r/overemployed

Interviewed a potential J3 just for fun. Typical tech - "our remote position that was advertised isn't actually remote, and we'd like to have you do a live camera screen share with three people to prove you can do trivial leetcode exercises"

It feels so good to tell them no. The expressions on their faces and the way the air changes is magical. Too bad, no humiliation ritual for you today!

I am never going back to a single job again. Why did it take me so long to realize this is how to lead a good and stable life in tech?

I've been doing OE for over a year now, and this year I got my fourth job. The financial gains are fantastic. I don't regret it.

But with 4 jobs, I ended up having to develop my own rules and conduct.

1. Don't tell anyone that you do OE.

Only my wife and my friend, who also does OE, know.

2. Have a main job, one that you dedicate yourself to more than the others. In my case, it's my J1 position. Highest salary, and the only company I truly enjoy working for.

3. Don't volunteer for tasks. Always be proactive, saying "I don't want to do more things." If they don't mention my name, I won't even get involved.

4. I don't work weekends or overtime. Weekends and holidays are for rest. I work the 8 hours that each job requires, and that's it, no more, no less.

5. Have a computer for each job. I have 4 laptops here and two monitors to be able to do my OE satisfactorily.

6. Dedicate yourself to the tasks in the right measure; don't try to be the best on the team or the one who stands out the most.

Just deliver what was asked. I personally excel more in J1; for the others, I deliver what's required.

7. It's difficult to coordinate vacations from four jobs, so make the most of your holidays.

8. If you need to turn on the webcam, use a background effect so as not to show your room/office.

It's common for me to travel and work from the hotel; sometimes I take PTO on 1-2 jobs and have another 1-2 to work. Since I always use a background effect, they never know where I am.

9. Just turn-on your webcam if required. If not DO NOT OPEN THE WEBCAM

10. Don't pick fights, be the team's neutral.

There have been situations where there was friction with team members and other teams. I always avoid getting into arguments or fights. My feedback is always neutral or positive. I don't
give negative feedback unless absolutely necessary. Avoid fights.

11. Save all the money from extra jobs.

OE is only recommended if you can manage with just the J1 pay. The other jobs should be considered Extra.

12. Know that OE isn't forever.

I don't know how long I'll be able to handle 4 jobs without a break.

So enjoy it while you can, see the jobs as extra, never as something necessary. Only the J1 should be necessary.

2 years ago I accidentally started my OE journey. I’d been laid off about 5 months earlier and was interviewing with two companies. One offer came in, I accepted it. A month later, the second offer came in… and I accepted that too.

I had stumbled across this subreddit beforehand and it gave me the confidence to actually try it.

At the time I had just gotten engaged. The goal was simple: save as much money as possible for our wedding. My wife supported the idea, although she was understandably a little hesitant.

I’m in my late 20s working in marketing/sales. Between my two fully remote roles I make about $245k, and my wife earns around $170k. One of my roles is much junior than the other.

The financial impact has honestly been life changing.
We’re also fortunate to have a unique situation where we’re renting a home from one of her uncles for about $2,000 below market rent. We only have one car with no payment.

We now:
- have nearly $700k combined
- Paid off every loan
- Invest heavily every month
- Have financial goals and track our spending but never really stress about money anymore
- Can comfortably take a few amazing vacations every year

Beyond the money, I’ve learned a lot about how to be successful at work.

My biggest lesson is learning to sit in the sweet spot: be a meaningful contributor without becoming indispensable.

A few things that have worked well for me:
- Show up to meetings with my camera on whenever possible.
- Build a reputation for being reliable and responsive.
- Focus on delivering outcomes rather than looking busy.

I have ADHD and really struggled through school. I’d procrastinate constantly and then somehow pull everything together in a 24-hour sprint. I wasn’t diagnosed until a few years after graduating. I was on medication for a while, but I’m no longer taking it. Having two jobs has really helped me get better at just managing my time and my life.

One of my jobs is at a large company that’s very execution-heavy. I get a lot of my actual work done ahead of time in the evenings. During the day I’m active online, moving projects forward, chasing approvals, answering questions, and taking the occasional call. It makes the workload much more manageable.

Not sure how long I’ll continue to OE but so far it has been a positive experience and fairly smooth.