commitment. Remember, you should be taking a narrow approach to your job-search, selectively choosing only the best opportunities in terms of fit with the job and employer. Don’t waste your time or a prospective employer’s time by applying for jobs that you really have little interest in. And don’t ever use sick days to go on job interviews; it is not only unethical, but could come back to haunt you if discovered.
One other strategy to follow if you have several out-of-town opportunities, assuming they are in the same far-off city, is to attempt to schedule all of them in a two-day period… that way you can get them done in two days while spending the night there and staying fresh and focused on your task at hand.
Gabriel writes:
I am a graphic artist just starting out. I have been asked to give a salary history but really do not have a salary history in my field. How can I get around this and still prove I am very able candidate for the job?
Getting asked by a prospective employer for a salary history — especially when you are a new graduate or new to the career field — is not that big a deal. Employers often want this information for a variety of reasons, such as to evaluate your salary progression through a series of jobs and employers, to evaluate whether you have been underpaid or overpaid, and to gain power in the salary negotiation phase.
A salary history for you seems kind of moot since you don’t have any salary history in your field. Still, if you want the job, it makes sense to comply with the request.
When writing your salary history, use the same letterhead as for your cover letter and references list. Simply list job titles, employers (including location), dates of employment, and starting and ending salaries — in reverse chronological order (with most recent job first).
You could also include a short paragraph on your salary history sheet and/or on the cover letter with which you send the salary history that explains why you feel these salaries are not important — and that makes a case for a better salary in your new career field.
And whatever you do, never lie about your salary history.
Read more — and see some sample salary histories — in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Responding to Requests for Salary Requirements or Salary Histories: Strategies and Suggestions.
James writes:
I’m searching for a guide on how to write my resume, but I can’t seem to find anything. If you could give me some tips, or a site that I could go to, that would be greatly appreciated.
Can’t find anything on resumes? Wow. There’s tons of stuff available on resumes — in magazines, books, and on the Web… but I’ll give you a quick primer.
Your resume is a critical marketing tool. Your resume has to entice a prospective employer enough — through its focus, content, and style — to first consider your qualifications for the job at hand and then to invite you for a job interview. A resume is a statement of your unique mix of experiences, education, and skills. You must not lie on your resume, but you must always remember its goal.
I think the most important thing any job-seeker should do before attempting to write a resume is to first sit down and make a list of your skills and accomplishments from all your previous experiences (work, volunteer, school, etc.) because you will take from this list those critical skills and accomplishments — not your duties and responsibilities — that highlight your fit for the next job you are seeking.
The next step is researching and identifying the job — and all the requirements of that job — that you are seeking because it is critical that your resume is focused on specifics. You should also research the potential employers that may have jobs that you seek so that you can incorporate some of their keywords into your resume.
Wait! Does this advice suggest that job-seekers need to have a specifically tailored resume for every single job they apply for? Yes! There is absolutely no reason for you not to develop a different resume for each job and employer. For most job-seekers, this task will simply mean tweaking small parts of your resume for similar jobs.
Once you have the content down, you should focus on the style and look of your resume. Do not use a template; design your own. Follow a consistent style. Use normal fonts and sizes. Use bullets rather than paragraphs. Do not use personal pronouns. Consider using a career/job objective or profile section. Always list education and experience in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent stuff). Do not list any personal information (such as age, marital status, weight). Do not include controversial information. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, spell-check and carefully proofread your resume for any and all errors.
Read our articles published on Quintessential Careers: The Scoop on Resume Length: How Many Pages Should Your Resume Be? and 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid.
You can gets lots more advice, including resume samples, resume-writing tutorial, and more, in this section of Quintessential Careers: Resume and CV Resources.
Amy writes:
I am a special-education teacher who has been teaching for approximately 20 years. I would like a career change, and the one thing that attracts me is cultivating plants and flowers. I would like to know, what sort of measures would I be able to take to start a career or business, that would allow me to do this. I have often thought of having a business where I can grow and sell my own plants in a greenhouse, something similar to the nurseries they have alongside towns and suburbs. However I have no background in this except for growing in my own (small) garden.
