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 Handle second jobs with ease By Clinton Withers No one can deny that money is useful. Without it, you really can't get that far, unless you're really good at mooching off your friends (and I can promise you they won't be your friends for long if that keeps up). For most college graduates, holding a full-time job is a rite of passage into the "real world" and a chance to earn some much-needed money. However, that first job sometimes isn't enough. It's not that uncommon for new graduates, overwhelmed in student debt and starving for money, to hold a second, part-time job. Carrying the weight of two jobs demands a strategic plan for prioritizing and time management. Make sure to determine which job is the priority. Logically, the primary job (the full-time one) would be the priority. This job demands the most of your time, energy and resources and supplies your bank account with the funds for covering primary expenses. Manage time appropriately by not allowing the two jobs to interfere with each other. If the full-time job is a standard Monday through Friday daytime one, then the secondary or part-time job is best kept to nights or on the weekends. Nothing irritates employers more than to hear about time conflicts because of another job. Allowing the jobs to conflict could land you in line for unemployment. Don't burn yourself out. Working Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and then nights and weekends can soon cause a flaming burnout. Not only will mood and health be affected, but so will job performance. Make sure to have free time scheduled into the week. Money can be a good thing, but not having the time to enjoy it is a bad thing. Have fun with the part-time job. Have the full-time job to advance a career and a part-time job just for fun and extra money. Holding a part-time job that is enjoyable won't make it seem like a job at all. There are benefits to a part-time job that are very appealing. The best perk is having extra money for entertainment, shopping or for helping out with extra expenses. The key to successfully balancing two jobs is understanding priorities and knowing personal limits. Part-time jobs can help you gain new skills, sharpen old ones and create a larger professional network. Withers is a media producer for D61. |
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