OneWeekJob.com is now officially launched!

Wow, okay so I sent out the News Release last night to various news, print, television, radio and online publications across the country and have already had a great response!

Thanks so much to everyone for your personal messages of support! It’s really great to hear all of your positive feedback and helping to promote One Week Job.

I have no idea where the project will lead or what jobs I will end up doing, and the uncertainty is kinda scary but definately what makes it so exciting and all the more worthwhile at the same time!

Until next time,

-Sean

PS – You can catch me on Breakfast Television on Citytv in Vancouver next Monday morning, February 12th!

Thanks for checking out the site!

Week 1 begins February 26th, 2007 so stay tuned with what’s happening by signing up for the mailing list located on the right hand side of the page.

This project is going to be a lot of fun and I hope you join me for the adventure!

Until next time,

-Sean

I have learned a lot about myself through travel, which has provided me with many great life experiences, yet has not provided too much work experience and I still have no idea what I want to do.

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 my ideal career would look like and inspire the many others of my generation in similar situations to commit to going after their passions.

People always say that we should go after what keeps us up at night, no matter how unconventional it may seem or how many people tell us that we can’t do it. Well this was one of the crazy ideas I had running through my head keeping me up at night, so I decided to take the leap and go for it.

I hope you join me for the journey!

- Make me an offer!
- Learn more about me!
- Frequently Asked Q’s
- My Generation

Comments regarding the “My Generation” page.

Donations can be made through Oxfam Canada as they handle the accounts of Make Poverty History and can issue charitable receipts for income tax purposes.

Here is the link to the Oxfam Canada donate page.

In order to ensure that Make Poverty History receives your donation, be sure to put “For MakePovertyHistory.ca via One Week Job project” in the “Comments” box found on the Oxfam Canada donate page.

“Fund” is: “General Community Development and Humanitarian Fund”

Also, please inform me (oneweekjob@gmail.com) if you do make a donation so that I can add it to the total “Amount Raised” in the left side column.

Note: If you are looking to make a donation to help me with my personal travel expenses, you can do so through the ‘sponsors‘ page.

Thanks for the support!

-Sean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OneWeekJob.com asks ‘Would you hire Sean Aiken for one week?’

VANCOUVER, BC — In an attempt to find his passion, Sean Aiken, 25, has created a website that allows any individual or company from across Canada to make him a job offer for one week. He will continue to fulfill jobs one week at a time throughout the country while recording his experiences with blog entries and short video clips posted to his website One Week Job (www.oneweekjob.com)

“I think that many in my generation have seen our parents stuck in the same job they were not necessarily happy with for far too long,” says Sean. “We are realizing the importance of making a career choice that suits our skill set, while at the same time matches our personality, values, and passions as well.”

Graduating top of his class with a Business Administration degree and voted Class Valedictorian, Sean believes there are many signs of his generation putting off the transition into adulthood; taking longer to finish university, get married, move out, start a family and to enter the work force.

“In a world where there are so many possibilities, the weight of all the possibilities is overwhelming,” he continues. The One Week Job website will allow him to explore many types of employment and share his experience with others.

Any individual or corporation from across the country can offer Sean a job position for one week. He stresses the job could be absolutely anything, anywhere, from garbage collection in Toronto, to working the counter at a Starbucks in Kelowna, to working a family farm in Saskatchewan, to a suit and tie corporate position in Halifax.

All proceeds that the company or individual is willing to pay him for his week of work will be donated to the Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca) dedicated to tackling the issue of child poverty in Canada. “I was shocked to hear that today nearly 1 in 6 Canadian children are growing up in poverty,” explains Sean. “There is really no excuse for it.”

For future fans of Sean’s project that are unable to offer Sean a job, he stresses his appreciation for other ways to help, whether spreading the word online, or offering a place to stay while he is in your city. Sean also plans on leveraging the growing trend of blogging, online videos and other forms of social networking to record and promote his weekly adventures.

“In doing so, I hope to learn more about myself along the journey, bring some much needed awareness to the issue of child poverty in Canada, and in turn share what I learn with the countless others in my generation who are in similar situations.”

When asked why he thinks that his generation has difficulty deciding on their certain careers, his answer is simple: “We have been told our whole life that anything is possible. Well, our parents did a great job, because now we actually believe it!”

Week one of Sean’s journey begins February 26th, 2007. Visit www.OneWeekJob.com to find out more about the project and how you can offer Sean a ‘One Week Job.’

– 30 -

For more information or to set up an interview, contact:

Sean Aiken

Email: oneweekjob@gmail.com
www.OneWeekJob.com

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.

