Help desk as 2nd job?

[2Xtreme21]

Right now I'm gainfully employed as a full-time IT analyst with a large company whose IT headquarters are located in Pittsburgh. I'm considering buying my first house soon, so money's going to be tight, and I'm sort of looking for a part-time gig somewhere that pays pretty well. Anyone ever try working on their own company's help desk for extra cash? Ours is contracted out, so I'd have to join a contracting company, but I figure if there were no huge conflicting interests, I'd be a shoe-in (since I worked on developing a lot of the systems they support).

Yes, help desk sucks. I spent a year doing it, and I wouldn't do it full-time ever again, but I figure stay at work for an extra 4 hours a day and bank some "overtime." Thoughts?

 

[Pantlegz]

An extra $40-60 a day would be 2-3k extra a year. I guess it depends on how much you make now, If I were making 60k, I don't know how much the few htousand would really help. If I were making ~30k it could be a ~10% increase, would would be a nice 'raise'

 

[melchoir]

An extra $40-60 a day would be 2-3k extra a year. I guess it depends on how much you make now, If I were making 60k, I don't know how much the few htousand would really help. If I were making ~30k it could be a ~10% increase, would would be a nice 'raise'

Where did you go to school that $40-60/day = $2-3k extra per year?

$40-60 extra per day is significant to someone making $60k for sure.

That's $200-300/wk if he works every day. ($200x52 or $300x52) >>>>>>>>> $2-3k/yr.

You're looking at a $10-15k increase at that rate.

But, it is a lot of hours.

 

[rasczak]

during a 2 year stretch i did HD as a second full time job. problem was i was never home to enjoy the money i made with my wife and kid. it will definitely help with your short term financial goal though. just be prepared for the toll it takes on you physically and mentally as it is quite exhausting.

 

[Pantlegz]

sorry, too early... I did my math on 40-60/wk. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

no. If you lose your main job you still can't pay for your home. Don't buy.

 

[2Xtreme21]

no. If you lose your main job you still can't pay for your home. Don't buy.

See, that's a viable risk for most people at any time. I would be working for extra money. I can afford the house already with the money I make in my full-time job-- it's just I'd want to get extra "play" money, so to speak.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

See, that's a viable risk for most people at any time. I would be working for extra money. I can afford the house already with the money I make in my full-time job-- it's just I'd want to get extra "play" money, so to speak.

I can think of many better ways to earn "fun" money than help desk.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I can think of many better ways to earn "fun" money than help desk.

I'm open to ideas. Street corner doesn't pay nearly enough for me, so keep that in mind.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm open to ideas. Street corner doesn't pay nearly enough for me, so keep that in mind.

Heres the thing....I've always had 2-3 jobs. The extra jobs only worked for me because in some way they were fun. Help desk is not fun. Since it is an optional job for you, your motivation to continue it will approach 0 rapidly. I can't tell you what you would find fun though. For me its kicking drunk idiots out of the club and hitting on girls in between.

 

[Hacp]

Where did you go to school that $40-60/day = $2-3k extra per year?

$40-60 extra per day is significant to someone making $60k for sure.

That's $200-300/wk if he works every day. ($200x52 or $300x52) >>>>>>>>> $2-3k/yr.

You're looking at a $10-15k increase at that rate.

But, it is a lot of hours.

TO be fair, if you factor in 4 weeks of vacation for christmas/holiday/summer, after the government takes its cut and you waste a big portion on depression medication, you'll be left with only 2k.

 

[Elbryn]

if you're not yet in position to buy the house yet and be comfortable, it might be too early to get the house. it'd be better to work the second job first, build up the money, then have the option to buy the house than get the house and be forced into working a second job. that's a prime method for burnout. if you build up a bigger downpayment, you'll be able to better fit the regular payment into your existing salary.

 

[SunSamurai]

An extra $40-60 a day would be 2-3k extra a year.

A week sure.

 

[FoBoT]

man whore >>> help desk

 

[TwiceOver]

Depends how much your free time is worth. Family? Hobbies?

Currently my free time is nearly worthless so I do an extra 4-6hrs each night at a second job.

 

[KaChow]

You should do it for the extra money if you have nothing else you'd rather be doing anyhow.

I recently got hired by a subcontractor to work on the same project that I left last year for a higher paying job. Normally I would cherish my free time too much but they hired me on at 1099 rates (since I don't need benefits) and I should be able to clear about $1300 every two weeks working part time.

 

[Pepsei]

helpdesk is not good for your sanity.