Is there such a thing as "too many employers"?

[Deleted]

Hi All

I have been working more than I'm used to, 5 to 6 days a week, for the past two months, with lots of very long days. I was also out of town (for work) for a week and I'm not used that that. My main job slowed down in April / May (end of the school year), so I decided to pick up as much extra work as possible. I picked up FOUR extra jobs. So, I now have 5 employers. 

I feel like that's too many. But then I think about which one I'd like to "zap" next year, and it turns out to be the only one who can offer me work in July (I'm a teacher). So, now I think I'm stuck with five employers. 

Obviously, it's a first-world problem. I'm grateful for the extra work and the extra money. Still, I find having that many places / people hard to juggle, and I have totally worn myself out. I haven't taken ANY time off from work but I'm still under antibiotics for bronchitis, a sinus infection, and otitis in both ears. 

So, those of you with several jobs, how do you do it? I know that Susanna does several jobs, but all through her main teaching job. I'm hoping to hear from Giramomma or other people who juggle a bunch of different jobs. 

I've been thinking about this for a while but today was literally my first weekday off in two months (I've been working Saturdays too, for the first time since I was a teenager) so I haven't had the time to post this before.

I have definitely felt like I was totally at the end of my tether. But, you can't complain about having not enough money and too much work at the same time, so I just did it. One of my "extra" jobs ends tomorrow, but unfortunately, I found out today that another one ended this week too. So now I have plenty of time to contemplate this lol!

Today I slept late (till 9), met two friends from the US for lunch, came home, and took a nap. I finally feel human again, for the first time in two months. 

Any thoughts?

[Deleted]

Multiple jobs is a young persons game imho....

For sure! But which to zap?!

Glad you are feeling human again

Thank you Rukh! Only barely, but me too!

[Deleted]

Also, not so sure multiple jobs are really a young person's game if you're not salaried ...

The other thing I want to zap is my regular private tutoring. The mom cancelled me for the entire month of June but told me she was counting on my for Sept. I told her I'll be there, I promised I'd see your DD through HS. She gets REALLY upset, well what about my DS?! Um, he's 11, so that's a six year commitment?! She tells me, SO?! I tell her, why don't we talk about this again in a year? 

Busymom suggested raising my rates. Great advice! I LOVE the DD so I WILL do another year with her, see her through HS and her Cambridge exams, but then I'm DONE with working in the evenings (while starting at school at 8am)

I've also frankly surprised myself at my capacity to work. But, I've made myself ill. So I've decided it's better to do more all year long rather than try to work like a madwoman for two months. 

I've asked for (and gotten) more work at my main job. So hopefully I won't be in this position in a year. But, I also think it's never good to put one's eggs in just one basket. This said, five baskets is too many. In a nutshell, that is my dilemma. 

[Deleted]

The problem is that with five employers, even limiting my time with each, it's more work than I can handle. I can do 4-5 long days, but not 5-6. 

Thank you Rukh for setting it out! That is a huge help! No, I'm not looking for career aspects. My main job is excellent, well-paid (but remember I only get paid for the hours I teach) and prestigious. The rest is just for extra money.

To bed with me, because I am working early tomorrow (last Sat for a while!!!). Thanks and I will get back on again after work tomorrow. 

[Deleted]

Is there a compensation differential?

Yes! One of these five jobs is VERY badly paid! But, they offer work in July, whereas the others don't.

So I think it is probably better for me to work more at the other jobs all year round except for July / Aug. OR, to zap the private tutoring if it is only available in the evening (which is currently the case). 

Rukh you have been a HUGE help! Instead of trying to actually DO something about them now, I've decided which are my lowest priorities for if / when it comes up again next year. I will finish with that lady's DD, as promised, but then I will refuse to take on evening work. 

And hopefully I can build on the other PT jobs and not have to do that very badly-paid work next spring / summer either. 

ETA: I may even refuse to take on the evening tutoring for next school year. 

[Peace Of Mind]

To me one job is too many. 

Zap the one that you like least, or that pays least, or is too far...  Hopefully one or two has all those things.  Zap!  


ETA:  Rukh already suggested this.  She was just more wordy about it. 

