Q & A: Will Moonlighting Hurt My Career?
Q:
I’m a little strapped for cash and have decided to take a second job.
My employer, however, requires all employees to give written
notification they are working a night job, as well as the nature of the
job. I’m worried moonlighting could hurt my chances of getting a
promotion, but if I don’t get some extra income, I’ll be going further
into debt. Do employers hold second jobs against their employees? A: Some employers look at moonlighting biblically; they reason it’s impossible to serve two masters. And
to some extent, they’re right. Countless moonlighters have shown up to
work exhausted or tardy or both. Countless others have taken time off
from work to catch up on sleep. Will it hurt your career? Do a little homework ahead of time: Talk to other moonlighters in your company and/or department. If they’ve been long-time moonlighters, have they gotten day job promotions? If not, this may be a warning sign to hold off. Can you keep it secret?
In every company requiring written notification of a second job – or
even forbid it – employees skirt the rules by not telling their
employers. Many do so to avoid the problem you’re facing – they don’t
want to mess up the possibility of being promoted. Doing this,
however, may contradict your ethics. What kind of job is it? If
you’re a mid-level manager and take a side job bussing tables, your
chance of making it to upper management will be shot if someone finds
out. If work in a call center, though, and design websites on the
side, this could actually help your career. Generally speaking, the lower the moonlighting pay, the lower your odds of a promotion at your day job. IN THE CARAVAN:
Before taking a second job, research whether others have been held
back, decide whether you can ethically handle keeping it secret, and if
not, weigh the immediate influx of cash against your long-term goals.
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