Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Can I do 2 full time jobs ?

35 replies

Finetoday · 06/11/2023 20:58

Sort of lighthearted but it has got me thinking !

I work ft in a remote/wfh post. Done it for years, very much within comfort zone as I aimed for work/life balance. However -
Today I’ve been offered a contract role, temp but again ft. Again fully wfh.
I like the thought of doing contract work due to lack of progression in current role so doing 1 would open doors.
I would do both jobs hours. I would delegate boring housework, shopping, life dross !

Am I ridiculous for thinking I could do both for the short term of 1 contract (6 mths min) ?

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 07/11/2023 06:36

Well it depends whether you’re required in meetings with each job and if you need to be available at set times. If you could do the second job once the first finishes fine, but trying to do both at the same time is a recipe for disaster. I have worked 12-14hr days during a crisis at work and it is so bad for your health, physical and mental, and you can’t do anything else. Even texting friends I found hard to keep up with.

megletthesecond · 07/11/2023 06:42

What about fresh air, sunlight and exercise? It sounds like a guaranteed way to make yourself ill and sluggish.

Aurasauras · 07/11/2023 06:53

Yes. I’ve done this. Get a cleaner, get everything delivered, be rigorous about writing everything down, prioritise and see every five minutes as an opportunity to get things done. Multitask where you can, but one mentally taxing job with one basic or physical- eg I do leg raises and crunches as I type, it takes no thought or effort and can do them quite easily while giving 100% concentration to my work.

I used to get up before six, push a wash on, prep dinner (whilst doing squats/balance work) clean every surface, iron, load up the computer, do admin for the house etc so that by 9am I had one or more meals prepared, and was ready to go. For me, a clean house helped with being able to focus more. That way, I could work really hard until late at night.

You have an end date and this should mean that you don’t burn out. This is important because you will start feeling stressed at how much you have to do. My trick when it felt overwhelming was to say “one foot after another” and make a list of all tasks and dive into the first. Life is just made up of a series of tasks that we do. Give yourself praise and encouragement and self reflect on your performance. Assess what you are doing well, how you are managing your time and whether there is anything you could change or do better.

m Also, take at least 15 minutes a day to talk to friends and family otherwise you will emerge after six months completely isolated. Do workout, you need physical strength and stamina to work that many hours.

We forget how many hours we spend relaxing generally. You will be working those hours but it is only for a limited period. Outsource everything you can, focus on the goal.

DoratheFlora · 09/11/2023 00:05

I can't believe the number of people saying to do this or they've done this themselves.

You have to declare a second job with a lot of employment contracts.

I would be very unhappy if you worked for me and I'd be managing you out if I found out so be careful what you wish for.

TheRealKatnissEverdeen · 09/11/2023 09:55

I work as a contractor providing services so, unless there is a conflict of interest, I can work across multiple contracts.
Two permanent roles, I suspect, roles would be different with specific instruction in the employment contract about having only one job.

NotFastButFurious · 09/11/2023 14:42

megletthesecond · 07/11/2023 06:42

What about fresh air, sunlight and exercise? It sounds like a guaranteed way to make yourself ill and sluggish.

100% this!!

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 09/11/2023 14:53

It would be against our employment t&cs in job 1 unless approval was provided by the head of HR. In fact, this example was recently used in some fraud training i attended. So you will need to carefully review your contract and the company's policies.

Elektra1 · 09/11/2023 15:00

I'm a solicitor and had a case like this once, acting for the first employer, who had caught out their employee also having accepted a second full time role. The employee was discovered after someone from company one was talking to someone from company two at an industry event, and they established they both had the same person working for them. He was summarily dismissed and sued for the income paid to him (on the basis that his employment contract - like most employment contracts - prohibited him from working for another company at the same time). He'd spent the money already of course, and as I recall may have ended up bankrupt because he couldn't pay the judgment debt.

Ariela · 09/11/2023 15:16

I did this (self employed) 2/3 time working alongside employed (full time) for 3 months. Was too much.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 09/11/2023 15:54

Both my employers knew what I was doing and didn’t care so long as their requests were fulfilled. They viewed as entirely and rightly so, my own problem and not theirs.
edit for fat finger spelling.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread