Author Topic: Side Jobs  (Read 3130 times)

bostonjim

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Side Jobs
« on: June 04, 2013, 06:37:02 AM »
First posting, but I've been lurking for weeks now. 

I am an IT consultant - a salaried employee of a VAR who gets sent out to various customers to do installs, troubleshooting, etc. for high end computer networks.  I recently came across an ad in the "gigs" section of Craigslist asking for something in my line and on a whim answered it.  I haven't gotten the details yet, but I thought I'd ask the Mustachian community: is this a good or a bad idea?  As far as I know, this is not one of my companies customers, so it's not like I'm directly taking business away from them, and the money they are offering ($1000) would not be worth my companies time.  And if I did take it (and maybe other stuff that comes along) - what is the best way to handle it?  I've done small things like PC repair before where people have just paid me some cash, but if it was going to be any appreciable amount of money I would wnat to declare it - but then you start getting into all sorts of other record keeping, etc. that might make it just too much of a hassle. 


Adventine

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Re: Side Jobs
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2013, 07:07:57 AM »
Do you have any sort of clause in your employment contract that specifically prevents you from doing the kinds of small part time jobs you described? If you don't, then I'd say you can do whatever you like.

What's great about side jobs (the whole point of them, really) is that you can scale the amount and complexity according to your wants. If you find the work becoming too much of a hassle, then you can just stop.

Bakari

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Re: Side Jobs
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2013, 10:01:12 AM »
Or, if it ends up paying better than your "real" job, you can do like me and end up having your "temporary side gig on craigslist" become your primary source of income, and make more money in less time, with more flexible hours (i.e. work when you feel like it, and not when you don't).

Just doing one gig here or there is a great way to test the waters a little in advance, slip in gradually and safely, and leave yourself the option of sticking with your traditional job if it doesn't seem like it will work out.