__________
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

July 23rd, 2007
One Week Job Launches Internet TV Show

June 13th, 2007
OneWeekJob.com Founder to Write Weekly Column for Globe & Mail Careers Section About His Journey

June 8th, 2007
NiceJob.ca sponsors the ‘One Week Job guy’ to help with travel expenses

May 18th, 2007
Ten Weeks of OneWeekJob.com shows diversity of career options

February 12th, 2007
OneWeekJob.com asks ‘Would you hire Sean Aiken for one week?’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ten Weeks Of OneWeekJob.com Shows Diversity Of Career Options

(May 18, 2007 – Vancouver, BC) Ten weeks after launching oneweekjob.com in an attempt to find his passion, 25-year-old Sean Aiken has experienced careers ranging from dairy farmer to yoga instructor to talk show intern, and is still enjoying his exploration of many types of employment and continues to share his experiences with others.

In February 2007, Aiken launched his quest to try different jobs across North America. He created a website where any individual or company could offer him a job offer for one week, and where he is recording his experiences with blog entries and short video clips posted to www.oneweekjob.com. His current job for week ten is as a marketer with Vancouver-based Sustainet Software Solutions (http://www.sustainet.com).

“I have been overwhelmed by the positive response my project has received both from media and individuals throughout Canada,” says Aiken. “Based on feedback I’ve been getting, I believe people are finding inspiration in what I am doing.”

All proceeds that the company or individual pays him for his week of work are being donated to the Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca) dedicated to tackling the issue of child poverty in Canada.

Aiken will soon head to Quebec where he will continue his journey with new jobs and new experiences, which he continues to document with words and video on his blog. Some excerpts include:

On being part of an events team: “I like the idea of focusing on one project with all of your energy for a period of time, seeing it through to its fruition and then moving on to the next project. I think that it is something I will have to incorporate into my career somehow.”

On working the bottom of the chair lift at Lake Louise: “Could I do it for the rest of my life? Probably not, but I realized again how much I like interacting with and meeting new people. It was a lot of fun being in a position like that in which new people are constantly coming through.”

On working as a dairy farmhand: “After trying to avoid it for the first 15 minutes, I realized quite quickly that there is just really no way around it; having cow manure all over your hands and occasionally splat on you is just part of the job. I call it ‘surrendering to the pooh.’”

On being a florist: “I am learning a lot about the flower industry, which I suppose was expected considering I knew nothing coming in. I can now arrange and wrap a bouquet of flowers and even tell you the difference between a fuji mom, asiatic lily, and a gerber daisyÅ (An) arrangement of roses that I had made on my first day was sold. Needless to say, it was a proud moment!”

On landing a job as a yoga instructor: “I am really excited to start the week as yoga is something that I have wanted to learn more about and will also get to see the workings of a newly formed small business.”

Graduating top of his class with a Business Administration degree, Aiken sees many signs that his generation is putting off the transition into adulthood – taking longer to finish university, get married, move out, start a family and to enter the work force.

“In a world where there are so many possibilities, the weight of all the possibilities can be overwhelming,” he says.

To offer Sean Aiken a job for a week, visit www.oneweekjob.com.
- 30 -

For more information or to set up an interview, contact:

Sean Aiken
oneweekjob@gmail.com
cell 1-416-735-WEEK

- or -

Carla S. Shore
C-Shore Communications Inc.
P: 604-731-0975
oneweekjobmedia@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OneWeekJob.com Founder to Write Weekly Column for Globe & Mail Careers Section About His Journey

(June 13, 2007 — Vancouver, BC) Based on the success of his OneWeekJob.com challenge to try a different job every week in an attempt to find his passion, 25-year-old Sean Aiken has been asked to write a regular column on his career exploration for the Globe and Mail’s Careers section.

Aiken will write a weekly column, beginning June 13, in the Globe and Mail detailing his career odyssey and the lessons he is learning about what the work world has to offer his generation. Aiken, who graduated at the top of his class with a Business Administration degree, has so far experienced careers ranging from dairy farmer to yoga instructor to software marketer to talk show intern. The bilingual Aiken is currently trying out jobs in Quebec, and is interested in offers throughout the summer in Quebec, Ontario and the maritimes.

“I have been overwhelmed by the positive response my project has received both from media and individuals throughout Canada and am excited to begin sharing my experience with Globe readers,” says Aiken. “I see many signs that my generation is putting off the transition into adulthood — taking longer to finish university, get married, move out, start a family and to enter the work force. In a world where there are so many possibilities, the weight of all the possibilities can be overwhelming,”

In February 2007, Aiken launched his quest to try different jobs across North America. He created a website where any individual or company could offer him a job offer for one week, and where he is recording his experiences with blog entries and short video clips posted to www.oneweekjob.com.

All proceeds that the company or individual pays him for his week of work are being donated to the Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca) dedicated to tackling the issue of child poverty in Canada.

To offer Sean Aiken a job for a week, visit www.oneweekjob.com.

- 30 -

For more information or to set up an interview, contact:

Sean Aiken
oneweekjob@gmail.com
cell 1-416-735-WEEK

— or —

Carla S. Shore
C-Shore Communications Inc.
P: 604-731-0975
oneweekjobmedia@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NiceJob.ca sponsors the ‘One Week Job guy’ to help with travel expenses

(June 8, 2007 — Vancouver, BC) Canadian job search engine NiceJob.ca has signed on to sponsor 25-year-old Sean Aiken’s OneWeekJob.com as he travels across Canada to explore different jobs, one week at a time, in an attempt to find his career passion.

