Moonlighting

Padma works full-time as a copywriter in an advertising firm. During weekends she concentrates on writing a Lifestyle blog and makes little money with the advertisements. What Padma does is known as moonlighting in management vocabulary.

Moonlighting is a term used to describe the extra income an employee makes by doing work that is outside the scope of his/her office. Usually, a hobby turns to be a source of extra income. Few people simultaneously work in two companies if the working hours are flexible. Many people take tuitions at home. As freelance and consulting opportunities abound in the Web, moonlighting is the order of the day.

Going back to the example of Padma, what she is doing is known as quarter moonlighting. Padma starts blogging at office and browses for information in the office computer, and so she is half moonlighting. Out of interest, Padma starts a Lifestyle bloggers group and organizes events. So she takes leave at office to travel and coordinate her group activities. Padma is now into three-fourths moonlighting.

By developing the global Lifestyle blog group, Padma has made a lot of contacts and there is a tremendous increase in her blog revenue. As a result of her success, Padma quits her full-time copy writer job and takes up full-time blogging. She feels she will have more freedom and can unleash her creative ideas if she was running her own blog and association. Now, Padma is full moonlighting.

In times of recession, your quarter moonlighting hobby may turn out to be your full time breadwinner. Though employers may scorn at moonlighting, it seems to be beneficial for employees!