Getting Paid for Two Jobs at Once

Have you ever thought about cloning yourself so you can work two jobs during the same hours? Or eliminating the need to sleep so you can work three full-time jobs? Or maybe expanding your definition of "day" beyond the accepted 24-hour period so you can work more?

Well, there's some good news and bad news for you.

The bad news? There's a ban against cloning, sleep is not an option and sleeping once every 48 hours will make your really, really surly.

The good news? You can actually work two jobs during the same hours without cloning yourself. It won't be full-time work, mind you, but it will be paid work.

There are a couple rules to keep in mind to this "simul-work" method: 1) it would be unethical to have your primary employer pay you for time devoted to your side venture; 2) it would be unethical to utilize your employer's resources to work your second job; and 3) when in doubt, refer to the first two rules.

Over the course of a standard eight-hour work day, however, there are snippets of time that you can use for your own purposes. If, for instance, you come to work a half hour early, have a half hour lunch and two fifteen minute breaks every day, then you have an hour and a half hours to do with as you please.

What can you do in these snippets of time?

Write. Whether you write greeting cards, fiction or non-fiction, you can scribble out a great deal of text in an hour and a half, then type it up and submit it when you get home. The bulk of your work is done during regular work hours without violating ethical standards.

Sell. It's easy to sell stuff while you're at work if your employer allows it. If you deal in Amway, Avon, Princess House or some other direct marketing program, your co-workers can serve as an excellent customer base. And, while normally used for charities, you may also consider selling candy for twice your wholesale purchase price. Buy the product at a wholesale club, divide by the number of pieces, then multiply by two for your selling price.

Telemarketing. If you have a cell phone and can get to an unused office (or into your car) during your daily unpaid time, you can do some telemarketing for another employer. Query your favorite search engine for telecommuting jobs and you're sure to find a fair number at-home telemarketing jobs. The bonus, here, is that cell phones allow you the flexibility to do it anywhere and anytime you want - even in snippets of time like during your daily unpaid time. You may also be able to do it during your commute to and from work.

As long as you follow ethical guidelines, you too can work another job during your normal work hours.