I do a side project once or twice a year, usually for one of the companies I’ve previously worked with. They usually get in touch when they’ve got a small, rela

I do a side project once or twice a year, usually for one of the companies I’ve previously worked with. They usually get in touch when they’ve got a small, relatively self-contained project and need some additional resources to deliver it faster. As a former employee they know I’ll understand what’s going on and will be able to deliver, and I know what’s expected from me. It’s a good arrangement for everybody that’s certainly much easier when you leave a company on good terms! I’d be cautious about the idea of having it be a “secondary source of income” or anything - that’s not feasible with a full-time role - but for my part I use the money to pay for hardware upgrades or similar. It’s important not to over-work though; I’d be skeptical of doing any more than maybe the 120 or so hours I do in a year.