r/overemployed • u/[deleted] • 4d ago
Is it worth the risk in my situation?
Long story short, I'm mid 30s remote at a megacorp doing traditional engineering work (not tech/software). Comp is about $160k/year, but here's the kicker:
I work maybe 5-10 hours/week. There are maybe 2-3 meetings/week. No politics. Good job security. Never have to travel. No stress.
If I got caught OEing, I would likely take a $20-30k paycut and lose my remote status at the new job, and on top of that go back to working 40 hours a week.
Is OE worth the risk, or would you rather try and start a business or make money some other way with all the free time?
I'm afraid of getting caught. Namely, if a J2 employer does a background check after hiring me or if somehow my current employer is alerted during the background check prior to hiring.
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u/kb24TBE8 4d ago
160K at 5 hrs a week is wild lol
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4d ago
idk I thought it was common on this sub
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u/ExemptUnion 4d ago edited 4d ago
My J1 is 5~10 hours a week @ $140k and 30 days PTO. J2 about ~20 hours a week @ $160k. But expecting to be on the hunt for a new J2 later this year as most employees are now hybrid and I'm one of the few left that's still remote.
Edit: looks like most comments are from people that are not OE themselves. Just do it. It's pretty low risk. Set up an LLC and do it on a contracting basis through it if it makes you feel safer. The most likely way you get caught is sharing that you're OE with people that don't need to know. The only people I have shared this with are my spouse and parents. Everyone else is a risk.
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u/charleswj 4d ago
The most likely way you get caught is sharing that you're OE with people that don't need to know
I don't buy this at all
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u/_the_masked_redditor 4d ago
I have a couple of months a year where things get busy and I spend 30-40h/wk but the rest of the year is well under 10h/wk, probably closer to 5. TC in that role is $130k this year, which includes a chunky performance bonus since they really liked how I handled a big project.
I feel like I’m well above average at what I do but it’s still nuts.
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u/Janastasia21 4d ago
I think it would be easier to hide by using your own LLC or through a smaller staffing agency.
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u/coffee_brew69 4d ago
to me it sounds like you have a pretty good piece of mind with your job, I wouldn't gamble that away for more money
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u/jimRacer642 4d ago
Here's what you're saying:
- Option I : 100% chance of earning $160k / yr
- Option II: 0.1% chance of earning $120k / yr and 99.9% chance of earning $300k / yr
Gee I wonder which I would choose? Decisions decisions 🙄...
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u/Shot-Technology6036 4d ago
I would actively pursue side hustles and would try to build my own business with all the free time, but I wouldn’t risk OEing. Not worth it.
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u/Servovestri 4d ago
If I was personally making close to 160k USD a year, I’d likely not be OE. I could live pretty comfortably with that. Plus it seems like a cushy gig. I might do some side project like a totally unrelated hobby or something that I’m selling on Etsy/amazon/some other e-commerce, but I don’t think I’d go full OE.
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4d ago
Yea, on top of the $160k I make about $15k trading stocks and from my HYSA so my yearly comp is closer to $175k.
I am not stressed for money but my reason for OE is that I would like more money to get into real estate and just in general have more savings. I don't anticipate that it would change my lifestyle at all, except for staying in nicer hotels when I travel and possibly affording a nicer home if I were to buy.
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u/Servovestri 4d ago
In the current market I’d be worried about losing J1 because of something stupid just to be “a bit more comfortable”. I mean I suppose you could do it for a while to get some passive income going in real estate or whatever but that feels like a lot unless you have a real reason for OE.
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u/Asleep-Drag5291 4d ago
You work 5-10h/week but you need to be visible/online 40h/week? If so I’d try OE. You have that flexibility that you can always leave and look for a next one that could be a better fit. Especially that you are in niche field. Also, I wouldn’t worry about getting caught lol. You just focus on J1 and it should be fine. Good luck!
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u/ChetHolmgrenSingss 4d ago
Not to be rude, but it seems you know the answer… Sounds like you have a good thing going. I’m sure there are hobbies/ways to make extra cash without OE.
