Freelancer Explores Career Passion with Part-Time Second Job

By Adrianne Bibby

The subject of our job search success story this week already had a full-time position, but was seeking a part-time second job to develop her skills in a new area.

If you’re already working full-time, it takes a dedicated effort—not to mention deft time-management skills—to commit to taking on a second job. But the effort is worth it for job seekers who are looking to test the waters in a chosen career field.

Mirisa R., our success story this week, demonstrated just that level of commitment when she decided to undertake a job search that would allow her to pursue her interest in online marketing. After she became a FlexJobs member, Mirisa was hired as a freelance, part-time social media marketing assistant with OPAL Advising, a consulting firm specializing in marketing, brand development, and new business launches.

A Second Job to Develop New Skills

A resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Mirisa was already juggling the demands of an existing job. “My current full-time job requires a lot of traveling,” Mirisa wrote in response to questions from FlexJobs. But, she added, “I also wanted a freelance, part-time job to continue growing my skills [and] passion for online marketing.”

When she launched her job search, she had a long-term career goal in mind. Her hope, she said, was to establish skills in online marketing so that she could eventually “do it full-time on my own.”

The Right Place for Flexible Jobs

A Google search led Mirisa to FlexJobs, and she decided to make the move to pursue the kind of part-time second job that she envisioned. “I thought if I was serious about stepping out into a more flexible/freelance type of job, I have to start somewhere,” Mirisa wrote. “FlexJobs gave me that feel of the right place to start.”

After she became a FlexJobs member and started exploring job search options and the database of thousands of flexible jobs, Mirisa said she came to appreciate the ease of navigation. “It was easy to sort through what you’re looking for in terms of flexibility, rates, description, and overview of the job posts,” Mirisa told us.

Words of Encouragement for Other Job Seekers

Mirisa’s success in finding the part-time second job she sought offers her a platform for encouraging other job seekers. “Be patient!” Mirisa advised. She acknowledged that looking for a job shares certain qualities with dating. “The right job will pop up in your email that will be worth the wait,” Mirisa told us. “Ha! Sounds like a relationship site.”

Mirisa admitted she paused initially before taking on part-time second job. “At first I was hesitant at the thought,” Mirisa wrote. “But now I feel a good balance between both jobs. This position turned out to be the best fit. It’s flexible, and all I need is my phone, Wi-Fi, and a laptop [or] tablet. PERFECT!”

No matter what you’re looking for in a job, a FlexJobs membership can work wonders for your job search, too. Take the tour and learn more about how FlexJobs can power your job search.

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