It’s come to our attention that some people are having issues with the video player not working properly or not showing up at all. I figured out the likely problem: your flash player is not up to date.

To fix it download the latest flash player here and follow the instructions. It takes a few seconds and you’ll be good to go.

Once again, thanks for all your feedback and support!

In Episode #2 Sean works a week at New Tribe Tattoo in downtown Toronto. He meets colourful characters and gets a glimpse into the world of tatooing and piercing.

Themes explored in this episode are the existence of discrimination in the workforce, and the difficulty of trying a one week job in an occupation that demands years of training and creative skill.

Lastly, Sean makes an appearance on the most unique interview to date - Naked News Daily.

Thanks to everyone for all your feedback on the first episode and for sharing it with your friends. Sean and I appreciate all the support! Remember, if you’d like to sponsor an upcoming episode, visit our show sponsorship section.

After spending only a couple days at Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and meeting all the amazing people that work there, I could definitely see myself working in the not for profit sector. I think it is so great knowing that what you do directly correlates to generating money and awareness for such a great cause.

I spent yesterday afternoon downtown going into all sorts of store fronts to get some of the initial promotional material up for The Ride To Conquer Cancer event coming up next Spring. After learning more about the event over the past few days, it is really going to be something special. It is a 200km cycle over two days from downtown Toronto that is going to end up at Niagara Falls.

There is an over night stop in Hamilton, where there will be food, entertainment, massage, camping… it’s going to be a lot fun - although it might require some training on my part because I am not sure if I have cycled 200km over the course of my entire life!

I have also had the opportunity to sit down with some great individuals who work at the foundation and hear about what they do, which you will be able to see clips of in next weeks episode.

It is great to work in an environment where everyone is so passionate about achieving the vision of the foundation. The vision is plain and simple: to conquer cancer. The majority of those that work with the foundation have been touched somehow or another in their personal lives by cancer which adds to the level of pride in what they do.

The infrastructure of the hospital itself is quite impressive. Ian hasn’t been able to film as much as he would like I imagine, but hopefully we do get some shots in the episode to convey it.

As you may have noticed the second episode of One Week Job came out yesterday. We managed to find a new movie player for the show and so have been able to keep it at a higher quality which is good news because Ian puts a lot of hard work into all the editing. Before Ian came out on the road with me, I would always be telling him about all the work I had to do with the project, which he didn’t quite comprehend. After two weeks, I think he is starting to finally realize what I was talking about.

Have a look at the Episode #2 and let us know what you think!

-Sean

This week I am working with Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation helping promote an event they have coming up next Spring called The Ride To Conquer Cancer. Princess Margaret Hospital is Canada’s leading cancer research hospital and raises over $60 million annually to support breakthrough research and patient care and education programs.

This week I will be able to learn all about the cancer centre, the foundation, and help with one of their major events scheduled for next spring. If you recall, Week 18 I was in Marathon, Ontario as a Race Director of a Triathlon - looks like next year I might just have to return to Ontario not only to compete in a Triathlon, but also to cycle 200km in The Ride To Conquer Cancer as well… I suppose I better start training.

It will be my first job in the not for profit sector and I am excited to be involved in an environment in which the work they do directly contributes to such a great cause. I imagine in an organization such as this, it must be easier to get everyone on board working towards the same vision and to feel as if what they do is worthwhile.

Episode #2 from my week at New Tribe Tattooing and Piercing comes out this Wednesday. If you know of anyone who would be interested in sponsoring an episode, please pass the site onto them.

-Sean

I had a good week working with New Tribe Tattoo Parlour. It was an environment that I had never been exposed to and so was able to get an inside look into the industry and people.

One thing became evident this week more so than others, that perhaps is one of the limitations of the project - I didn’t feel like I could really contribute in an environment such as this which requires years of training, not to mention an artistic ability that I definitely do not possess. I found myself searching for ways that I could be useful, but there was only so much that I could do - apart from the sterilizing/packaging equipment, setting up/taking down stations, etc.

At the same time however, a big element of what I am doing and all that I am learning comes from the people I meet along the way and hearing their stories. In that regard, it was great to speak with everyone who works New Tribe and learn about how they got into the tatooo (and piercing) industry and their passion for what they do.

Ian got some great footage and the next episode is shaping up. It will be out this coming Wednesday.

I also got a call from FOX News in the States yesterday and it looks like I will be doing an interview with their morning show next Saturday which broadcasts nationwide in the US. It could be interesting to see what the job market is like down South.

For now, I’m off to the Greek Festival - if you are in Toronto and heading that way, give me a shout! 416-735-9335

-Sean

At long last - the pilot episode of the One Week Job Show is here! The episode is the result of many…many…many hours of work shooting Sean on the job, editing the footage, searching for the soundtrack, encoding, transcoding, uploading, you name it. The result is an approx 17 minute film.

In this episode, we’re introduced to Steam Whistle Brewery in downtown Toronto, where Sean tries his hand at pretty much every job in the company. Also, we introduce a number of themes, such as how a great work environment is a valuable asset, and crucial to a successful organization.

Finally, Sean battles with the balance between working a one week job and handling the media interviews (radio, tv) that draw some criticism from others.

So watch the show, share it far and wide, and most of all - let us know what you think! All feedback is appreciated.

