Ideas for second jobs

[Balog]

Considering bringing in some more income to fund a few home projects. What would you all recommend for part time jobs, as far as $ per time invested goes? I'm a licensed electrician so side work would be the highest pay, but Craig's List is packed with un/under employed electricians working for barter and a lot of them have far more experience than I do. Not looking to get rich or quite my job, just something on the side more profitable than flipping burgers.

[MrsSmith]

Thought you were a computer geek? Put yourself out there to solve hardware/software/network issues.

[Balog]

Me? Not really. I know a little, but not enough to be comfortable charging for it.

[Doggy Daddy]

Got some cardboard and a crayon?  Live near a freeway exit?   

DD

[Jamisjockey]

What other skills do you have?

[Nick1911]

I do it with residential HVAC stuff.

Hard industry to make money in, though.

[Balog]

Electrician's license, class A cdl with doublle/triple tanker and passenger endorsements, competent general handyman, good experience with security, and I have ran a cash register before. Not a great salesman.

[TechMan]

 How about this job?

[seeker_two]

Hire yourself out as a part-time driver for trucking or bus companies....


....and you can also hire out as a handyman for single women who enjoy firearms and alligator dinners.....be sure to bring your own Zardoz DVD....  

[MrsSmith]

Adively beat me to it, but I was going to suggest http://conciergedumonde.com/ instead. Assuming you're straight of course.

If that doesn't work for you, the help wanted listings here have more "drivers wanted" than any other field. Of course, we have a port here so lots of freight traffic. Are you close to any sort of shipping hub? What about UPS or FedEx in your area? Also check local couriers and taxi companies. Driving a taxi would at least be somewhat entertaining at times I would think.

As much as it pains me to agree with seeker, you probably could hire yourself out to single women as a handyman. Really, not a play on my suggestion above. See what it would take to get a small ad in a local women's mag, emphasize safe and dependable, references, etc. We get sick of relying on our male friends to help us all the time. If you want some help putting such an ad together or figuring out other marketing tips, I'll be happy to help you - I am your target market segment after all!

[AZRedhawk44]

How about this job?

[Balog]

Only problem I can see with getting a driving gig is timing. I work 8-5, so I need something I can do in the evenings. I'm also on-call every few weeks sop it needs to be something that has a flexible schedule to allow for that.

My only concern about the handyman idea is that the market locally seems saturated. So many highly qualified folks out of work offering up their services on Craig's List etc that it's a tough market to compete in. I'll think about it though, might be a good line to pursue.

[41magsnub]

My Mom's next door neighbor works nights to early mornings delivering papers to the  neighboring towns.  The hours are brutal though.

[seeker_two]

As much as it pains me to agree with seeker....

Don't worry....you'll get used to it...... 

Only problem I can see with getting a driving gig is timing. I work 8-5, so I need something I can do in the evenings. I'm also on-call every few weeks sop it needs to be something that has a flexible schedule to allow for that.

Would your license work for a limo/private car service? Most events that need that would usually be in the evenings, and there's a lot of flexibility in that schedule....not to mention the capacity to earn tips....

[Jamisjockey]

Only problem I can see with getting a driving gig is timing. I work 8-5, so I need something I can do in the evenings. I'm also on-call every few weeks sop it needs to be something that has a flexible schedule to allow for that.

My only concern about the handyman idea is that the market locally seems saturated. So many highly qualified folks out of work offering up their services on Craig's List etc that it's a tough market to compete in. I'll think about it though, might be a good line to pursue.

Check with delivery companies that restock shelves at grocery stores, etc at night. 
Handyman stuff by word of mouth. 

[Ned Hamford]

I'm a fan of the night security gig.  Pay isn't great, but its not a hard job.  Walking in a circle.  Showing up sober.  It also segs nicely into doorman, a job that tends to pay almost double. 

I did it while doing my bar prep.  Its nice to have a job that you don't take home with you, don't think about during your offtime, and while healthy, is by no ways physically straining. 

[Hawkmoon]

Electrician's license, class A cdl with doublle/triple tanker and passenger endorsements, competent general handyman, good experience with security, and I have ran a cash register before. Not a great salesman.

I would start reading up on home security (not just the physical systems, but strategies), and start marketing yourself as a home security consultant. The economy is going downhill fast. I read news stories every day about people breaking into homes, businesses and even churches to steal the wiring and piping so they can sell it to scrap dealers. Things are going to get worse before they get better (if they EVER get better). People are going to have to become more security conscious, and it takes more than an ADT system that'll have an operator call a cop who MIGHT be able to respond in 30 minutes to an hour -- if he's not already responding to three other calls.

