Is it a good idea to work two jobs?

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I've never done it before, but I assume maybe some of you have. I want to live in NYC this summer to do an awesome but very badly paying internship, but to afford this I may try to do the internship full time five days a week and then work 8-12 six days a week. Is this a good plan, or a bad one?

― Maria (Maria), Monday, 11 April 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

that schedule sounds pretty punishing... on the other hand, I've done the two jobs thing, and it can be done. I would only recommend it if the following caveats were observed: 1) commit to doing it for a pre-defined, specific period of time, and no longer; and 2) only do it if there's absolutely no other way to make the money.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 11 April 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

All plans are bad plans.

On the other hand, you'll be paid badly.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

I have worked 3 jobs 1 time (one 9-5 job full time, one evening/weekend shift part time record store job, and one evening/weekend shift driving a bus job), 2 jobs one time (9-5 full time job, tended bar evenings and weekends 30 hours a week) and next week I am about to add another full time job to my current full time job (40 hours week salaried job that the hours are flexible with a 40 hours a week store job where the store hours are 1130 to 7pm). Unless you are doing manual labor it's not that bad.

Oh, i just remembered that I was interning at the Village Voice while working my salaried job for a couple of months.

― LowenBrÖ (Carey), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

also whenever i work more than one job it is always because one job is for money and the other is because I want to do it.

― LowenBrÖ (Carey), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:29 (twenty years ago)

After you get the internship maybe you can negotiate the hours down with them. Also, maybe your school offers grants to offset the cost of interning? Or school credit?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:35 (twenty years ago)

it's gonna suck, but if the internship is really important to you then you may want to do it any way. hopefully, the oeople at your internship will understand -- some of them may have even been in the same situation.

that said, try to cut your expenses as much as possible -- if you have friends or family w/ whom you can stay in NYC, etc. you go to williams, right maria? i know that there's a williams college alumni club in midtown manhattan -- williams alum may be helpful too!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

I agree that it's OK only if you do it for a set period of time. And if you can get by with just the internship (by saving now or whatever), it might be better to have more free time to enjoy the city while you're there.

― sugarpants: bea arthur's secret lover (sugarpants), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

I've done this, quite a while ago now though. I worked in a ceramics factory Mon-Fri 8-5 and as a porter in a hotel Thur-Sat 6pm - 12/1/2am and Sun 6am-2pm. It didn't seem as punishing as it looks to me now, it was a means to an end and just how it was. Of course I didn't have any life outside of work (though working in a hotel is very sociable and constantly surprising so I didn't feel I was shut out of 'life').
I think if at least one of the jobs is rewarding in some way and that the situation is temporary it's do-able (mine lasted about a year after which I thought woo-hoo, I can go out on w/ends and get pissed, which is what I did and waved g'bye to all my hard-earned money).

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:45 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for your input, all. I'm glad to hear people have found it workable and not hellish. I can get a stipend from Williams, so if I can find a roommate, I will be only $500-1000 over that for rent & food, but that's a lot of money, you know?

I just talked to my mom about it and she yelled "Eight to twelve? You're a small girl and you can't be out on the streets and subway after 8 alone! No way are you getting a second job!" Is that really something absolutely forbidden, or is it my mother just being paranoid?

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 00:17 (twenty years ago)

You're a small girl and you can't be out on the streets and subway after 8 alone

yes you can! My mom was like that when I first went to college and would go intot he city "make sure you go with a boy"

If you haven't been before, sometimes it is nice to be with someone else.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:11 (twenty years ago)

It is a better plan than defrauding old ladies of their life savings by posing as a preacher who is praying door to door for starving orphans in Africa. Or is it?

― Aimless (Aimless), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

needless to say, don't take finding a paying job in nyc as a gimmee.

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:37 (twenty years ago)

i have done this a few times in my life, and i think it is a good idea, but probably only for a temporary period with a specific purpose in mind. i worked two jobs for the last 18 months (till march) to save up to come back to uni full time. it was hard on my social life but still doable and totally worked, i have two years worth of rent saved up. i still have two jobs but they're both part time now.

i think one cool thing about them was that one was all policy work where i had to use my brain a lot, and the other was working in a women's clothing shop which felt like a holiday where i just got to have chats with people and make them feel good about themselves.

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

I've worked two jobs before, but they've always been varied. First time, one was a 42.5hr week in a shop working 5days out of 7. The other was working in a bar 2/3 nights a week. Then I did the same with an office job at 40hrs a week and 2/3 nights in a bar. The bar didn't really feel like 'real' work cos they're very social places to work.

― Craig Gilchrist (Craig Gilchrist), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

Is your mom willing to pay the difference so that you, a small girl, will not have to roam the mean streets of Manhattan at night? If so, take the money! What is the internship and what is the job, btw?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 16:16 (twenty years ago)

(Also: it just occurred to me that NYU dorms used to offer summer housing to young'uns at a fairly affordable rate. Not the most salubrious living conditions, but it might be something to look into.)

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

I used to work two jobs, 35 hours per job. Because I wasn't full time at either job, I had no vacation, no benefits, no sick days, nothing. I worked six days a week, 12 hours a day, and I was tired all the time. It wasn't fun.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Mary, she is willing, but I feel bad about that because my parents already pay a lot for college and I don't want to cost them extra money in the summer, when I'm supposed to be earning it. They are a lot less worried about money than I am. If I can find a cheap enough room, though, maybe I can cover it all between savings and the stipend.

The internship would be at South Street Seaport Museum, if all goes as planned, and it would be my Ideal Summer Job. (I'd get a stipend from my school for interning at a nonprofit that may or may not be enough to cover rent, but the museum wouldn't pay me.) The job would be ushering at Shakespeare in the Park. Of course it's not a given that I could get the job, but I've got a friend who's worked there for four years who's offered to recommend me should I apply.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

it sounds like it'll probably be a fairly 'social' job, which helps. if you work more than one job, you lose spare time and can't go out nearly as much, so i think it makes it a lot more bearable to have one that is 'fun' as well.

i've worked up to 3/4 jobs at a time: working as a substitute teacher in the days and at a restaurant at night (the social job), plus working in a department store on weekends and also some grading of the MEAPs (standardized tests). you get into a routine and it isn't terrible, but i was glad when i left my college town with no credit card debt.

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 09:25 (twenty years ago)

Maria, ooh South Port Seaport sounds totally fun. Ushering at S in the P also sounds really fun. Maybe you could work out a compromise and do the ushering, but 3 nights or so a week, instead of 6? And also, maybe you could talk to the seaport, and lessen your hours there to coincide with your working hours. As its an internship, they should be receptive, except if it needs to be full-time to get the stipend from your school.

Depending where you live, returning home on the subway at midnight should be fine. Actually, it should be fine no matter where you live, but since it's your first time in the city, you might want to wait until you are comfortable. Also, depending on where you live, buses are also an option, and also cabs.

One thing to keep in mind, NYC might be a lot more expensive than you anticipate. Housing is extortionary and everything is expensive. Unless you have more self-control than I do, which you probably do. Not to scare you, but I would swing on the upside for your estimates of how much it will cost for a summer.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

This site has many links for finding summer housing in NYC. You should check out all the schools but I would not expect to find much. A quick search suggests that the application deadline for NYU (which has a hospital just up the street from the Seaport) has passed while housing at Pace U. (also just up the street) housing is for students only. This doesn't mean you shouldn't inquire at both places.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Also, summer housing tends to end early in August to allow prep of the dorms before students move back in.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Eight to twelve? You're a small girl and you can't be out on the streets and subway after 8 alone! No way are you getting a second job!" Is that really something absolutely forbidden, or is it my mother just being paranoid?

Well, neither, really. "after 8" is ridiculous, but around midnight, depending on your location, she might have more of a point. It's certainly not forbidden. You will probably have many people around you at least much of the time. But there will be other times when there will be fewer people. Especially if the city is unfamiliar to you, you will have to be careful. The answer may depend on where exactly you will be when.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Have you visited the Seaport Museum before?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

If you do the SitP thing, I would definitely look into housing at the 92nd St Y, as it is located nearby.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

Williams lists some places too

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

I've stayed at International House http://www.ihouse-nyc.org/ which might be the cheapest, It's a bit far up, but convenient to subways. NYU in the Summer, which was really cheap when I did it, even cheaper considering they sent me back my entire check due to a mix-up on their part:), -- would be convenient to both of your jobs (if you are interested still check even though it's past deadline), I think I enrolled ridiculously late, and Columbia dorms during the year. All will be a bit industrial and lack a warm, homey quality, and will be a bit transient, as people move in and out depending on their summer schedules. However, it is a lot easier, practicality-wise, then finding a sublet for your time period. If you do look for a sublet or room share though, Craigslist is you best bet, though it will be hard to do while you are not in town. Maybe a classmate of yours has housing in the city and you could shack up there? The somewhat hard thing is that the seaport and Central park are on two opposite ends of the city from eachother, difficult whether to decide to choose one to be close to or to be in the middle. Housing up by the park might tend to be a bit more affordable. Also, Brooklyn is convenient to the seaport and would be less expensice, though depending on where, could be a bit dicey coming home late. I mean, I never think twice now about riding the subway anywhere at 4 in the morning, but my first couple of years in the city I was more cautious. The subways really aren't dangerous, it's just that there could be the unexpected, isolated incident.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

to go between jobs, you'll be taking the subway up and down the East Side, so you probably want to live somewhere on the East Side as well.