Last week was so busy that it felt as if the week had barely finished yet the following Monday morning had already arrived and it was time to start my next One Week Job at New Tribe Tattooing and Piercing.

I think Ian and I are the only ones in there without tattoos completely covering our arms, though there is still a few more days left so you never know;)

I spent my first day on the job sterilizing and packaging equipment, setting up and taking down tattoo/piercing stations, taking out the garbage, and doing some coffee runs for some of the tattooists and piercers.

The first day I was working with Joey, an 18 year old who is apprenticing to become a piercer. He was talking about how he would like to get his arms covered in tattoos, though he must decide if this is what he really wants to do as a career because having a lot of visible tattoos tends to limit him to this industry.

Although tattoos and piercings are becoming more common, he mentioned how much discrimination there is in the workplace when looking for jobs. It reminded me how I have been asked if I think that some companies have not offered me a One Week Job due to my hair. I imagine the answer is yes, though, would I really want to work in an environment with individuals who would pass such judgment anyways? Nope.

My second day on the job I was able to hang out with one of the piercers, John. He has been a piercer for 11 years! I got to see him put in various rings throughout the day — tongue ring, nipple ring, nose ring - just a typical day at the office for him.

Yesterday, the shop was closed because they went to a waterpark, Wild Water Kingdom, for a staff outing. Ian and myself couldn’t go as I had an interview with CBC Newsworld in the morning and another in the afternoon with Naked News Daily. I had actually received an offer from Naked News Daily to be a News Anchor. The catch though, as you may have guessed, is that you must be naked. I thought I would save my family the embarassment and so elected for the interview option in my underwear — the “half naked news” I guess.

Our first episode has been released from my week at Steam Whistle Brewing. It would be a big help if you could pass on the link as we need sponsors for each of the weekly episodes in order to sustain the project. Thanks!

We will be in Toronto for another week after this one, then off to Kitchener/Waterloo where I will be a Radio DJ.

Cheers,

Sean

This week I will be working at New Tribe Tattooing and Piercing in downtown Toronto.

I will be up to various things throughout the week - shadowing the piercers and current shop helpers, jewelery packaging, station tear down and setup, cleaning and sterilizing of tools…

I am not sure if you need a certification to do any tattooing, but a guy that I worked with last week is willing to be my guinea pig if possible - one very brave individual. Though I must say that I was pretty good at colouring inside the lines when I was young.

I will be there all week, so if you are in the area, drop by and say hello!

-Sean

We have barely had time to catch our breath since we arrived last Sunday in Toronto, yet we had an incredible week working with the crew at Steam Whistle Brewing. We were so warmly welcomed by everyone from the start and I can’t say enough about the kindness and generosity that was shown to us.

For example, on our first day at Steam Whistle, one of the co-founders, Cam Heaps, offered the use of his high-end video camera for the year after finding out that ours doesn’t support wireless microphones. And Greg and Sybil invited us up to their cottage for the weekend. It’s just a continual reminder with this project, of how many genuinely kind human beings there are in this world. This week, we were among some of the best.

People here like to work for this company and it is easy to see why after a few interactions with the company’s co-founders. I think the corporate culture they have managed to create is one of the major strengths of the Steam Whistle brand and one of the reasons that has allowed them to be so successful.

We were on Greg’s boat yesterday up at the cottage and I was speaking to one of the sales reps, Brian, about what he does for the company. He didn’t even consider himself in a specific position, as he feels more like family than an employee.

It was great to work in each department this week and see how everybody must work together as a team in order to achieve the company’s goals and objectives:

The company’s vision must be effectively conveyed to all the employees by co-founders Greg and Cam, the marketing department must take this vision and accurately express it in its marketing efforts to create awareness and generate interest in the product. This in turn helps the sales reps who must continually generate sales in order for the company to continue. The employees in retail must convey this vision in creating a positive experience, when customers come into the brewery for a tour.

And, of course, all this is irrelevant if you do not have a great product produced by the production team.

I will be in Toronto for the next couple of weeks - chances are you will be able to find Ian and I at the brewery a few more times when the steam whistle blows at 5pm. If you live in Toronto, hope to see you there!

Ian is working hard and the first episode of One Week Job will be released this Wednesday.

Stay tuned!

-Sean

Things just keep getting better each day here at Steam Whistle. It’s been a really busy week and although we are operating on about four hours of sleep a night, we are having an great time. I am positive you could ask any employee here and they would tell you that they really enjoy their job.

Today I went on some sales calls with Richard, one of the sales reps at Steam Whistle. It was great to get out and see different areas of the town. We met up with some of his old clients and made some contacts in order to generate new ones. It was pretty interesting to see the sales process - it is almost as if they are running their own business, making their own hours, directly accountable for their income, meeting with lots of different clients, yet it doesn’t have the associated risk that a business owner would have.

Although I do enjoy the changing tasks and interaction with others, I don’t know if I could be a salesman, as I am not too sure if I would be able to handle all the rejection it takes in order to finally secure a sale.

Ian is getting some great footage and things are going really well for our first episode. If you can think of anyone who would be willing to sponsor the first episode, please pass on the link to ‘The Show‘ page.

Time for bed. We are being picked up at 4:45am — definitely looking forward to sleeping in this weekend!

-Sean