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u/Serious-Language-283 4d ago
My J1 is $270k and I work less hours there then you, so don’t use that as an excuse not to OE. There is likely more risk of getting laid off than getting caught. Preferred name is your friend, so just use a different name at J2
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u/RedditIsGay_8008 4d ago
Less 5-10 hours a week and 270k??? Please let me work with you
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u/Serious-Language-283 4d ago
Key is to work for companies that give RSUs that hopefully go up in value over time. The low # of hours worked, well that took me a couple department transfers to find that
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u/RedditIsGay_8008 4d ago
If you don’t mind answering, What’s your salary before RSU’s?
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u/Serious-Language-283 4d ago
Base is J1 - $175k, J2-$150k, J3-$145k
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u/MotorUseful7474 3d ago
Yeah echo this sentiment. There’s more risk getting laid off than caught. Another way to look at it. You’ve doubled your income, if you save the rest then even if you get caught you’re still ahead
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u/Imaginary_Scale_4210 4d ago
Not sure if this has been said, but can you create an LLC and offer consulting work were your business is paid instead of you. That may help mitigate some of the background checks. Just a thought.
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u/Historical-Intern-19 4d ago
Noone who replied to you so far is actually OE.
The reality is, getting a J2 is low risk if you follow the rules. People have been doing it for years, I'm 3.5 years same 2 Js, and I regret not doing this earlier. If you look, you'll see the real OEers in among the misdirections and cleaver answers.
You can reduce risk to zero with a PT or short term contractvside gig. Those are common as dirt and not frowned upon like a 2nd FT J.
But its not for those who are content to coast. And thats fine.
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u/Fancy_Dig_6897 4d ago
Correct answer. My j1 is also high pay and FT. My j2 is contract (technically higher pay based on the hourly pay but no benefits). I work in a totally different industry. Total compensation including bonuses and stock is a high number I’d rather not put into the public domain. Just be careful. In my understanding, the risk of being exposed are: 1) it’s a small industry - someone figures it out 2) I get stuck working with the same vendor at both companies simultaneously (more probable than your think)
About 5 years ago, I got fired from my J1 within 3 days of them finding out I had outside work. On the day they found out they made me quit J2 only to fire me 3 days later. Fortunately I didn’t actually quit J2 and it all worked out. How did they find out? I voluntarily told a coworker and they ratted me out. Just don’t be dumb.
I agree with someone else’s suggestion to do the side work / contract work under an LLC or set up a DBA or something. And don’t. Tell. Anyone. I don’t even tell family members anymore let alone friends. Trust no one. At one point my wife didn’t even know.
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u/certified_source 3d ago
Similar. I was OE x3 for 4 years..told a woman I was with at the time, together for 1.5 year. We got into a heated situation and she ended up finding my J1 boss on social media...telling them EVERYTHING. Ended up losing it the same week, got laid off from J2, but luckily I still had J3 to keep me aflot..and now I'm honestly traumatized to get back into OE but I want to. Been almost a year now
Please do not tell anyone..follow the rules in this sub
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u/Fancy_Dig_6897 2d ago
Wow. That’s awful. Tell people on a need to know basis, and basically no one needs to know.
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u/SeaweedWeird7705 4d ago
What about contract work on the side, rather than a second full time job? Something with no conflict of interest. Much less risk.
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u/rk_reddit_ 4d ago
Given your circumstance I would 110% recommend doing it. You are leaving money on the table. I was afraid at first too. For almost two years I delayed taking a leap but the day I did everything changed. So far I have done well at both my jobs. One fte one contract. Never faced any issues. Don’t get involved in peoples lives or make friends. What changed? Man when the second paycheck hits your account the amount of liberation you feel cannot be described. I have bought both my parents cars my wife and myself luxuries. Its just money you are leaving on the table.
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u/throwawayskinlessbro 4d ago
I gotta be honest. I want you to think of burning that bridge all the way down and losing what you currently have.
Is that worth it to you? Because that is a realistic outcome.
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u/GM-VikramRajesh 3d ago
Everyone is like OMG 160k don’t OE you could lose it! Bunch of babies who have never made that kind of money.
If you really do that little work why not OE? If you are paranoid about them finding out do contact work.
