Less Free Time

First, you’ll obviously be giving up most, if not all, of your free time, usually your nights and weekends.  Is there anything you’ll have to sacrifice by getting a second job?  Will you have to give up your usual Thursday night after-work social time?  Will you have to stop working out?  Will you have less time with your children?  And for that matter, will you have to find childcare?  That could negate any extra money you’re bringing in.  No matter what you’ll have to put on hold, the most important question is, are you willing to do so?

Exhaustion

How tired are you after getting home from your full-time job?  Consider that you may not have the energy to make it through at another place, especially if your full-time job allows you to sit down but your part-time one would have you standing or in constant motion.  Even if you’re still energetic when you get home, if you begin working significantly longer hours, you may begin to wear yourself out.  This can come at the expense of both your physical and mental health, and cause your performance at both jobs to suffer.

Higher Tax Bracket

Income from a second job may toss you into a higher tax bracket.  Just like the babysitter, this could negate the extra money you’re making—someone else is taking it all from you!  This is definitely an important point to look into before taking on the second job.  You don’t want to be working for nothing.

Conflict of Interest

You’ll also have to make sure you don’t run into a “conflict of interest” with your full-time employer.  This can exist in two ways.  Not only might your hours conflict or run too closely together, but you may have to avoid working in the same field somewhere else if it’s part of your employer’s policy.  If the conflict is in scheduling, you may put either job in jeopardy by consistently arriving late or having to leave early.  Avoiding the same field may be easy, unless perhaps that’s the field where your strengths lie and you know you may have a hard time finding a job in a different one.

Of course, if the advantages outweigh any of these, then start applying.  You’ll get extra cash, possible employee discounts, and maybe even learn some new skills.  But if any of the above disadvantages struck a chord with you, you may want to reconsider—a second job might not be a good decision.

• First item of business: don’t panic.  Clear your thoughts and try not to focus on any anger you may have; let it out and then let it go.  It’s time to direct your attention to the months ahead.

• File immediately for unemployment benefits.  This process can take a long time, so the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.  Of course, your pay will not be anywhere near what you were making at your job, but it’s better than zero income at all when you’re simply trying to survive.
• Start looking for a new job right away.  The job market is tight.  Even if you’re a good fit, you may not get a job you’ve applied for because there are so many others in the same position as you.  One factory near my area has 3000 applicants for one open position.  You have to fight harder than ever to get hired right now, so your search may take longer than you might anticipate.
• If you’ve already lost your job, hopefully you have a savings account of some type to fall back on.  Go ahead and use that to determine how long you can survive before things get to a desperate stage—this will affect your job search time, and may help you stay motivated.  If you’re facing job loss and you don’t have a savings, start one right now.  Even a few dollars a week put away can add up and come in handy when you need extra cash.  Money is probably tight for you, but follow the rule “pay yourself first.”  You’ll see that you do have the ability to save up.
• Try to avoid using your credit card unless absolutely necessary.  You could put yourself in a worse position if you start incurring more debt that you cannot immediately pay back.  Your new motto is “Only use the credit card for emergencies.”
• Create a budget and stick to it.  Take a look at your savings and any unemployment (or even severance) benefits you may be getting and compare it to your bills and expenses.  Cut out anything unnecessary.  For example, if you can get by without satellite tv, do so.  You’re going to be spending a lot of time job-hunting anyway; you don’t have time for tv.
• Sell any junk around your home that you don’t need or want.  This will be a temporary fix for some quick cash, but it can help, especially if you have some items that will sell for a decent price either on ebay or at a garage sale.
• Consider picking up a part-time job in the meantime.  Be aware that this option may affect what you can receive in the way of unemployment benefits, but the decision is yours, and it’s particular to your personal situation.  You may even find a part-time job that offers benefits and keeps you going until you find full-time employment.
• Brush up your networking skills.  Keep in touch with your professional contacts if you can.  You may end up hearing about a job opening that isn’t publicized or gain an important and beneficial reference.
• Stay active!  A long job search can become discouraging, especially during a period of unemployment.  Keep in touch with family and friends, exercise on a regular basis, and keep up with your hobbies.  If you’re able, pick up a new book or take a class that can help you hone some existing skills and maybe even learn new ones that can make you more marketable.  Letting yourself become idle is one of the worst things you can do right now.

Your situation is going to be different from someone else’s, but remember that you’re not the only one having to survive without a job.  The recession has hit many businesses and forced them to cut back and lay off employees, even entire departments.  Use every bit of help you can find and every resource at your disposal to ensure you can get by until you find a new job.

Things To Do At Work

• Arrive on time.  In fact, arrive a little earlier if you can.  If you allow yourself the opportunity to either have a few quiet moments to yourself or even get going on a pending project before others show up to interrupt you, your day can be a little easier.
• Add personality to your workspace.  Bring a few pictures that make you smile, set up a plant or two, or post a few witty sayings by your computer.  Making your space reflect you can make it more comfortable and inviting to work in.
• Avoid negative people.  You probably work with someone who does nothing but complain.  There’s one in every crowd, and you’ve probably played into their whining and even joined in.  Try not to match their emotion.  A positive attitude can go a long way.
• Smile and be happy!  There’s always going to be something to worry or complain about.  If it’s not one thing, it’s another.  But if you smile, crack jokes, and laugh, your mood will be lifted, making it easier to push through the difficult projects.  Even a brief fake smile or laugh can usually trigger a real one, releasing endorphins and happy hormones into your body.  Hang onto them!
• If something has become upsetting, don’t let yourself explode immediately.  Try to stay calm.  Breathe deeply—if you try to breathe through your nose only, it can force you to take slower breaths.  Take a brief break if necessary.  Get up and walk around, head outside, and just get away for a moment.  You’ll give yourself time to clear your thoughts, and you might even return with a plan and feel less overwhelmed.
• Work on your time management skills.  Try to plan your day, and take projects one step at a time.  It’s easier to stay focused if you hone in on only one thing and block out the rest until you get there.
• Say no.  If you’re truly swamped, it’s okay to refuse to help on someone else’s project.  Just do it nicely: “I’d love to help, but I just have too much on my plate right now.”  Practice saying no if you have to, especially if you know you’re always saying yes and then regretting it.

