What is an on-call job?

An on-call job, unlike standard full-time jobs, does not have a fixed shift. You may work on-call hours in addition to a part-time schedule. If you are on-call, you have to set apart a time window during which you can show up and be on duty as quickly as possible when your supervisor calls. This call may be from a dispatcher at a call center, your direct supervisor, or a customer. Because of the unpredictability of this type of schedule, some employers provide extra compensation for the hours you choose to set as being on-call. However, it can be challenging to work around if you have a lot of other obligations.