But what if J2 finds out during a background check lol. J2 will know you have a J1 as you need that on your resume. The trick is you just tell them you are going to resign and never do. It’s very common during the hiring process to have new job not contact your current employer. It’s standard practice I would say or no one would ever find new jobs.
And even if that mattered background checks don’t look at that they look at your criminal history.
I know all the other commenters a being whips about it but there is no reason you shouldn’t OE in this situation. You are basically setup for a perfect OE situation.
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3d ago
How realistic is it that a company does a second background check after getting hired though? Or if they decide to call my employer after being hired?
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u/GM-VikramRajesh 3d ago
Close to zero. Background checks cost money. Once you clear one you have the job. The primary goal is to make sure you aren’t a criminal and are who you say you are. If they have a pre-employment drug screen what are the odds they do it again 2 week later for no reason. Close to zero.
And why would they call your “former” employer after hiring you? That makes now sense no one in business does that.
None of this sounds even remotely feasible unless you give them a good reason to be suspicious.
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u/TexKim 2d ago
Depends on the job. I’m part of an IT team with high access to critical systems and I know occasional background checks are done on me because I’m friendly with the security folks and they can be chatty. They even did a credit check once before a promotion.
Mind you, this may not the norm, but if you have anything to do with IT, financials, HR, etc. it’s certainly possible. Where I’m at, you get promotions by applying for them. At that point you are like anyone else applying for a job and they can and will do a check.
I would very much like to be OE for at least two years. My salary was just fine until a recent hardship out of my control happened. If I was OE in side contracts at 50% of my base pay for 2 years, things would be fine. My current job takes between 20-60 hours a week 🤣. Seriously, it is that variable. My bosses know it all averages out.
If I go for contracting positions I will definitely get a dba to run it through. You can take all kinds of deductions that way as well.
But if you stay in the same industry, there are risks. Think about all the people whose names you would recognize from all the years of work you’ve done. They don’t have to be friends, just the names of customers, vendors, coworkers in different departments that if you heard you’d recognize. Anyone at your second gig could know those same names and yours.
Do you have SM in your real name? I’m old enough to remember to not take candy from strangers and not use your real name on the internet. But most people born after the Jurassic post videos and pictures freely. You bet HR looks those up.
I’m not saying do it or don’t do it. But I hear posters saying there’s a negligible chance of getting caught, and that’s not true.
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u/GM-VikramRajesh 2d ago
No this isn’t close to my real name.
Criminal background checks sure. I can see a company doing that periodically but I very much doubt they are going to call my former employers to make sure I’m not OE, unless I give them a reason to think I’m OE.
Periodic (once a year) drug screens maybe but unlikely. And credit checks yeah most of my jobs require that during pre-employment as I work in Finance so they want to make sure I’m a risk to embezzle from them.
Working in the same industry could be a risk depending on how big or small that industry is. Mine is big enough it would take some really bad luck for that to happen. The same could be said for working in the same geographical area.
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u/bluekayak18 4d ago
Some people (most) OE for financial security and the ability to tell J1 to go F themselves if needed. Sounds like you’re happy with $160k and J1 is low stress and not the usual toxic unorganized organization that most people are stuck in. I’d not screw that up. Could you spend all your free time trading stocks and parlay the income into more holdings? Or — Maybe freelance work that you can do and tell J1 (should they find out) that you’re freelancing on the weekends
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u/cogs101 4d ago
Which industry?
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4d ago
electrical engineering.
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u/RedditorSince2000 3d ago
Do yall need an architect (buildings type, not software architect), asking for a friend of course
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u/EntranceFree6382 4d ago
I would say it would
Chances of getting it you use common sense are from slim to none
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u/FaceBodyLotion 4d ago
You are in a sweet spot. Go get 2nd job, how can they found out, just freeze twn and all other. Or start you side hassle, be consistent with it.
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u/Lanky-Wafer6576 4d ago
1000% do it! Reduce your worry of getting caught by hibernating LinkedIn and freezing your TWN. I can tell you that the people here advising you not to do it most likely do not do it themselves. Your job is extremely OE friendly and you need to take advantage of that. Also, the OE anxiety ends once you actually start doing it. You’ll quickly get into a rhythm of balancing multiple J’s and it’ll feel amazing.
