Posts made in May, 2010

day job versus sideline

Posted by vienna on May 24, 2010 in Work and Career | 4 comments

I remember telling myself that when we settle here (in Austria), I will just stay home and write because I know that my chances of getting a (teaching) job here is very thin. That was when I was earning around 700-1000$ each month from writing. But the financial crisis happened just when it’s time for us to move from China to Austria. The paid blogging industry was also hugely affected by the crisis. 200 words blog posts which were priced at 15$ in 2007 & 2008 declined to 1$ in 2009. There were still a lot of offers but a dollar for a post is just so disheartening.

So I had searched for a day job and I got one I like. In my first month, I got just 3 classes. Then I got 5 classes on my second month. I had plenty of time and was hoping that I could still do some writing on the side but since there was almost no income from writing, I concentrated on my day job. It paid off because right now I have 15 classes…just when the blogging industry is picking up again.

Here is where the problem lies. I want to write and I want to teach but time doesn’t seem to be on my side. They say you cannot serve two masters at once but I don’t think that that’s applicable here. Not one of the two brings me contentment.

Teaching is great. I really like what I do but the business model of the learning center where I work is not something I’d say ideal. I am a freelancer. I am just paid for the hours I worked. Hours and hours spent for preparation are not counted. I pay for most of the materials I use and I don’t get benefits such as 13th & 14th month pay. No Christmas bonus. No paid holidays. I don’t get paid when I am sick. And the most disheartening thing is; my status in the learning center will always be just a freelancer. It’s nothing personal; it’s just their business model. All of their teachers are just freelancers.

Writing is equally great. I really like it too. Sure, I am only paid for the work I do and I also don’t get bonuses and I have to pay for my own insurance BUT I get to stay home, I don’t need to pay for gas, I don’t waste time driving to my place of work, I don’t need to pay for parking tickets, I am my own boss. It’s all cool BUT the income from writing is not fixed.  This is what bothers me the most. I can pay for my own insurance but I want a sound mind knowing that I’d get a certain amount at the end of each month.

Now I am trying to do both but I always feel that I don’t have enough time for them.