Things To Do At Home

• Get enough sleep.  This one is always tough, especially when you have a busy schedule.  But if you can make some adjustments so that you can get enough sleep, you’ll have the energy you’re supposed to have in the morning.
• Eat right.  You can (and should) even make this a task at work, too.  Greasy and processed foods do not provide the right kind of calories and energy for your body.  In fact, try being strict about eating well for just one week.  You’ll notice quite a difference if you try to eat a sugary snack or greasy burger in the following weeks.  You won’t feel as good as if you had chosen something like a piece of fruit or a homemade sandwich on whole grain bread.  Instead, you’ll feel your food sitting like a rock in your stomach, and you’ll feel sluggish.
• Work out on a regular basis.  Even just twenty minutes of exercise a few times a week can increase your energy levels.  It may sound backwards, since you’re expending energy while working out, but you will notice a boost in your energy as your endurance level increases.  If you can increase the amount of time you can work out, even better.  Find a program that you enjoy and can easily stick to, whether it’s a simple morning walk or an intense cardio dance exercise video.
• Avoid alcohol and nicotine.  It’s common to view these as relaxation tools, but they’re really doing damage to your body and your health, and it’s having an impact on your energy and stress levels at work.  Having a drink as a regular way to unwind after work can lead to dependency and abuse (not to mention, it’s ruining that healthy diet you just adopted).  And while many people look to smoking to calm their nerves, nicotine is actually a stimulant, working to increase your anxiety level.

While all of these steps can help you, don’t create more stress on yourself by feeling like you have to attempt all of them at once.  If you think you can easily work through them all, go for it, but don’t be afraid to take them one step at a time if necessary.  Happy relaxing!

• You don’t have to network face-to-face.  The internet is a very common way to find colleagues and helpful contacts.  You can join a website devoted solely to professional networking, such as LinkedIn, find designated chat rooms, or even use your social networking profile (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.) as a way to find the right people.
• If you do choose the online world as your forum, remember to stay tactful.  Especially if you’re using a social networking platform as your main method, keep it as professional as possible.  Don’t post status updates or photos about your wild weekend.  Definitely be yourself, but don’t include every last vulgar or simply unnecessary detail.  Employers have been known to check candidates’ personal sites even if that’s not how the contact was made.  Post pictures of the one night in three years that you got a little rowdy and the employer may believe that’s how you act all of the time and choose not to hire you.
• Visit trade shows, attend any meet-and-greet opportunities offered to you, and generally keep your eyes open in your daily life.  Don’t be afraid to talk to people.  Small talk is not taboo as a way to get a conversation going.  You may start talking to someone at the grocery store about a similar interest or hobby and find out later that they can help you in your career field or direct you to someone they know.  Carry business cards or any other convenient item that can help your new contact find you again later.
• Stay positive and have some enthusiasm.  Networking won’t create the ideal job opportunity overnight.  It takes time and lots of talking.  Don’t let yourself get discouraged, and especially don’t quit just because you haven’t found the right contact by any deadline you may have set for yourself.  You’ll be networking when you don’t realize it even after you’ve landed your dram job.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your networking contacts for help, and be sure to offer help in return.  They consider you a professional contact as well, so the expectations go both ways.  Speak up when you need some guidance (that’s what you’re making contacts for), and make sure you’re available for others at the same time.

Many jobs are offered more through word-of-mouth than through online postings.  Employers can find more candidates by way of referral and eliminate the need to sift through potentially hundreds of unqualified applicants to find the good ones.  If you don’t talk to people, you may miss out on a great opportunity as well as a great reference.  And that’s all job networking really is: talking to people.  If you’re intimidated in person, don’t forget about the internet.  View every situation as a networking opportunity, and you can’t miss.

The Right Time to Negotiate

First, do take a good look at your company’s situation. If the cutbacks they’re making involve significant salary cuts and extremely tight restrictions on company spending, you may want to hold off. Timing is important when negotiating a higher salary. If your company is still struggling despite cutbacks and you ask for a raise, you could appear selfish and insensitive not only in regards to the company but also your fellow employees. They’re all in the same boat, and unfortunately, the fact that it’s getting tougher to pay your bills isn’t a good enough reason to justify a raise for most employers.

Point Out Your Accomplishments

However, if the company seems to be hanging on just fine, and you have the right evidence to support your case, go for it. You may be handling your increased workload so well that your manager may unintentionally not notice all of your accomplishments–he or she may just be content knowing that there aren’t any gaping problems. Use that to your advantage. Approach your manager with proof of things that you’ve done that have had a positive effect on the company, no matter how big or small.

Research Salary Possibilities

Do some research on the average salary for your position, too. Your manager likely already knows, but especially once you’ve shown how valuable you are to the company, he or she may be more inclined to set your salary at or close to the average. Knowing this will also prevent you from asking for a salary that might appear unreasonable. If you did start too high (even without knowing it), depending on your manager’s disposition, you may be denied a raise entirely due to your seemingly brash request.

Your other option is to ask for a review in 3-6 months if a raise isn’t possible now. You’ll know your manager will be paying close attention to you, so you’ll have a great opportunity to show off what you can do. Remember it’s all about timing, and once you find the right time, don’t wait for your manager to offer. Go ahead and ask!