US Workers Juggle Chainsaws, Donate Plasma to Pay Bills
As household budgets grow increasingly tighter in the current recession economy, one in 10 US workers now reports taking on a second job in the last year to help make ends meet, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.
Though many second jobs are logical fits with workers’ skills and abilities, a number of employees also noted that they have resorted to more unconventional work to help pay the bills.
Among the most unusual second jobs revealed in the survey:
- Made Star Wars costumes for people.
- Donated blood plasma.
- Researched stories for a gossip columnist.
- Won money on a game show.
- Juggled chainsaws in a talent competition.
- Posed for an art class.
- Worked as a tarot card reader.
- Took notes in class for college students.
- Took items from the a “lost & found” and sold them online.
- Gave people in the office hair cuts.
- Worked as a movie extra.
- Participated in product testing for bandages.
- Played in poker tournaments.
- Participated in university research studies.
- Used a portable propane burner to heat oil, and sold catfish dinners on front porch of home.
About the survey: This survey was conducted online within the US by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder among 4,478 workers (employed full-time; not self-employed; non government); ages 18+. Field dates were May 22 - June 10, 2009.