I am currently working as an intern at a consulting firm. I am soon to move to a full time employee once I graduate next semester, and I love working there. However, as a student, I lack money and I have met a business owner outside of work who has offered to hire me for some freelance web development. Because I met this individual outside of work, I feel it would not be a conflict of interest to freelance for him. However, the work his is wanting me to do is very similar to what I already do for my current boss. Should I speak with my boss before considering the offer? Edit: I understand that I cannot take IP from work, and I am not in a contract, I'm employed at will.
Should I ask/tell my boss before freelancing?
employment;ethics;freelancing
Since you care about this issue, and are considering working for them full time, I think now is a great time to find out how they handle it. They may say sure, go ahead, we like to see people improving themselves! They may put some restrictions on you about using their tools. They may forbid you to do it, or even threaten to fire you. They may say oh gosh, you need more money, we can pay you more (possibly for more hours). Anything could happen. Even the ones that don't feel good (like forbidding you) actually are, because they tell you what this job is like before you're committed to it. If they will lock you in and control you, do you want to work there when you graduate?