I've spent 20 years of my career in areas like system architecture, networking, and software development. Even the most complex technical problems I encountered during this period sometimes weren't as challenging as human relations and ethical dilemmas. Especially in recent years, the trend of working multiple full-time jobs simultaneously, also known as "Overemployment," has become a frequent topic of discussion in the tech world. In my opinion, this situation is much more than a simple matter of cleverness or opportunism. So, is this truly a "smart" career move, or behavior that violates professional ethics?
Every time I think about this topic, I recall a small mistake I made as a young engineer. While working on a client project, I was making some optimizations for the backend of my own side product. From my perspective, it seemed like "making use of my free time," but at that moment, I was dedicating time that the company was paying me for to something else. This situation made me question that fine line I had unknowingly crossed.
Wearing Two Hats: My Experiences and Observations
Over the years, I've worked in various organizations and met many different people. Some were able to take part in multiple projects simultaneously to earn extra income or experience different technologies. I even once learned that a friend, while working at a large Turkish e-commerce site, was also consulting remotely for another company. This situation raised questions for both me and the rest of the team.
Such situations have become even more invisible, especially with the widespread adoption of remote work culture. On one hand, people's desire to leverage their skills in different places is natural. On the other hand, there's an expectation of full-time dedication in exchange for the salary a company pays you. Especially in roles like system architecture, which require immediate crisis intervention and deep focus, divided attention can lead to serious problems.
The Ethical Line: A Professional's Responsibilities
An employee's contract typically includes full-time dedication to a specific company and the assignment of intellectual property. This is not just a legal requirement but also a professional commitment. Using a company's resources, time, or even internally acquired information for another job is a direct ethical violation.
⚠️ Intellectual Property and Loyalty
Remember, employment contracts often contain clauses protecting the company's intellectual property and employee loyalty. Working for two different employers simultaneously carries the risk of violating these clauses and can cause serious long-term damage to your career.
During a period when I was working on a production ERP, we were developing AI-powered production planning modules. In such projects, you work on algorithms and data that form the company's competitive advantage. Consulting for another company in a similar field at the same time creates a direct conflict of interest. This situation is an injustice not only to your employer but also to your team and the success of your project. In my experience, such behavior is not sustainable in the long run and will eventually come to light.
Pragmatic Perspective: Why and How Do We Do It?
So why do people take this risk? Financial reasons often top the list. Rising living costs, debts, or simply the desire for a better standard of living can push people to seek additional income. Sometimes, the monotony of the current job or limited development opportunities lead to a search for fulfillment in different projects.
I've had my own side products; special financial calculators, an Android spam blocker, or a task management application. But I saw these not as a "second job," but as a means of personal development and satisfying my curiosity. I usually worked on these projects on weekends or outside of work hours, sacrificing my personal time. This is very different from providing full-time service to another company while being full-time committed to one company. Coding at night for my own side product should be evaluated within a very different ethical framework than billing two companies simultaneously.
My Position: Transparency and Focus
20 years of experience have shown me that one of our most valuable assets in professional life is our reputation. Working multiple full-time jobs simultaneously means risking that reputation. As a system administrator, when a server's disk is 100% full on April 28th or a WAL rotation alarm goes off at 03:14, I need to focus on that problem. Divided attention, especially in critical infrastructure management, can lead to unacceptable consequences.
For me, the rule is simple: I focus entirely on my primary job. If I want to do an additional project, I usually do it outside of work hours, on my own personal time, and never jeopardize the performance or ethical rules of my current job. If I've said "yes" to a company full-time, I stand by that "yes." If circumstances force me to work two jobs, then I become transparent, talk to my current employer, or switch to a more flexible position. Risking long-term reputation and career for short-term gains is, in my opinion, not a smart decision.
So, what do you think? Is working two jobs simultaneously a necessity in today's competitive world, or a professional red line? What has been your most striking experience on this topic?
