Holding Down a Couple of Part-Time Jobs

If you're unable to find a full-time job to replace the one you had, one way to get your financial picture back in focus is to look for a couple of part-time jobs and combine the hours to work full time (or longer).

The following sections give you a few tips for successfully managing two part-time jobs. Keep in mind that working long hours can take a toll on you and your family.

Make Each Employer Aware of the Other

If your hours aren't fixed at either job, make sure that each employer knows you have another job — and let each employer know what hours you're available to work. You'll have a better chance of making this situation work.

Establish Boundaries

Scheduling two part-time jobs can be extremely difficult unless you establish some boundaries for the hours you work on each job.

For example, Job A might be weekday mornings only — anytime from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Job B might include weekend hours, from early in the morning until late at night.

You'll still have some conflicts — like when your weekend boss has you working until midnight on Sunday and your weekday boss wants you in at 6:00 a.m. on Monday. But by establishing some boundaries for each job, you'll have less overlap.

Try to Get a Set Weekly Schedule

When you look for part-time work, give priority to jobs that give you the exact same hours each week. That way, you'll be able to work your other part-time job around the first without any overlaps.