Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is all your earnings going to the Make Poverty History/ONE Campaign, or are you taking out some for travel expenses?
Any proceeds from the jobs is directly donated to the respective campaign by the individual or the company. This way Make Poverty History/ONE can issue the tax receipts and I don’t have to worry about dealing with the money or being taxed on money that I never really had. Just keeps things simple and transparent.
2) But then how are you surviving?
By keeping costs down as much as we can, staying with host families, hitch hiking, taking the bus. If you would like to help out by sponsoring the project, please send me an email.
3) If I offer you a job, do I also need to find you a place to stay and pay for your travel expenses?
It would be a huge help, and I’d really appreciate it, though it’s not required.
4) How much are you looking for as a donation for the week of work?
There is really no minimum or no maximum at all. The more job offers I receive the better, and the more rewarding of an experience it will be. So whatever is in the budget, there are really no expectations.
5) Does it have to last the entire week, and be a full-time position?
I am willing to work full-time for the entire week, though the position does not necessarily have to last the entire week and can be part-time. Need some ideas, check out ‘My Wish List.
6) How are you traveling?
A combination of things. Using the site to let people know where I am going and see if they can help me out, using radio stations for the same purpose, the bus, plane, ride-sharing, hitch-hiking…
If you would like to help out by sponsoring the project, please send me an email.
7) What kind of jobs are you hoping to get?
Anything and everything, the more diverse the better!
8 ) Any job in particular you want to try out?
Much Music/MTV VJ, advertising agency, stock broker, intern at the Trump Organization, pizza delivery driver, brick layer, fisherman, tv/radio talk show co-host, construction, lawyer, producer, sled dog guide, farmer … anything really!
Need some ideas, check out ‘My Wish List.
I would also love to be mentored by a top executive for a week, just follow him/her around on the job and get shown the ropes. I think I could learn so much from an experience like that.
9) How long are you going to sustain the project for?
52 weeks, 52 “One Week Jobs.” It would be great if down the road, I could pass the project onto someone else who would like to use this method to get out there and discover their passions. Also, I would like to write a book about my experience and all that I have learned for high school, college and university students.
10) Why the Make Poverty History campaign?
I began One Week Job by accepting offers throughout Canada. At the same time that I had the idea for the project, a friend brought to my attention the issue of child poverty in Canada .
Instead of working for free, I decided this would also be a good opportunity to bring some awareness to this issue. I chose the Make Poverty History campaign because ending child poverty in Canada is one of their main agendas.
As I have started to receive offers in the United States and elsewhere, it made sense that donations in lieu of my wages be made to the affiliated organization of the Make Poverty History campaign in the respective country.
11) Why are you doing this?
After finishing my degree, I made a promise to myself that I would not settle for a career that I am not truly passionate about. Not realizing where these passions lie, I came up with the idea for One Week Job.
My goal is to gain a better understanding of what this career would look like and inspire the many others of my generation in similar situations to commit to going after their passions.
12) Is one week long enough for you to really know if a job is right for you?
I am not expecting to find that perfect fit in a particular job I take on. If I do, that would be great! Yet, I am looking more to get a taste of many different positions, hoping to take something away from each one, and in turn gain a better understanding of the type of situation I need to have in order to be happy.
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Any other questions about me or the project, feel free to email me at oneweekjob@gmail.com
- Make me an offer!
- Why am I doing this?
- Learn more about me!
- My Generation
Hello Sean,
Como estas? I hope you keep it up until the end of the year or next February, the month you started this journey. I wish you learn a lot and take that with you till you’re an old man. One of my favorite quotes is: “A life of total dedication to the truth also means a life of willingness to be personally challenged.”–M.Scott Peck
Ever read his book? I think you will like it. It’s called “The Road Less Travelled.”
God bless you on your journey.
Thanks so much! I have been meaning to read that book. Now that you mention it again, I will be sure to do so.
Take care,
-Sean
While I find it inspiring and heart warming, nice to know there still exsists young people with a sense of something beyond themselves, I have concerns. As a former student myself I cant help but wonder how you can possibly afford to work for free, and Ifeel there are few people who could enjoy that sort of experience. Most students leave their education with a dept load that requires payed employment, and if there isnt a dept, they have parents that have generously contributed to their education so that their students could be gainfully employed.I cant help but wonder if your parents shouldnt be recieving a donation of some sort as well. When I left school I also wasnt sure exactly what I wanted to do, I however explored my options thru the good old fashion way of getting a job and learning new skills and gradually acquiring knowledge that allowed meto be considered by the employers that I was truly interested in.Life after all is a journey, and we are continually growing and evolving. It would seem to me that although your contributions to the less fortunate are very noble, I question your motive, which I think deserves consideration…is it for the less fortunate or simply a good way to have a great time? It all looks good when we attach such a worthy cause to it, but have you gone to volonteer at your local soup kitchen, or needle exchange program, have you taken any time to inform on family violence and issue that result in poverty in our great country?If you really want to make a difference try a visit to a local detox center,or any organization in your area that works daily to promote and educate on the plight of the less fortunate.
I wish you well in your persute of happiness, and success,I just hope that this isnt all just a good excuse to have fun.As a successful buisiness person I can tell you that the best people to have in your organization have an excellent foundation in buisiness skills, ie education, but an even better understanding of the people that your serving. Good Luck, and many successes to you…Mary
Hey Sean,
I’m just curious are you flying to any of your jobs? Are is all your travel being done by bus?