The Career Doctor responds:
One of the first questions I ask people who desire a career change is to list their hobbies, interests, and activities — the things they enjoy doing when not working. It’s often from this list that we discover a career field worth researching. I think switching from education to horticulture is possible, but before you finalize that decision, I would also recommend examining some of your other interests — just to see if there are any other career paths worth investigating.
Once you decide on a career field, the next step is research. Growing plants these days is a science, so I would recommend talking with an agricultural agent with your county or state. I would also schedule informational interviews with the owners/managers of several local nurseries. Once you have developed these contacts, you might consider volunteering or working part-time on weekends or school holidays to get a taste for the work.
After you’ve completed your research and your trial work, the next step is whether you want to try and find work for an established nursery or horticulture business or start your own business. Many former job-seekers and workers have opted out of the workforce to start their own businesses — and some have been more successful than others. You might see if there is a local office of the Small Business Administration (or go to its Website), where you can find critical resources that may help in your decision. And, of course, if you are thinking of starting your own business, you will need to speak with your local government about zoning issues and permits/licenses.
Go to the Small Business Administration Website.
Jennifer writes:
Can you tell me what classes and how long and what I need to do to become a paralegal? I work for a law office as a legal secretary right now, and they want to promote me to a paralegal once I go to school for it. Can I go to my community college for it??? Help!
First, let me congratulate both you and your employer. You are obviously a great employee, and it’s wonderful to see your employer wants to help you grow as a legal professional. Before you take the next step, please make sure this career step is one you want to take. I assume, working in a law office, you have a good idea of pros and cons of being a paralegal… but if not, now is the time to do the research. Since you are obviously very good at what you currently do, there is no shame in staying a legal secretary if becoming a paralegal does not appeal to you.
OK. Now to your question. There are several ways to become a paralegal. If you do not have a college degree, one option is to attend a local community college’s paralegal program leading to an associate’s degree. If you do have a college degree, there are certificate programs that lead to a certification in paralegal studies in just a few months. If your local community college does not offer paralegal studies, there are numerous online programs that do — but make sure you find an accredited program. You do not necessarily need a program approved by the American Bar Association, but graduating from an ABA-approved school should enhance your options (if something happens with your current firm).
Once you complete your education, you may also want to look into becoming certified through the National Association of Legal Assistants or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Find more useful information here:
- National Association of Legal Assistants
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook
Delicia writes:
After graduating from college with a degree in psychology I got a job at a title insurance company where I’ve been employed for the past 3 years. I am presently working on a master’s degree and feel the need to change to a more promising, financially rewarding career. What should I do?
Unfortunately, I have no clue what type of job you currently hold, what area your graduate degree is in, nor what your interests and goals are — besides wanting something financially rewarding. I think most of us — at least those not independently wealthy — want a financially rewarding career — so the key is finding one that you are passionate about… a career and job that will make you excited to head to work every morning.
Usually you get a master’s degree in the field that you see yourself entering. If you are continuing your psychology at the graduate level, then it certainly seems that a counseling career is appropriate.
My best advice is to first sit down and reflect on who you are and what you like doing. Perhaps conduct some research on a number of careers that interest you. Then meet with one or more of the professors in your graduate program (or perhaps even from your undergraduate days) and pick their brains about career options. Finally, once you have narrowed your career choices down, start making a plan for how you will make the change from what you are doing now to your new career.
I recommend you read my article, The 10-Step Plan to Career Change, published on Quintessential Careers. You might also enjoy my Career Change Do’s and Don’ts
Glenn writes:
I’m in a dead-end job and feel a real need to make a career change. My employer is reorganizing the department and probably going to offer most people a package. I see this as my chance to get out and do something different. So, what should I do — and what should I not do? I already have a tentative job offer from an old boss and am thinking of taking it once I get the package. Your advice?
What should you do? If you are seriously thinking of changing careers — not just jobs or employers — what you should not do is jump at the first opportunity that comes your way.
One of the most common mistakes career-changers make, especially those who are being forced to make a change through some sort of corporate restructuring, is to grab hold of the first job offer that comes your way. I don’t mean to imply that it might be a bad offer, but why not take the time to see what other opportunities are out there, especially if you have a severance package? You need to evaluate whether you want to stay in your current career or make a switch to something different.
What are some of the other career-change mistakes to avoid?
- Making a career change without a plan. A successful career change can often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy — and even longer without one.