three lines run up and down the East Side - the 6 (local) and 4 and 5 (interchangeable in Manhattan; express). the closest stop to the Delacorte is the 6 train stop at 77th St and Lexington. the closest stop to the Seaport is the 4/5 stop at Fulton St. the 6 train doesn't go South of the next stop North - Brooklyn Bridge. you can either get on the 4/5 at Fulton and switch (very easily) to the 6 at Brooklyn Bridge, 14th or 42nd (or climb three flights of stairs at 59th), or start out by walking the extra few blocks to Brooklyn Bridge to get on the 6 from the beginning. either way, you'll have a bit of walking on both ends, but nothing major. the trip time can vary with the hour (it can even vary within an hour), but i would anticipate about 40 minutes from place to place.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

ooh there are always hot european tourists at the south street seaport. and they have a food court there that has that bourbon chicken, which i love.

but if you intern 5 days a week, then work 8-12 6 days a week, that doesnt leave much time for fun....

― phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

Or anything, really. I would do it if both jobs are going to interesting and/or fun. And they sound like they might well be. But you should have no illusions before showing up.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

it's good when you don't have a social life. two jobs always sounds like a great idea but it can be depressing if you want to go out and have fun (or have great TV to watch in the evenings)

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Or you could always see if any Ilxor has a spare room for the summer. You could prob sleep on Gabbneb's couch; he's never home.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 14 April 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for all the links, it's really nice of you to look stuff up for me. I'm pretty positive dorm housing isn't going to work out, though, as it's either not available or quite expensive (and i'm not 21 for the i-house).

More advice: can anyone give me an idea of how long the ride is on the subway from the Halsey St. stop to whatever stop on Fulton is nearest to the seaport? I know someone who needs to sublet, and the rent with utilities might be at least three hundred dollars cheaper than all the other options I've found (aside from rooming with total strangers found on craigslist). I'm just curious as to how long the commute would take.

― Maria (Maria), Thursday, 14 April 2005 04:30 (twenty years ago)

Oh wow, I had to look that one up. It appears to be a bit far out on L--I've never gone out that far on the L--maybe someone else has? Seems you'd have to take that to 14th St/ Union Sq then get the 6 down to Fulton. I think it would take roughly about an hour, maybe a bit less? It's prob a lot cheaper bc it's pretty far out. The first couple of stops on the L (Williamsburg) is where you'll find all of your young post-collegiate types clogging up the train. It might be a bit lonely out there by yourself, do any of your friends want to crash with you? Another thing about the L--sometimes on the weekends it decides not to run.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 14 April 2005 04:41 (twenty years ago)

Yikes. The good things about this would be that it's relatively affordable, and that it's with an awesome person who graduated (whom I'm not close to, but still). I could also possibly room with a girl I don't know very well near Christopher street, but that's paying another $300 for proximity. (Unfortunately, this is all dependent on the possibility that they'll both still be looking for people by the time I hear about my other non-NY internship application.)

― Maria (Maria), Thursday, 14 April 2005 04:51 (twenty years ago)

If it's only Christopher St vs Halsey St. with a difference of $300, choose Christopher St. On a good day you can probably do the Halsey commute in an hour, but it will probably take a little longer than that normally, and at night time add on about 15 minutes to your commute time. That said, I find Christopher St. at night to be too Mardi Gras like.

Living with strangers on craigslist is not bad at all.

― LowenBrÖ (Carey), Thursday, 14 April 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

I've just started doing 2 jobs as of this week, I'll let you know how I get on.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 14 April 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

The thing about that area Canarsie? is that it will be more of a family type area, meaning it won't have traditional young-people clusters like coffee shops, etc. However, it will be a more "authentic" NY neighborhood. I don't think it will be bad to live there at all--especially as there is someone your age you would be sharing with, but you won't have the amenities--cool restaurants, bars, shops, etc. that people in Manhattan and closer in will have. It's not that big of a deal as you will be commuting in to Manhattan every day, so can do things there, and also you can ride the L train to W'burg and commune with like-minded sorts. It will be a bit more of a stretch to get to Central Park from there. Not that big of a deal, also change at Union Sq for 4/5/6 uptown.

Christopher St. is convenient to the Fulton stop--and to Central Park--but more importantly the thing about living there is that when you wake up on the weekends you are in the city, you just have to walk out your door to get coffee, meet friends for brunch, go shopping, etc. I would actually leave it to the person who you feel most comfortable living with--it's not worth it to live with a psycho just so you can be downtown. Christopher St is actually kind of a cheesy, touristy part of Manhattan, but you just have to walk north or south a few blocks to find the fun stuff.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 14 April 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

Halsey Street is not Canarsie by a long shot. It's Bushwick -- or as they might be trying to call it "East Williamsburg." That said, definitely go for Christopher St because the location can't be beat. It's pretty central to both of the places you need to go.

― Candicissima (candicissima), Thursday, 14 April 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

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