Simple stuff: How to secure patio doors to make them harder to open from outside (most are VERY easy to defeat). Adding Lexan to the inside of ground floor windows, and especially glazed doors. Adding window film (which can not only make the glass harder to break, it can also add some thermal/solar benefit). Installing an inexpensive closed circuit camera & monitor so you can see who is at the door without them seeing you or even knowing that you're looking.

And then you could go beyond that and get certified by the NRA to teach "Personal Protection in the Home." But that requires some coordination. I'm studying for that cert right now. Much of the class is actual live fire and requires a range where shooters can shoot and move -- not just stand behind benches. You would need to work out a deal with a local range to provide the venue for the class.

[geofan]

Depending on your years experience and building experience , home inspection, building inspection, and there are some opp. in the energy audit area . would likely require some additional training and or licensing but may be the simpliest transition from where you are to a supplemental career

[Jim147]

While I don't know what the money would be like or your thoughts on retail sales but an evening job in a Home Improvement box stores electrical department might be the easiest to get without having to worry about extra liability and other real business costs.

jim

[Scout26]

What Ned said.

Or with the CDL find a company that will offer a flexible schedule (or a set one) your in Seattle, IIRC, go to the port there and find some trucking companies, if they are union they might bring you on as a "casual".  They call and offer, you can say no, and no hard feelings, however if you don't work X amount in Y time, they might be able to drop you.  When I worked for Airborne Express (now DHelL), we had Firefigthers that worked for us as casuals (their 'day' job was 24 on, 48 off, so they all had a side gig on at least one of their days off).

Also call trucking companies, again, they like having drivers that they can call on short notice to cover a load or a line haul.  When I worked for Central States, we had a few guys that could do that for us both day deliveries and Pick-ups along with night Linehauls and Drop and Hooks.  We did a lot of containers from the railyards.  We knew what days and hours they were available, it was nice having a guy you could call to bail you out when the world was crumbling around you.

Forget becoming a male dancer/stripper.  They are all homosexuals. 


Something a little more tasteful perhaps.

[MrsSmith]

No way am I clicking on Scout's link. And Scout, I said male escort, not stripper.

I agree with Hawkmoon. You already have far more knowledge on home security than the average person and with the way things are going, I could easily see that being a high demand endeavor. Easy enough to do evenings and weekends since most of your customers will likely work during the day too. Very little start-up overhead, you can "practice" on friends to build up references, and use your contacts at local gun stores to recommend you to their customers. People buying first guns are typically starting to think more seriously about home security. This also allows you complete flexibility with your schedule and you'd probably have fun doing it. You'd also be providing a valuable service that could save someone's life one day - very honorable.

Also, retail and counter type jobs aren't going to pay more than minimum wage and I can't see giving up your free/family time for that small amount of extra income.

[Balog]

Extremely interesting ideas, thanks everyone.

[AJ Dual]

No way am I clicking on Scout's link. And Scout, I said male escort, not stripper.

Yeah Scout... there's a difference.


Mrs. Smith's idea is a good one. Something you control yourself where it's only you > customer, and it's the only way to guarantee that you can say "Hey, I've got to work late on Thursday, is it okay if I come over on Saturday instead?"

Mrs. Dual does kids, infant, and family photography part time, and she can schedule everything around my job, and the kids being at school.

The idea to do combined security consulting could be a very good one. There are good COTS security systems and cameras/DVR's that can be monitored by the homeowner themselves over their iPhone or Android etc. Someone capable of upgrading their own PC, and installing a light switch or fixture can do a pretty good system.

You can point out the fallacies of a monitored service and their limitations. People are very leery of the long term commitment to a monitoring service to get a security system. A higher up-front fee that's one time for a setup they can monitor and decide if they want to call the police (and avoid false call fines) would be really attractive to lots of people. And you can draw on us for help and advice until you get your feet under you.

[MrsSmith]

AJ, make that go away. NOW!

It was actually Hawkmoon's idea.

I like the strategy part he mentioned too, taking it beyond just a system.
-  Helping families develop a plan for how to handle a potential home invasion (how kids should conduct themselves, code words, etc.)
-  Identifying and securing high risk areas (like those patio doors)
-  Installing good locks on doors and windows (mine would make a criminal laugh)
-  Where to hide valuables
-  Even basic principles like backing into the driveway for faster exit when necessary
Doing all of this in a way that doesn't scare them but makes them feel safer and more confident.

And AJ's right. You do have a lot of resources here on APS. If you were to sit down and start writing up your plan, you could conceivably be ready to hit the ground running in a couple weeks - which is no more or less time than it would take you to find job openings, interview, and get hired.

[AJ Dual]

AJ, make that go away. NOW!

Improve your tone, or I post a bigger version. 

Although honestly, if it's okay for broadcast television (SNL) I figure it's okay on here too.