Moonlighting Revealed: Personality Type Attitudes on Second Jobs

The main reason to have a second job might seem obvious – you need more money. Economic pressure can be compelling, but is it the only factor? People perceive things differently, so working a second job may be influenced by personal preferences – and personality type. Ding! Research time.

We asked some questions on this topic in our “Second Jobs” survey, and here we’ll see how different personality types weigh in (as you can do with that link). Some results show more variance among different types, some show very little, but both can be informative and interesting.

Ever considered getting a second job? Our Career Values test will help you understand what might be ideal for you.

A look at the Strategy groups shows us that the biggest difference here is between Introverts and Extraverts – but why? Perhaps it’s because Extraverts are not only generally more tolerant of extended external engagement but also more likely to seek and enjoy it. Whether it’s bustling personal activity or face-to-face interactions with others, people with this personality trait often focus their energy outward – and receive positive mental stimulation in return.

So having a second job might seem less onerous and more enjoyable for Extraverts than Introverts who don’t feel as rewarded by longer periods of external engagement. Of course, the difference here is more relative than earthshaking, but worth noting nonetheless.

Minor differences here, with a majority of all types agreeing. This survey item asks whether people define a job as primary because they’re more emotionally invested in it. The Judging and Feeling traits are influential here, making Diplomats (who are all Feeling types) and Sentinels (who are all Judging types) the groups more likely to agree. Feeling personalities tend to prioritize emotion overall and may view an emotional connection to a job as a more significant factor.

For Judging personalities, the emphasis might be more on the “investment” part, as these types tend to value dedication and stability. Anything that they believe is worth investing in takes on importance because consistency itself is a favored path to motivation and satisfaction. By comparison, Prospecting personalities’ attachments can shift more often, including their feelings about a job.

That’s a central question, isn’t it? And, overall, the most likely reason is clear – to earn more money. Personal passion and skill development come next, each with modest minorities, and a slimmer minority is in the mysterious “other” category. (Why get a job besides needing money, pursuing personal interests, or improving your abilities? I want to hear your ideas for those “other” reasons in the comments below.)

The most notable difference between personality types is how Intuitive personalities are more likely than Observant personalities to answer “passion.” They may be more likely to have inspired personal passions or to follow them. Intuitive types are known for their active imaginations, and many indulge in whims, theories, and ideas at the cost of practicality. By comparison, Observant types may be more concerned with immediate realities and pragmatic goals.

Roughly one-third of all respondents agree here. I suppose the most likely reason why those folks haven’t made that more rewarding second job into their primary career is because it’s lacking in some other way, like pay. The slightly higher agreement from Diplomats may relate to the nature of their second job – more on that later.

No significant differences here, but a slight majority agrees. For some, a backup plan can be somewhat reassuring. That second job diversifies their income streams (so adulting, much responsibility!), but it also gives them a change of scenery. For some, that feeling of being stuck can relate to unstimulating repetition, and having different tasks on your plate can be refreshing.

Not a lot of variation in the low agreement to this one. Judging personalities seem a tiny bit more affirmative in their response, which may be because they’re generally just more decisive when planning for the future. Extraverts may also be a bit bolder and more confident about the future. But overall it seems clear that most people don’t expect to have a second job forever – or perhaps just hope that they won’t.

Similarly low agreement rates here. Most people seem to recognize other ways to get ahead in life, perhaps by advancing in their primary job. Or maybe winning the lottery. Hey, anything’s possible, right?

Interesting question. It looks like Intuitive personalities, especially Analysts, are somewhat more likely to agree. Why are these types more likely to pursue an independent side hustle? It may be because Intuitive personalities often conceive imaginative possibilities, making it more likely that they’ll pursue a personal passion (as we previously saw above). Whether or not they succeed, they may be more likely to imagine that they can achieve something unusual.

They may also feel more constrained by convention than Observant personalities do and, as a result, seek an unfettered way to express their creativity and goals. Working for themselves can provide a kind of freedom that they don’t feel elsewhere.

Working without pay can take many positive forms, including volunteering for a cause, building skills and connections in an unpaid internship, or developing a personal side hustle that simply hasn’t paid off yet. That’s all still work, though. Agreement is low overall on this one, but the Feeling and Intuitive traits correlate positively, putting Diplomats a bit ahead of other personality types.

Low overall agreement here. Perhaps that second job is “second” for a reason, eh? A few more Intuitive types seem to agree here, possibly because they’re the ones more likely to have that unpaid second job based on passion more than profit.

Hey, there’s some variation! Personality types with the Intuitive and/or Prospecting traits are more likely to agree here, which spans the Analyst, Diplomat, and Explorer groups. Prospecting personality types often thrive without much of a set routine, typically handling uncertainty better than Judging personalities. Intuitive types tend to envision all of the possibilities under the sun, so for either type, a desire to explore unconventional forms of employment might seem more like an opportunity than a risk.

Sentinels, on the other hand, often feel that something more traditional is also more secure – and they value stability highly. They can certainly adapt to unconventional kinds of work, but doing so may not feel as easy or appealing to them, so they’re less likely to seek it with interest and enthusiasm.

I love that agreement here is so low, because in my opinion, working hard at what matters to you should be a source of pride. Whether you’re bagging groceries for extra cash, volunteering at an animal shelter, or teaching a class, you have your reasons for working a second job – and the right to be proud of what you’re doing.

Interesting question, with a modest majority saying “more” and minimal differentiation in responses among personality types. It might be a matter of perspective – does having a second job create financial strength or does needing one indicate financial weakness? The former is a fundamental fact, while the latter is more like speculation. Increased income certainly increases financial stability, but it’s not certain that someone has a side job due to income instability – there could be many reasons.

Maybe they’re just enthusiastic about another area of work or seeking more income for discretionary reasons like affording an expensive toy or project. Judging others without knowing all the details of their situation can be an exercise in guesswork.

Final Thoughts

The obvious would seem to be true – most people have a second job for the sake of income. Another significant takeaway, to my mind, is that roughly a quarter of respondents said that they work a second job for the sake of a personal passion – and not necessarily in return for any money. Have you worked a second job? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below!

Final Thoughts

Further Reading