Would multiple part-time jobs be worth it?

September 10, 2008 7:45 AM

How difficult is it to manage multiple part-time jobs? Would it be worth the hassle if one of the positions was in a field I'd like to pursue a career in? Any tips for handling more than one job are appreciated!

I'm a recent college graduate with plans to eventually pursue a Masters in Library and Information Science. In the meantime I would like to gain more experience working in a library, public or academic doesn't matter, I'm interested in both. Full-time positions in libraries that only require a BA have been few and far between (even living in a city with a university), and I haven't had any luck snagging those that have come up in the past 3.5 months or so (not that 3.5 months is a particularly long period of time).

However, part-time library jobs, both academic and public, are more plentiful. Obviously, in order to make something like a full-time salary I would have to take at least one other job. I've been hesitant to go the two (or more) part-time job route because it seems like I would be devoting a lot more than 40hrs a week to work with transit times and waiting for shifts. I'd also like to have something kind of close to my boyfriend's 9am-6pm schedule most days of the week. Assuming I can get one of the part-time library jobs for the second job I'm thinking I would get an administrative assistant gig.

Would it be worth doing this for experience working in a library? If so, how do I make it work without driving myself crazy?

Education/Experience background if it makes a difference: Double major in History and English. I worked for 3 years in my college's library and in my senior year worked as a research assistant for a professor. I've done administrative assistant and customer service jobs in the past. Right now I've got an open-ended temp job with a non-profit that's great but can't go permanent.

Thank you all!

posted by radiomayonnaise to work & money (11 comments total)

It's definitely doable, but a lot more difficult than having a single full-time job.

First off, there will be no benefits. Bummer. :(

Second, no part time job anywhere will schedule your working hours around another job. Most places will frown on your having a second job in the first place, and won't make a single concession to help you out in that regard. However, that might not be a problem since libraries and administrative offices don't do first or third shifts.

Anyway, long story short, a LOT of people do exactly what you're doing, so don't be afraid. Good luck!
posted by Willie0248 at 8:12 AM on September 10, 2008

Would it be worth doing this for experience working in a library?

No-brainer. Absolutely it would be worth it. I can guarantee you that a good possibility you aren't getting those full-time positions when they pop up is because all those part-timers are applying and have the upperhand. If you can get a part-time gig and show you're dedicated to it while getting your masters in Library Science you will absolutely be ahead of the game when a full-time position comes around 6-12 months later.

My suggestion to you is to find out how many hours PT in the library really is (PT can be anything less than 40 and anything more than 1 so if they're wanting you 35 hours a week and just don't want to pay benefits that's important to know). Depending on what the wage is you might not need that second job but if you do make it a casual one that is flexible with hours and doesn't consider you a permanent fixture (I hate to say it but the service industry is perfect for this kind of thing).
posted by genial at 8:12 AM on September 10, 2008

I did a 3 part time job juggle for awhile. It wasn't fun. One of the jobs had a weekly schedule that changed all the time. I felt like I was constantly begging that manager to meet my needs, which was a pain for them, I think.

The other two jobs were a bit more stable and one was a night job and the other was a day job.

I also recalled from that period that I lost a lot of weight due to stress and eating poorly.
posted by k8t at 9:19 AM on September 10, 2008

yeah, tons of people work more than one job. if there's one job you want (library) and another job you just kinda need for money, get the library job first. then you can look for a job that will work with your schedule. so if you work 9-2 five days a week at the library, you can get a second shift job somewhere else.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:22 AM on September 10, 2008

As somebody who works 2 full time jobs and several part time jobs (no, really ! ), I have to 2nd what misanthropicsarah said.

First:
Decide what your priorities are and approach your work ethic with those priorities in mind. For me, the day-job that pays more (and, thankfully matches my background closer) gets more of my attention - which means I basically force the lower paying night-job to adapt to the higher paying day-job. In my case, it works out because both employers are aware of the other and (so far) I've been able to keep up fairly quality work at both, so it hasn't been a problem.

I'm not going to sugar-coat it though. Working multiple jobs is not easy. (right now I'm averaging about 4hrs of sleep a day, and I dont have any days of the week "OFF" unless I specifically request one) It takes intense focus, organization and determination. You'll probably find yourself becoming a lot more efficient out of necessity, and not having much at all of a social life.