[Deleted]

I know your situation is much different, but I think keeping it related to your main job is important.  You really need to focus on the employer that is most important. 

I used to work for Macy's so I definitely understand conflict, long hours, etc.

But I am so much happier once I decided (six or seven years ago) to only do stuff related to my main job.  That includes giving up standardized testing ( $17 an hour for five hours, which was decent).  Doing four hours of Saturday School paid $120 ($30 an hour) although I had to pay retirement, SS, medicare, etc.  So they are probably closer than they sound.  But in Saturday School I could get stuff DONE, even if it was hanging student work while I monitored tests. 

I also don't miss Macy's although I worried at first about quitting.  It was $12,000 a year, which was hard to give up.    That's when I found the other fillers.

What you have to figure out is how important the money is.  I love to earn all I can because one day I won't be earning any more.  So I try to save as much for retirement, etc.  But I also am older, have adult kids, a retired husband who is fully capable of being a SAHP to a cocker spaniel, and so on.  He understands that I like to earn as much as I can, but he also made me promise to limit it so that it doesn't keep me out at night, etc.  Plus, no summer school.

Maybe you need to develop limits, too.  If you don't want to do nights, don't.  Tell the kids you tutor that your hours are until six.  You will still have clients if you are as good I think you are.  My friends who tutor do.

Good luck on finding the balance.

[Deleted]

Oh my.  My DD#2 is going into teaching & I am worried she too will have numerous jobs.  I think she will go the sub circuit for the first year since she gets certificate in a month & that is a little late for FT jobs 

I was really hoping she'd be able to apply before the certificate was finalized, but it seems they don't look at those apps here.  Ah well, another year of expensive insurance for me.  If I change jobs it's really going to irritate her to change insurance again.  Seems that our policies change dramatically at least once a year!

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2013 21:13:15 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Oh my.  My DD#2 is going into teaching & I am worried she too will have numerous jobs.  I think she will go the sub circuit for the first year since she gets certificate in a month & that is a little late for FT jobs 

I was really hoping she'd be able to apply before the certificate was finalized, but it seems they don't look at those apps here.  Ah well, another year of expensive insurance for me.  If I change jobs it's really going to irritate her to change insurance again.  Seems that our policies change dramatically at least once a year!

Rock It, make certain she applies even though it is late.

Some of the best jobs are gotten right before school starts or after it does.  Teachers here have to give notice 45 days before the start of the school year in order to be released to change jobs.  Systems will release you if you move, etc., but otherwise you are under contract.

So if there is a sudden opening, those not currently under contract have a better shot.  I got my current position two weeks before the start of the school year and was still interviewing (two the day I got the call) because I had resigned my private school position and wasn't under contract.  There are sometimes openings mid-year as well.

Good luck to your daughter!  And don't worry about the numerous jobs when she is young.  It builds character. 

[Deleted]

Susanna, thanks so much for your comments (and for the compliment!) I do try!

I've realized that in past years I have made the mistake of actually TELLING the employers I want to zap that I can't work for them anymore. I did that mainly because I am the sort of person who likes things "all neatly tied up in a bow" in my head. I have finally realized that is NOT the way to go.  

I got a call about another (badly paid) job today. I hesitated for about 2 nanoseconds, and then told them I'm too busy to take on any more work. Even though things are slowing down for now, I don't need a SIXTH employer lol. 

So, I have evaluated everything in my head. Like SS says, my main job will always come first. But I've finally learnt that it's not because *I* finally prioritize things *in my head* that I have to announce the results. I do realize that may sound silly to some, but it has been a bit of an epiphany for me.

Also, I ALWAYS end on good terms, because you just never know. I announced my future unavailability to one job over two years ago when I got my main job. But I always kept in touch. She called asking me to do some hours in May. I couldn't do them, but I sent her a colleague who could. She ended up asking me to do other days when I WAS available, and put me in touch with somebody in her department who hired me for two Saturdays that paid me a higher hourly rate than I have ever earned before. And that new lady has already reserved me for two weeks next year PLUS those two Saturdays. (It's not a regular teaching job, it's prep to get into a business school like the one I teach at, during school vacations.)

