Do you have any experience working multiple careers?

April 12, 2012 11:37 AM

My first question filter: I have the opportunity to one day in the near future work two relatively well paying jobs. I want to know if anyone has any experience with the such, and can offer words of wisdom/caution, pros and cons. Snowflake details inside.

Job #1: Inherit family restaurant which has been successfully run for multiple decades, and which I grew up working in.

Job #2: Medical profession. The particular career in mind would offer the possibility to work PRN, half-time, or full-time, as needed.

My specific questions are as follows:
Have any of y'all been involved in two vastly different careers at the same time in your life?
Do the monetary gains outweigh the difficulties of juggling two careers? (Note: The decision is not based solely on finances, I truly love both careers)
Any advice to lend regarding bringing a close friend (brother-close, known-since-I-could-write-close) as a potential business partner in the restaurant? This particular friend is not money-crazed, has a good head on his shoulders, and will have another career as well, he also loves the restaurant business as it paid for most of his under-grad education.
Does anyone have any experience with the restaurant business, and being a successful family-man?

Thank you all, new hive-friends. I see the start of a beautiful relationship.

posted by Stan Grossman to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Have you looked at the time commitment involved with the restaurant? From my experience (what I've seen working as a server), running a business is not just a full-time job, but a 24/7 job. It's hard enough to keep social relationships going with that, let alone having a second job.
posted by DoubleLune at 11:46 AM on April 12, 2012

Best answer: I have some experience with the restaurant business. Very little with the medical field.

My initial read on it is that you can do one thing well, or two things badly. Even if you can do two things well, you will spend a non-inconsiderable amount of energy and time managing the expectations of your two careers. In addition, you will be essentially turning your back on the idea of having any free time to build social relationships, develop hobbies or other interests, recuperate and de-stress, or invest in your family or your community.

I would take some time to think seriously about why you think this is a good idea. What benefits do you think you will get out of having two totally unrelated worlds demanding your time and attention? Who are you trying to make happy?
posted by gauche at 12:09 PM on April 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

I would go with the restaurant since working for yourself and owning a business is almost more profitable than working for someone else. That said (not sure how old you are) get a degree since an education would always be helpful.

(From what I have heard the medical profession is very very stressful)

Not sure about inviting others to be part of the business, avoid it if you can (too many headaches later on).
posted by pakora1 at 1:28 PM on April 12, 2012

Not exactly the same as your examples, but when I was in college I worked at a call center for an airline, then I got a teaching degree and started teaching middle school. I like the extra money and the flight benefits from the airline job, so I asked to start working fewer hours per week and tried to keep both. It lasted about 2 months. I was exhausted all the time and both jobs suffered. I gave up the part time job and concentrated on being a teacher full time.
posted by CathyG at 3:47 PM on April 13, 2012