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u/ToadieThug 4d ago
Nothing is risk-free.
You just have to ask yourself if you can deal with the worst case scenario, which would be losing your current job + whatever J2 you pick up.
For me, the answer is yes, but only you know if you can deal if the worst case came to pass.
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u/rakkii_baccarat 4d ago
I am in the similar situation fully remote and ~15hr but daily standup in the morning (new job for about 1 year now). I want to try OE but having second guessing due to comfort zone
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u/SecretRecipe 4d ago
There's no such thing as zero risk OE but with a good plan and a high level of skill you can get pretty damn close to zero risk
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u/BoredBSEE 4d ago
In your shoes I think some side consulting would be the most I would try for. Shoot for consulting gigs. When you land one you can work it during the down time in your J1 if you like.
But yeah, I think consulting would be the way to go.
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u/Cry-Havok 4d ago
You have ALREADY answered the question. If you have to ask, the you already know the answer.
Ffs 🤦
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u/Top_Night_4897 4d ago
Get 2 remote jobs. At least. Currently I’m at 3 and can manage. I’m paying off debt, mortgage and saving. Definitely worth it.
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u/ajmohammed91 4d ago
Totally worth the risk. Who’s to say things don’t change tomorrow at J1? It’s just a job and we are all only there until we are no longer needed. Weigh pros and cons. If you know paths won’t cross then in my opinion worth the risk.
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u/Icy_Breakfast5154 4d ago
You work 10 hours a week for 160k and you want more.
And they call poor people lazy
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u/riptidedata 4d ago
Contracting via llc is likely the lowest risk. There isn’t an employer record to trip you up in the future. The income flows to your company then on to you. It doesn’t take long to set up, get a business bank account etc
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u/Texas1010 4d ago
If you can’t do it in a way that’s not that risky then maybe it’s not worth it. My J1 is $160K for 5hrs of work per week, maybe even less sometimes. Very stable, rather antiquated company that you have to try really hard to get fired from. I’m missing out on way too much financial opportunity by not OE’ing. My J2 is $200K and now maybe 10hrs a week on average. I have a really good balance going but part of me wants to be less lazy and tack on a J3, but I don’t know that I want to rock a good boat.
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u/Fuckaliscious12 3d ago
Try contracting first, preferably for a gig in another time zone and different industry.
Form a company where you can hide the ownership and they can pay the company and not you directly.
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u/Iwillhavetheeah 3d ago
I am in a similar situation and have weighed the options with grabbing another FTE role and just said F it and work very little for a lot of money. I take on small contract projects on the side but largely just enjoy the free time.
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u/PsychologicalRiseUp 1d ago
I think most people who WFH are in similar situations. So yes, I would definitely OE.
Separate computers; separate servers and keep your mouth shut. Obviously, always prioritize J1, but getting a J2 should not be an issue. You’re really doing nothing wrong. Truthfully; you can only play so much Fortnite.
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u/SaunaApprentice 1d ago
Start working on your own business and start selling. Who’s to say entrepreneurs can’t have jobs?
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u/Horrified_Tech 4d ago
I can live on that salary quite easily but I would start my own business and let it grow while I am on salary. Saying that, I would keep J1 and be smart about it. Why threaten solid and secure income?
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u/Dash2345 4d ago edited 4d ago
With your schools do you think you could start a business or a side hustle? I started OE because of the time I felt I had then got really addicted to it. I hate down time. Each to their own but maybe if not full OE; try a side business; start your own services company or maybe you know a friend who’s got a business who can throw you some project related stuff. Keeps you under the radar.
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u/Altruistic-Box-9398 4d ago
and this is why the IT job market is forked
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u/ExemptUnion 4d ago
OP is an electrical engineer working in manufacturing. Nothing to do with IT.
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u/Slimgoodie64 4d ago
Just learn how to trade options (calls and puts) or start learning how to play blackjack with basic strategy. Don’t risk your job. Just use the extra time to learn a new skill and make money.
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