Are you trying to make some extra money but unsure if taking on 2 full-time jobs is the best course of action for you?
With just 24 hours in a day, and a full-time shift ranging from 8-10 hours, working 2 full-time jobs means you’re spending at most 20 hours out of your day working.
This article enlightens you on ways you can survive working 2 full-time jobs and the advantages and disadvantages associated with it.
Is it possible to work 2 full-time jobs?
Yes, it is possible to work 2 full-time jobs. However, you might not be able to sustain both jobs for too long. This can lead to you undergoing much stress and facing possible health complications.
Yet, certain circumstances force people into taking 2 full-time jobs even if it’s just for a short period. These circumstances can range from dealing with debts like student loans, paying bills, catering for your family, or planning a vacation.
While it comes with perks like more income to sort out financial issues, having more than one full-time job can leave you unproductive, overwhelmed, and burnt out.
What are the benefits of working 2 full-time jobs?
Despite the possibility of stress or medical setbacks, working 2 full-time jobs offers certain benefits like more income, career development, and job security.
1. Job security
Jobs these days have become unpredictable. With capitalist practices utilized by companies like the Hire to Fire employment method, you never know when you might be out of a job.
Working 2 full-time jobs serves as a suitable backup if you lose one. For example, you have an on-site job as a secretary and a remote job as a virtual office assistant.
Should you lose one of them due to company budget cuts, you still have a job to fall back on that settles some of your bills.
2. Career development
You have the chance to advance your career by working two jobs. Although there may be no connection between both jobs, the abilities acquired in the first job may be complementary to the second.
Even if both jobs have nothing in common, the experience you gain from your second job might also be a terrific addition to your resume.
3. More income
Making more money can be one of the most powerful incentives for a second full-time job.
You can settle more financial issues with more money and increase your financial independence while opening up additional investment chances.
What are the disadvantages of working 2 full-time jobs?
Not only do you have more responsibilities, but you also lack enough free time to pursue other interests.
Having to work more than one job be it 2 full-time jobs or one full-time and one part-time job can take its toll on you.
Some of the disadvantages of two full-time jobs include the following;
1. Burnout
Working above 15 hours daily can seriously affect your health physically and mentally. That is because 2 full-time jobs can lead to you having less rest or leisure time, leading to sleep deprivation and slow mental processing.
2. A decline in efficiency and productivity
The inability to focus is one of the key issues that a second job may result in. Because you often engage in separate activities, you must develop tolerance and unique skills to perform in both occupations.
Failure to adapt means you risk losing one or both jobs due to poor performance.
How do you survive working 2 full-time jobs?
To survive working 2 full-time jobs, I recommend you opt in for jobs that take place on alternate days. This will help you recover from two days of stress and give you the freedom to perform other activities.
While you might think going through two full-time shifts consisting of at least 8-hour shifts shouldn’t be a problem, remember it would be for 5 days straight. If you don’t play it smart, you might find yourself in a hospital bed.
For instance, let one of the jobs run from Monday to Friday (7 am to 4 pm) while the second job runs from Wednesday to Sunday (5 pm to 1 am).
This gives you time to rest on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings.
Other means by which you can power through 2 full-time jobs include;
1. Getting a remote or freelance job
Juggling two full-time jobs can be made much simpler if you can establish your hours, work on a project-by-project basis, or work from home.
But not all positions offer such flexibility. It’s manageable in some situations where you mostly use a phone or computer and are not required to commute to the company.
Explore opportunities to work in this field or discuss the possibility of a flexible work situation with your present employer.
But keep in mind that if you work as a freelancer or contract worker, you might lose company benefits or additional perks on-site workers enjoy.
2. Find a flexible job
If you’re taking two full-time jobs to make ends meet, look for a position that allows you flexibility if you get sick, have an event to attend, or become overworked.
For instance, you are not required to work a set number of hours for an employer if you work as an Uber driver. Because of this, it will be simpler to balance it with your previous full-time employment and take breaks as needed.
Other work options include virtual office assistant jobs or data entry jobs, particularly for companies in regions with different time zones.
So while it is regular work hours (8 am to 5 pm), it’s evening or nighttime where you are, making it easy to alternate work hours.
Can you work 2 full-time jobs remotely?
Yes, you can comfortably work two-full time jobs remotely as long as they do not overlap and you do a great job.
Overlapping two remote jobs might affect your overall performance and be a conflict of interest with one or both employers.
Non-compete agreements or policies requiring you to notify HR of work engagements are found at some workplaces. Some of these policies are your typical power play with no basis in law but are disguised as business ethics.
In such cases, you do not need to inform anyone once the job is done properly.
Just be sure to examine your employment offer carefully, and any other documents HR asks you to sign to ensure no conflicts of interest. You probably won’t have a conflict of interest if the two industries are completely unrelated.
Is working 2 full-time jobs worth it?
No, working 2 full-time jobs is not worth it when considering health factors and mental strain. Taking on two jobs will leave you drained both mentally and physically.
You also have little or no time to lead a personal life like hanging out with friends, going on dates, spending time with your family, or even sticking to doctor appointments.
Even worse, you might develop health-related complications like a rise in blood pressure, blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels due to prolonged sitting.
FAQs
Are full-time jobs required to give benefits?
No, full-time jobs do not need to offer employee benefits.
Extra benefits are provided voluntarily by employers. However, employers cannot discriminate between employees on who receives benefits and who should not.
Is working 2 full-time jobs legal?
Yes, working 2 full-time jobs is legal and holds no known federal or state restrictions.
However, if you currently hold a full-time position and wish to add another, check your current employment contract to avoid employment clauses.
How many work hours do you have in a full-time job?
Estimated weekly work hours for full-time jobs fall within the range of 35-40 hours with 40 hours being the legal standard.
However, some companies go beyond that and force overtime on employees.
Conclusion
While two jobs will no doubt offer you extra money to sort out many financial issues, the risks associated with it might cost more.
You risk suffering mental burnout and developing life-threatening health issues like diabetes, hypertension, or stroke.
However, if circumstances force you to take on two full-time jobs, learning coping skills and effective time management skills might be just what you need to stay up and running till you can focus on one job.
Finally, if you know working two full-time jobs might be excessive for you, you can consider mixing your full-time job with a part-time job. Find out things you need to know about adding a part-time job to your full-time job.
I hope you found this article helpful.
Thanks for reading.
