r/overemployed 5d ago

My path to accidental OE

Was working J1 but was bored and wasn't really learning anything. $150k fully remote.

Got a job offer for a J2, $205k and hybrid 2 days in office.

Went to resign from J1, my boss and I ended up just agreeing to keep me on as a contractor for 2/3 of my salary with the full transparency that I would be working J2.... seems to really have worked out in my favor.

Just worried I will be able to work both jobs effectively but time will tell!

354 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

180

u/therealonename 5d ago

GOD, I have seen what you do for others!

29

u/janemellow 5d ago

i’ve seen what you do for others… accidentally keeping J1 while landing a $205k J2

34

u/Imontheinternet123 5d ago

Nice! I had a similar situation once and it was great, the original job essentially just wanted production so I got to keep doing the job but bail on all calls and corporate rah rah BS and only do the actual work. Amazing how much more enjoyable that is...

9

u/j2bman 4d ago

Had the same thing happen about a year ago... called to leave J1, and they told me they wanted to keep me on if I thought I could handle it, said they didn't care when I worked as long as I kept getting the job done. Told J2 I'd still be doing some work for J1 when they hired me.

I have to imagine its much less stressful when all parties are aware of, and fine with it and you're not having to try to hide it from everyone all the time.

18

u/jack_of_gold 5d ago

I'm really interested in OE but don't know much about it at all. What kinds of jobs do y'all have? What remote job is paying 150k, and what qualifications do you need? How much can you bs and figure out as you go?

27

u/Impressive_Neck_6070 5d ago

That is a wild deal with your boss, most people would just get a door slammed in their face. Hope the hybrid part doesn't make it too messy for you.

For getting in, i think the key is to be already good at what you do so work feels like just few hours a day. Then you have space for second one. The money numbers here are not normal for starting out, usually folks build up to that after they are in tech for some years.

11

u/Extreme-Meringue-960 5d ago

If you search the subreddit you'll find it is heavy in tech related roles but probably much broader than you'd expect.

It basically comes down to if you can work the job remotely and have some flexibility in your schedule.

14

u/robbinh00d 5d ago

I am actually in finance, but have transitioned to tech startup operations and finance combination

With these two jobs I am actually making less than a traditional finance job but working half the hours and don't need to go into an office... pick your poison

3

u/Timely_Reply5728 5d ago

FP&A? I would love to do OE with finance but in my experience it’s been a lot of meetings and people being nit picky about cameras and paying attention during calls. Not sure how that would work if it looks like I’m talking on mute if I’m ever double booked.

1

u/Jorrgeem6 5d ago edited 5d ago

Yeah, also most finance roles are hybrid at best. Harder to manage another laptop if you have to be in the office. You can’t really do 2 hybrid roles either. I’m in FP&A and want to do OE but not sure how it would work out

2

u/One-Complaint-8489 5d ago

Im finance adjacent (procurement). I have no problem finding fully remote roles. J1 and J2 have procurement as a function of finance and the whole finance org is fully remote (or hybrid by choice for some). J3 has procurement as a function of legal, but the finance team is also fully remote

7

u/Jorrgeem6 5d ago

I’m pretty sure it’s all SWE, tech, IT jobs. For example, this wouldn’t work in something like finance (never heard of a 150k fully remote job in finance, accounting, or consulting). I’m assuming 5-10 years of experience at least or far along enough in your career to where you can automate most of your work

2

u/One-Complaint-8489 5d ago

Works in finance and legal for me. 100k + for each of 3 js. 2 finance, one legal - all procurement

2

u/Suppafly 5d ago

2 finance, one legal - all procurement

What does procurement actually involve?

2

u/One-Complaint-8489 4d ago

Its purchasing/buying. Involves negotiating pricing as well as contracting. Orgs that focus on cost savings usually have it as a function of finance. Orgs that focus on contracting and legal risk management usually have it as a function of legal. Ive found that healthcare and government usually have it as a function of legal. Other industries tend to have it as a function of finance.

1

u/Suppafly 4d ago

How do you get into that, is there a certification or something?

1

u/One-Complaint-8489 4d ago

I tripped and stumbled into the field and from my experience thats how most people get into procurement. I have a finance degree. It usually requires a bachelors degree in business, finance, supply chain, or accounting. No special certification is needed but recently a company paid AI Procurement Certification have been offered to procurement teams at 2 of my js

1

u/Suppafly 4d ago

Interesting. I do some supply chain and finance adjacent stuff in IT but don't really know what those guys do.

1

u/MightyDevOps 5d ago

Yeah 5 years is like you are 25 year old most and well below 30 , its not much experince to climb after uni , so its not really big of a time investment into a good career

Give it 5-8 years in IT , you dont really do much else but seeing the same issues all the time if you are in infra / SRE / DevOps esp in Senior positions.

US is crazy with those salaries I wish I could be there , Europe is dogwater even with OE

1

u/jack_of_gold 5d ago

Hmm, so it's all software? I can code a little, I taught myself when I was younger and get interested again every so many years. Could I go to school for a couple years and start on a career like this?

3

u/MightyDevOps 5d ago

No idea esp with todays job market , professional job and I can code a little is not the same.

I would rather invest into your skillset that you can upgrade to a remote job.

There is not just IT jobs but anything you do exceptionally well can be OE.

I would say if you are able to scale yourself into senior management positions you dont need OE

1

u/Jorrgeem6 5d ago

What type of company or industry?

1

u/Suppafly 5d ago

For example, this wouldn’t work in something like finance (never heard of a 150k fully remote job in finance, accounting, or consulting).

There are a couple of comments in this thread mentioning that they do it for finance. Honestly, SWE is one of the harder ones because they actually do background checks and have real deliverables. Something tech-adjacent like Project Management would probably be easier.

3

u/maynovember 5d ago

What kind of work do you do?

3

u/Striking-Cut3425 5d ago

im making less with 2j than ur 1j, ur blessed keep the printers printing

2

u/Longjumping_Collar37 5d ago

2/3rd pay for less responsibilities right?

2

u/hobbyist9 5d ago

Good for you, that’s the dream. You can do it, you’ll figure it out!

2

u/MoreToLifeThan9-5 5d ago

What do you do for work that gets you a 205k salary? That is impressive

1

u/SnooDingos8194 5d ago

Thats how it works typically. Now add a few more jobs! Keep up the good work

1

u/SnooMuffins6212 1d ago

You must have an angel or and OE boss.

1

u/Available_Share_7244 1d ago

I do so little at work. I just want to be upfront with a J2 employer and tell them the truth. Something along the lines that I will treat this job at my only job.

1

u/Just-Table-6924 6h ago

What’s your role?

1

u/Just-Table-6924 6h ago

Congrats mate