Moonlighting

Definition

Holding a second job or working for a competitor during off-hours. Most employment contracts treat this like treason.

Example Usage

The non-compete clause was so broad that consulting on weekends technically violated his employment agreement.

Origin

From literally working by moonlight; documented as a practice since at least the 1700s.

Fun Fact

Companies prohibit moonlighting to control employee time while simultaneously refusing to pay enough to live on salary alone—the logic is airtight.

Source: Employment law and labor practices

Related Terms

Intermediate

quiet firing

The cowardly art of making someone's job so miserable they quit voluntarily, saving the company from having to actually fire them and pay severance. It's passive-aggressive management disguised as organizational restructuring, complete with removed responsibilities and excluded meeting invites.

👥 Human Resources

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interview

A choreographed conversation where one person asks questions and the other pretends their weaknesses are actually strengths. In the corporate world, it's a ritual where both parties lie professionally—one about loving "dynamic environments" and the other about "competitive compensation." The outcome is usually determined in the first five minutes, but both sides politely continue the charade for another 45.

👥 Human Resources

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job hopper

An employee who frequently changes jobs every one to three years, accumulating varied experience while terrifying HR managers who value 'loyalty.' What older generations call 'unstable,' younger generations call 'career advancement.'

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Advanced

Dooring

When an employer abruptly cuts off benefits (especially healthcare) immediately upon termination. It's as welcoming as a metaphorical door to the face.

👥 Human Resources

Beginner

mentoring

The corporate practice of pairing a clueless newcomer with someone who has survived long enough to accumulate wisdom, war stories, and a healthy dose of cynicism. Think of it as knowledge transfer meets therapy session, where the mentor shares everything from technical skills to which meetings are safe to skip. It's networking disguised as personal development.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

RSU (Restricted Stock Units)

Equity compensation that vests over time, converting hypothetical wealth into actual shares on a schedule designed to retain talent who can't afford to leave.

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