This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by The TechPreneur
I used to get so frustrated with the corporate world.
I had financial goals. I didn’t want to spend my life comparing prices or waiting for discounts to buy something I wanted. But in my job, getting a real salary raise, like 20% or more, was nearly impossible because of company policies. You had to wait a whole year for a promotion.
I saw my colleagues and thought, “Why should I work twice as hard as them for the same salary?”
That’s when I had a wild idea: “What if I just work at two companies for two salaries?”
So I did it. For six months, I was a developer at two companies at the same time. Here’s what I learned.
The Whole Idea: Finding Your “Lowest Bar”
It’s almost impossible to really measure a developer’s performance. That means you are the only person who can set your productivity bar. If you start a new job and work like crazy, that becomes your new normal.
I decided to run an experiment: What’s the least amount of work I can do while keeping my manager happy?
I found that my “lowest bar” was about two hours of focused work per day for each job. And my managers were happy with my performance.
How to Make Overemployment Work
It’s not just about working less. You have to be smart about it. There are four key things.
Set up a feedback loop. This is the most important step. You need regular one-on-ones with someone who sees your work and can give you honest feedback. In my first company, Allegro, this was easy. I had weekly chats with my team lead and just asked, “How am I doing?”
Find your minimal productivity bar. Slowly do less and less work until your manager says something. Until you hear, “Hey, your performance is slipping,” you’re probably working more than you need to.
Keep a diary. Write down what you did each day and how you felt. This helps you see how much time you’re really spending and helps fight imposter syndrome when you feel like you’re not doing enough.
Pick your companies wisely. This is where I made mistakes.
Choosing the Right (and Wrong) Company
You need to be picky. Look for:
- Fully remote jobs. I had two hybrid jobs and it was a nightmare. I once had to hide in a meeting room all day for a hackathon at one job while trying to attend unplanned meetings for my other job. My excuse for constantly running out of the room was “digestion problems.” Trust me, you don’t want that stress.
- Big teams, small responsibilities. At least five people on the team is a good sign.
- Few meetings. Ask about this in the interview. One job had 5-minute dailies, which was perfect. The other had 40+ minute dailies and endless extra meetings.
- Established projects. Avoid startups or “greenfield” projects. They mean more work and more meetings.
The Reality
It was one of the most stressful periods of my life. I was anxious, close to burnout, and my health suffered. You have to become a bit of a cynic, and you lose some of the joy of work.
My story ended with my second company, “Techies,” finding out. The mentor I asked for feedback for six months never gave it to me; he gave it to my manager instead. There were a lot of ugly meetings where I was accused of being a scammer. I defended myself, but eventually quit.
The funny part? At my other company, Allegro, everyone was happy with me and I was even being considered for a promotion. It just proves that picking the right company matters most.
This strategy isn’t for everyone. It’s a temporary boost, not a path to passive income. But it taught me a lot about efficiency, setting priorities, and understanding my real value.
If you want to hear all the details, including how I managed conflicting meetings and the full story of how I got caught, I explain everything in my latest video. Go watch it. Just maybe don’t open it on your work computer if your boss is walking by.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by The TechPreneur