- Changing careers because you hate your job. Don’t make the mistake of confusing hating your current job (or employer) with hating your current career.
- Making a career change based solely on money/benefits. Certain careers are more financially rewarding than others, but that doesn’t mean they are right for you.
- Changing careers because of outside pressure. Don’t let your parents, family, or significant other influence your career choice; you need to live it, not them.
- Attempting a career change without a new network and mentor. Making a career change alone is nearly impossible, so once you have identified a new career field start making new network contacts.
- Changing careers without examining all the possibilities. Take the time to conduct research on numerous career fields so that you can find the best one to fit your current situation.
- Making a career change without assessment of likes/dislikes. Self-assessment and self-reflection are critical to career change success.
- Changing careers based on the success of others. Just because your best friend is doing well in a certain career does not mean that you will also do well.
- Making a career change without necessary experience/education. One of the keys to successful career change is gaining experience in your new career field; and in some cases, further education or training may be necessary.
- Changing careers without updating your job-search skills/techniques. If it’s been a while since you were in the job market, take the time to update and polish your job-hunting skills.
You can read more details about these 10 mistakes in this article published on Quintessential Careers: 10 Career Change Mistakes to Avoid.
And find lots of great resources and tools in the career change resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Lindsey writes:
I am interested in technical theatre and I am thinking about majoring in it. My concerns are what type of steady occupation could I work in after college?
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me state that only you can answer your question. The ideal situation for any student or job-seeker is to find a job/career that you love — and that is in demand.
Technical theatre is all the stuff that goes on behinds the scenes — stage management, lighting, sound, props, wardrobe, scene design, etc. And as long as there is continued demand for theatre, there will be demand for the professionals who are responsible for just about everything but the acting.
My advice is to conduct some informational interviews with professionals working in the theatre. Informational interviews are where you sit down (in person, by phone, or electronically) with someone in a job that interests you. Ask as many questions as you can about how s/he broke into the field, how s/he sees future employment trends, how you can best prepare for a career in this field, etc. The goal is information. A side benefit is adding the person to your network. And in some cases, the interview may result in your being invited to apply for an internship.
I would also talk to the professors who teach the technical theatre courses. Ask about careers and ask about the placement of recent grads and other alums.
I haven’t seen any news indicating the demise of theatre in this country, but I think it’s a bit cyclical and tied to the economy — when people have jobs and are confident about their future, they are more likely to spend more money on entertainment, such as the theatre. But ask your professors and the professionals in the field — they will have the inside scoop.
Here’s a really cool site for technical theatre:
www.theatrecrafts.com.
And for books about technical theatre, check out: TheatreBooks: Technical Theatre.
Heather writes:
I have a BFA in dance performance and a good bit of professional/semi-professional dance experience. However, I have chosen to go back to school for my other passion: conservation biology. I am taking the required science and math courses at a college now to gain acceptance into a graduate program (without getting a second degree), but realize I will be competing with students who have not only a BS, but also lots more experience in the field. I am trying to gain some of that experience next summer by applying to internships or volunteering. I have read lots about “transferable skills,” but the two careers are so different that only one comes to mind — dedication! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Wow. You are truly making a dramatic career change, and kudos to you for taking the leap (if you forgive the pun) to follow your passion. And you also deserve credit for realizing that you need to get started now on gaining valuable experience in your new field so that by the time you are finished with your graduate degree you will be an attractive candidate to employers.
Transferable skills are an essential job-hunting concept to master for all job-seekers, but especially for recent college graduates and career-changers. What are transferable skills? Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life — jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything — that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job or career.
Your first step is identifying the set of skills that employers in conservation biology seek. You can do so by compiling a collection of job postings from various employers — and making a list of the key skills they seek.
Your next step is then looking into your past and present for any experiences where you may have used or mastered those skills.
Your final step is then carefully showcasing those transferable skills in your cover letters, resumes, and interviews.
I think volunteering is a much more likely option for you next summer than internships — because you are still catching up on those core science classes, but don’t rule anything out until you try. I have found that employers often interview (especially for internships and volunteer positions) candidates with diverse backgrounds because they seek a well-rounded staff.
Read more about transferable skills in this section of Quintessential Careers: Transferable Job Skills.
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