Also, have any companies offered to pay for your flights or bus? How do you handle that offer?
Hey Mary,
Thanks a lot for the comment and I appreciate your thoughts.
I was lucky in that I received a volleyball scholarship and was living at home, so I did not come out of school with a debt load. I hope not to, but I am willing to come out of this project with a debt, as I feel that the experience, insight I gain and impact on others I can have a long the way is definitely worth while.
I am not trying to champion the fight against child poverty in Canada. I am in search of gaining a better understanding of the type of work place situation I need in order to be happy. I am in search of a passion. At the same time, I realize a great opportunity exists with the project to inspire many others in my same situation to not settle for a career that they are not happy with; to commit to seeking out a career in which they are passionate about. I believe if we truly want to make a difference in the lives of others, we must first start by being happy with ourselves.
I could be asking companies to take me on just as a volunteer for a week with no pay, yet I thought this project could also serve as a good way to bring some money and awareness to a subject that I don’t feel is getting enough attention.
I hope that clears things up and thanks again for your thoughts.
All the best!
-Sean
Zach,
As of yet, a company has not offered to pay for my transportation. However, it would be a huge help if they wanted to. In return I would be willing to place a logo on the ‘One Week Job’ homepage back to their site.
Cheers,
-Sean
Hey Sean!
I caught the tail end of your interview on CBC Radio the other day and was intruiged. What an exciting way to try new things, meet people and bring awareness to a worthy issue. I will be watching to see what you find for yourself out of this, and perhaps what people will find from you. If you find yourself in Penticton and need somewhere to crash - send me an email! My boyfriend and myself would love to help!
Here’s to finding all that you’re looking for!
Hi Sean, try the automalls and see if they are willing to sponsor you for the time that you are traveling across Canada with a little smart car in the cities for that week. It would be good advertising for them and you can have your cause posted on the vehicle. It is just an idea.
Regards,
Heather
That’s a great idea Heather,thanks!
-Sean
What if other people want to try this too?
Any suggestions on getting started?
I have no idea what I want to do with my life, it switches every like 6months and something like this would be a great opportunity to figure it out.
Maybe you could start something like… After you figure out what you want to do perhaps put someone else up to it, then when they do get another person so on and do forth.
Mr. Sean Aiken:
You idea is totally awesome! I am sure you will find no shortage of job offers.
I own a small lanscape design and installation co. out of Kansas City, Missouri. Unfortunately, as winter arrives, there is little other than mundane, clean up, trimming, and snow removal for the months ahead. If spring arrives early this coming February or so, you can have a week here.
In the meantime, I will try to convince someone in ‘Trumpland’ (or maybe just at Trump University) to give you a ‘one week’ teaching post? Just an idea, seems like they would be interested in you!
Keep up the good (weekly) work!!!
Best Regards,
Steven Hollowell
(P,S.: How about TV’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition? They build houses in one week?)
Well, I find this to be truly intriguing. I think that this is a great experience builder and really, there are many jobs you can learn enough in a week to know if it is not for you, or if you will be bored out of your mind in a year. It also helps you do things you’ve never done and as someone in your age group (I think) that is always an appealing venture.
In the interest of your project, I live in lower Vermont and would be willing to be a host for any project jobs up here. If interested you may e-mail me. I am sure I am probably one of many who have volunteered but I figured I’d throw it out there.
Hey Sean! Very interesting project, and I hope you find what you are looking for (or else have a lot of fun!). If you ever come down to Malaysia or Australia let me know!
I’m also working on an ambitious project (though not quite as unusual as yours!!) and I’d like to know how you managed to secure sponsorship from NiceJobs. Did they find you and approach you, or did you approach them? I’m trying to find sponsors too and it’s difficult!!
good luck!
Sean, I’m interested in the logistics of your endeavor, primarily, how do you finalize all the arrangements within one week, travel, accommodations, W4 forms, while you’re working full time on another job? Is it legal? You must have assistants. Also what if nothing works out for the next week, are you ever not working for one of those weeks? What if you get sick? Have you ever felt that 2wk, or 1 month stints would give you a more realistic impression? I’d just like to know all inner workings of your experiment before I can make any judgments. Thanks.
HEY SEAN!!
I saw you on Rachel Ray this morning and decided to congratulate you!-I think what you are doing is GREAT!! You picked a wonderful charity for donating to also, what a great cause! God bless you for your accomplishments and intentions!!
Good luck, and have fun!!
Krista C
Hi Sean,
I’m from Richmond, BC, and graduated from university in 2007 with a similar feeling of not knowing what I want to do, but wanting it to be something I am passionate about. You mentioned above that you’d be interested in passing on the project to someone else who wants to test-drive their passions…are you serious? I think it sounds like an amazing chance.
Good luck writing the book and reflecting on the past year!
Heather
Hi
I’m one of the many that has no idea what to do with themselves. Having graduated last year, i’ve been a year without work and too afraid to make the first few steps out the door.
i spent the last three months in the philippines, hoping that something in me might change, but after coming home last week, i found myself back in the same funk.
i thought about doing something like this. originally, i saw this idea done in an anime called ‘golden boy’, but was too afraid to make the move… then i see you doing it and i think it’s fabulous. i know others have asked this before, but if you’re thinking of passing on the reins, then please feel free to contact me.
nice project…it’s glad to know that you enjoy it….that shows a lot of character of you…keep up with the good work..