1

As the title states, does anyone do any work apart from their normal job to bring in some extra cash or experience for your resume? What are some good ways that you can gain experience and make some cash that you can partake in outside of a normal 9AM-5PM job. Where did you find your work and what did you do?

Lets hear your thoughts!

77 Spice ups
2

I used to but then came a point when most problems were virus/malware related and I just didn’t have the time and patience anymore to clean it up and justify the hours to the client. I’ll still help out a small business from time to time if they need help planning or making major changes and are OK with my prices up front.

22 Spice ups
3

Yep, I signed up with Geekatoo about 8-9 mos ago and it notifies you when jobs are available in your predefined radius.

13 Spice ups
4

Nope. Not anymore. What I would have to charge users to make it worth my while based on the degree of hand-holding and after-support required is far beyond what they can afford. And after a while in the IT business, that experience curve flattens out and you don’t end up learning anything new from doing side jobs.

It just becomes rote repetition.

25 Spice ups
5

I did freelance pc stuff for a while. Mostly through word of mouth. I was living at an apartment complex at the time and the office hired me a few times to fix their computers, they referred anyone to me that mentioned having computer problems and even passed out fliers I came them to everyone. I got a few clients and gave me a little extra money. Most of it was virus removal which was easy money. Pick up the computer, load an antivirus and spyware software, click to run it and come back in an hour click to run the next thing and then done. I don’t do it anymore as my personal time is more important to me now that I have a kid, but it was decent money and people came because I charged way less than geek squad and did a better job.

7 Spice ups
6

Used to do side jobs for extra cash. I got tired of dealing with clients so i do not do it much anymore.

2 Spice ups
7

@Alequaff Sounds look a good gig you had going. I can see how you can rack up some good money doing that, especially if you gain a good rep in your client base. Word gets around…

1 Spice up
8

I don’t touch computers outside of work hours. I do however teach a couple classes at a junior college for extra money. Plus it’s rewarding and keeps my skills sharp.

18 Spice ups
9

I do side work for the members of the country club I work at. It brings in a bit of extra cash and is a really great personal networking tool. I’ve met some incredibly cool people and they have taken very good care of me in turn.

4 Spice ups
10

Side work as in tech related stuff? Or just helping out like manual labor

11

Yes, absolutely.

Many consultants in the area won’t do service calls after hours or encounter an issue which they lack the experience or patience to resolve efficiently and within a reasonable amount of time. I receive quite a few calls for virus removal which is a snap to do. Boot off my fully updated, automatic anti-virus scanner flash drive and let it do its thing while I’m doing something else. Check progress every 1/2 hour and when it is done scanning, record the report, boot into O/S and run a scan there. Physical time spent for most standard removals is less than 15 minutes. Easy money.

4 Spice ups
12

Depends on how much other things I have going on. I like the extra cash but, I like my free time to.

3 Spice ups
13

Back and forth on this one…When I first got really into IT and knew what I was doing I helped out a couple businesses but despite telling them that I could only assist after hours/weekends, there was still a demand for “But we need you now!!” - it was tough.

As I got more into IT and into project based work with the MSP I was with, I had to give it up. I was making more money as well so the need wasn’t there. Now that I’m in the Public Sector, my work hours have dropped considerably and am thinking to put the word out so to speak that I’d work on the side.

3 Spice ups
14

No. Unless it is for a charitable organization, or other community service and even then, there is a rather high bar.

As stated, it’s mostly viruses and spyware - most calls anyway. And there is only so many times I can smash my head against a brick wall before I die of brain swelling, so, no.

3 Spice ups
15

Define “spare time”.

25 Spice ups
16

yes actually have a dba, I own and operate a computer business on the side.

1 Spice up
17

I will take on some freelance works…but I like to focus it on a specialty that I don’t do everyday at my day job…for example fun database projects. Definitely not your help my computer has virus type of work.

2 Spice ups
18

Only if I have to. Case in point, executives’ personal devices. sigh

3 Spice ups
19

I take freelance work all the time, it’s almost always an average consumer that’s involved with my employer though. I’ve had users hire me, their families hire me, and our buyers hire me. It’s easy money, but I undercharge because I feel like I’m ripping them off. $80 for virus removal is usually what I charge.

2 Spice ups
20

Heck no. Work-Life-Balance.

14 Spice ups