Is a second job worth the time and effort?
If you’ve had to give up your discretionary allowance during these tough financial period, its not long till the toll of not being able to book in for a weekly facial or manicure and rewarding yourself with your favourite fashion and beauty items start to bite.
Your mind ponders ways to get those things back and you start thinking about a second job to make extra cash for the things you love and want.
There’s plenty of part time jobs out there — employers are cutting back workers hours and hiring casuals to fill out roles and positions previously held by one person. The question remains, is the time and effort needed for a second job really worth the money?
Have you taken up a part-time job to supplement your income? What is your say? Tell us below.
Part-time employment options and opportunities
There are always part time job opportunities in retail, food and beverage and office work, but which one is right for you?
Retail: Do you enjoy interacting with people? If you’re passionate about fashion, beauty products or household and giftware, getting a part time job in a retail store is a great option for you. Perks include discounts and samples (think cheaper Christmas presents!).
Food and beverage: If you like being on your feet and enjoy a fast pace, working part time in a restaurant or bar is for you. Just watch out for lengthy shifts and make sure the job hours fit around you and not the other way around.
Office work: Peace and quiet and autonomy more your gig? Companies are always hiring temps for different purposes around the office, so if you’ve had office or corporate experience, you could find working part time in an office very enjoyable. Plus, it could re-spark your passion for the workplace and lead to other things. Recruitment companies that hire temps on behalf of other companies take a cut and you’d end up earning less so try to look for these opportunities through the grapevine instead.
How much going to work costs you
Once you’ve worked out what you want to do and you start identifying some good job opportunities, you need to work out how much its going to cost you to get to work.
Factor in the time it takes you to get to and from work — a part-time job shouldn’t be more than half an hour away, and that’s in traffic. If you’re using your own car to get there, what are your weekly gas expenses going to be, or if you rely on public transport, how much would you be spending?
If you have small children and need to pay someone to look after them while you’re at work, are you making enough to cover the babysitter and have enough for yourself?
Making money around the house
Before you jump back into the workforce, is there something you can do to make money around the house? Martha Stewart built her empire from a small catering business she started at home. If you love to cook and have a few friends and family that enjoy it too, starting a catering business is easy and low-cost and could earn you a pretty penny without leaving the house.
You could be sitting on a goldmine and not know it — sell old things on eBay — you’ll be surprised what you can sell on the site and would be de-cluttering at the same time.
Use what you’ve got
If you’re good at painting, photography, graphic design or interior design, start marketing yourself again to friends and family and keep a simple portfolio handy. You never know, someone may be looking for a person of just your skills, but if you don’t advertise it, people will assume you’re not interested in doing the work anymore.
Have you taken up a part-time job to supplement your income? What is your say? Tell us below.
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