What it really comes down to is: Are your personal goals important enough to you that you're willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in reaching them?.... Thats the way I motivate myself to get out of bed after only 4 hours of sleep. I just keep reminding myself that I *AM* going to succeed no matter what it takes. Once you develop the mindset that the only option is "finding a way to get it done".... everything else becomes "details".
posted by jmnugent at 9:53 AM on September 10, 2008

This may seem obvious to you, but it wasn't obvious to me back when I was working multiple p/t jobs in college: if you have more than one part time job, make sure the lines of communication between yourself and your employers are WIDE open. If you don't have a set schedule with one of them, make sure they know what your schedule is at the other place.

Looking back I have NO idea how this happened, but I got in hella trouble (and was eventually fired) because of this. I had a set schedule at the pet shop, and I was always asking for more hours at the vet's office. But the vet's office kept putting me on the schedule for days I was already scheduled to work at the pet shop, and anyway, in the end, I only had a job left at the pet shop.

So if you do it, just don't be like a college-aged iguana.
posted by iguanapolitico at 10:40 AM on September 10, 2008

I'm a part-time librarian, and I often babysit/teach in the schools/do freelance work as well. It can indeed get harrowing--working 26 days in a row at one job or another comes to mind. Balance is made much easier by having one gig you can do at home and one you go to. Sometimes you can make a project from your in-person job into something you can do at home.
posted by Riverine at 11:50 AM on September 10, 2008

In my area, the ONLY way to get a full-time job in a library is to start part-time. My area has a lot more part-time jobs then full-time so the wait to be full-time can be years. Ask the staff at the libraries you are interested in what your local job market is like. Most employees want to work Monday to Friday 9-5, so the most senior employees tend to get those shifts, again new hires get nights and weekends. I worked four years in one library only on evenings and weekends. YMMV.
posted by saucysault at 12:19 PM on September 10, 2008

I'm blessed with two part-time jobs now, both in web design/development, along with 3 classes in Berkeley. The things I learned:

- If you really like one of your jobs, devote more time to it and put as much effort into it as possible. However, don't underestimate the "lesser" job(s). Putting yourself into one job too much can limit the scope of your skills - you might be great with dealing with people, but you just might end up dreading working in an office/backroom setting where you could be alone for long stretches of time (I've worked in a library before, so I kind of know what it's like to work there). 'Course, the latter may not be your cup of tea, but I just think it's a good idea to be adaptive to any environment.

- Manage your time VERY well. Organization is perhaps the biggest factor that determines whether you sail through or break down. Be prepared to have less-than-stellar days or even weeks, when you just don't have enough sleep or food. Speaking of which...

- Eat right. This is very important. You're going to need all the energy you can get. Snack bars, fruits, veggies - in general, healthy stuff. Keep caffiene consumption at a low level; it's better to get energy via more "natural" ways (though I admit I'm addicted to Red Bull).

- Sleep when you can. Take naps, like caffeine naps.

- Your social life will take a hit. Be aware of that.

- Grab a break when you can. Set aside your free time where you do absolutely nothing, or relax and read a book. Draw. Sing your favorite songs out loud. Take a walk in the rain (yeah, I'm a romantic fool). Breathe fresh air. Meditate. Anything to get your mind off that job-to-job track for a rest stop. And bonus if you can do this with your boyfriend :).
posted by curagea at 1:04 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

I work two jobs at the moment and it's really not that difficult. At first it seems like a lot more energy is expended, but after a month or two you get into the swing of things and it seems just as easy to work at (and get to) two places, as it is to work at one. Of course, I've got great bosses (and coincidentally, one of my jobs happens to be at a library).
posted by mjao at 1:53 PM on September 10, 2008

Good advice, here. I would also add that I found it a lot easier to bare working two jobs when they were pretty different from one another (especially if either one of them is more than 20 hours). It helped spice things up a bit, and helped me not be bored.

Also, you may get lucky with scheduling, but it's been my experience that you will probably have to take one day job, and one job that is more for the evenings a few nights a week. You'll still have time every other evening or so, but you probably won't be able to fit two jobs into a 9-6 schedule.

It can be hard to work two jobs, but it's not so bad. Especially if it means getting a job doing what you want. Good luck!
posted by lunit at 2:03 PM on September 10, 2008