Also, I will definitely try my best to stop the tutoring at 6 pm. And if I can't, I have only committed to tutoring these kids for one more year. At that point the DD I committed to will have finished HS. The mom is angry that I won't commit to seeing her son through HS too. He's 11, so there is NO WAY I am committing to six more years! In the same conversation that she zapped my tutoring them for all of June, she got angry at me for not committing to seeing her DS through HS too, since I did it for her DD. People be crazy! 

As always, thanks! I know sometimes it seems so obvious when you're outside, but not when you're in the thick of it. 

[Deleted]

When it rains it pours ... today I got two more (PT) job offers for next school year. One is VERY well paid, but in Paris, either in the very late afternoon or early evening, so heavy traffic both ways. That offer actually came via Bonny's best friend (she has become a close friend of mine too.) We talked and she discouraged me from taking it. I start at 8 am the days I teach, I can't be finishing at 8 pm too, at 53, that's just too long a day for me, I can't handle it.

The other job is less well-paid, but very local, and only one afternoon a week. Nothing is definite yet but I have expressed great enthusiasm in response. The person who offered to me is pushing 80, and she sometimes takes days to respond to the emails she sends out when she's feeling energetic. I hope to be like her when I'm pushing 80 too LOL. But for now, I have to just sit patiently and wait for her response. Definitely not my strong point LOL.

But best of all, it's from one of my current employers! So if it works out, I would definitely zap at least one of my six employers off the list. (I think I said I had 5, but then I counted again, and in fact I have six.)

[chiver78]

you're a contractor, IIRC....?   in that case, "too many" is whatever you deem to be "too many"

sorry that's probably not much help. but in my field, that's the best advice I can give. if you can feasibly cut back on something else while you keep the steady work from the one you would have cut, I'd say go for it. even better if the one you cut back on will take you back when the steady work from the not-ideal employer dries up.

good luck! too much work is a good problem to have in this economy.

[Deleted]

ESL / adjunt ... I would not consider that a contractor lol.

[Deleted]

For sure Chive! I agree! But I have made myself really sick by totally overdoing it these past two months. I have come to the conclusion that it is a much better idea to work more all year round than to try to make up for lost time in May and June.

So, I'm trying to plan a reasonable schedule for next school year, with more hours. 

And I will definitely be glad to lose the job where I earn exactly what I pay my cleaner!

[chiver78]

ick....that's not good. you can't expect good things if you don't take care of yourself along the way!

I hope you're able to come up with a reasonable steady schedule. I can't imagine it'll be easy if you're at the mercy of a bunch of other people's schedules. please keep us posted!

[Deleted]

Thanks Chive! I REALLY appreciate having you guys to bounce off of!

[Deleted]

Yet ANOTHER update ... I found out today that my main job gave me another "easy" class (no marking!) without even asking me. Total no brainer, we were ALL asking her for more of those classes! But two hours later, my boss asked us who could do yet ANOTHER class (with plenty of marking!) 

I stepped up to the plate, sort of. She actually needed somebody to take two first-year classes. I don't teach first-years, I teach second-years. But, I said I would be willing to take on another second-year class. She said thank you, now I can negotiate! 

As SS said, I know your situation is much different, but I think keeping it related to your main job is important. You really need to focus on the employer that is most important.

So, I said yes. The first class is sure, the second one is probable. So I guess I "leaned in." LOL.

With all these extra hours, I'm now trying to get that list down from six employers to four ... but only in my head LOL. 

[Deleted]

Yes, keep us posted.  Although our situations are different, they are also similar. 

[Deleted]

They are indeed! I certainly don't want to scare you, SS, but I consider you my online mentor LOL. 

ETA: I am also very happy because now I can continue to keep my Wednesdays free. (Kids have all or part of Wednesdays off here.) Even though my DS3 is 15, and going into HS, I know for a fact that he will be free on Wednesday afternoons next year. Although obviously at 15 he doesn't NEED me to be home, we enjoy spending time together. So I'm happy for the opportunity to work more the other days, and keep that time free for him. (And hopefully, to schedule my 2 hours of private tutoring that day instead of Thursday evenings!)