Aiken is twelve weeks into his career exploration, and has experienced careers ranging from dairy farmer to yoga instructor to marketer. He continues to share his experiences with others through his blog at OneWeekJob.com.

NiceJob.ca, founded by jobWings Careers, have agreed to sponsor Sean’s journeys to help out with his travel expenses. NiceJob.ca is the first Canadian job search engine and the most popular, continually browsing companies’ career pages for the most recent job opportunities. It provides job seekers quick and direct access to thousands of jobs found on various employer websites, saving all the time and trouble it takes to go to each site individually.

“We are excited to get involved with Sean’s career odyssey,” says Manuel Francisci, president of jobWings Careers Inc. “His cross-country travel is an interesting way to find out what kinds of jobs are out there, but for others, using our search engine at NiceJob.ca is an easier way to go.”

In February 2007, Aiken launched his quest to try different jobs across North America. He created a website where any individual or company could offer him a job for one week, and where he is recording his experiences with blog entries and short video clips posted to www.OneWeekJob.com. The bilingual Aiken is currently working with a window and door manufacturer in Trois Pistoles, Quebec.

All proceeds that the company or individual pays him for his week of work are being donated to the Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca) dedicated to tackling the issue of child poverty in Canada.

To offer Sean Aiken a job for a week or become a sponsor, visit www.OneWeekJob.com.

- 30 -

For more information or to set up an interview, contact:

Sean Aiken
oneweekjob@gmail.com
cell 1-416-735-WEEK

— or —

Carla S. Shore
C-Shore Communications Inc.
P: 604-731-0975
oneweekjobmedia@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

One Week Job Launches Internet TV Show

(July 23, 2007) To share more of his OneWeekJob.com experiences, 25-year-old Sean Aiken has launched an Internet TV show/video podcast.

Launched in Feb 2007, the One Week Job project chronicles Aiken’s year-long journey as he travels around Canada working a different job a week. Jobs are offered by individuals or companies that hear about One Week Job through the media or OneWeekJob.com. Aiken, who graduated at the top of his class with a Business Administration degree, has so far experienced careers ranging from dairy farmer to yoga instructor to software marketer to headhunter.

“I’m learning so much and want to be able to share my experiences with others, so expanding to a regular television-style show seems a natural step,” says Aiken. “I am trying to bring others through the journey with me, hoping that they will feel a part of the adventure, be inspired by it, and learn with me.”

Starting July 30th, The One Week Job Show (http://www.oneweekjob.com/show) will begin production in Toronto. Part reality tv, part adventure series, each episode will run approximately 10 minutes. The show will be syndicated on the One Week Job website, as well as all major video portals (Youtube, Daily Motion) and social networking communities (Facebook, Myspace). Aiken is currently seeking sponsors for weekly episodes to cover travel expenses, food, accommodation and equipment.

Aiken’s journey has attracted a lot of attention from media across Canada, including MTV Canada, CBC Newsworld, Global National, CTV Canada AM, and Maclean’s Magazine. Aiken also publishes a bi-weekly column in the Globe and Mail exploring his journey, and of course he posts regular entries on his blog at OneWeekJob.com.

All proceeds that a company or individual pays Aiken for his week of work are being donated to the Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca).

To offer Sean Aiken a job for a week or to sponsor The One Week Job Show, visit www.oneweekjob.com.

- 30 -

For more information or to set up an interview, contact:

Sean Aiken
oneweekjob@gmail.com
cell 1-416-735-WEEK

— or —

Carla S. Shore
C-Shore Communications Inc.
P: 604-731-0975
oneweekjobmedia@gmail.com

VIDEOS
Introduction Video – OneWeekJob.com
Week One – Bungee Jumping
Week Two – Funny segment for the show
Week Four – ShawTV Segment
Week Three – Snoeshoeing Fun
Week Five – Not Your Typical Employee Entrance
Week Six – Fun With Flowers
Week Eight – A ‘Dairy’ Good Time

Some Previous Television Appearances:
Global National (Nationwide) – Segment on One Week Job
CBC Newsworld (Nationwide) – Morning Show
CTV News (Nationwide) – Segment on One Week Job
CityTV – Breakfast Television Interview
ShawTV – Urban Rush Interview
CityTV – Surprise Week Four Interview

PHOTOS
One Week Job Flickr Account – Photos from each week

REFLECTIONS & LESSONS LEARNED
Finding Congruence In The Workplace
Make Your Promise Today
Meet Henri Ferguson – Lifelong Learner
Where Do All These Pieces Go?
Talkin’ bout my generation
Meet Garry: Software Developer Turned Snowshoe Guide
Are You “Sheepwalking” Through Life?”
Make a promise today

PREVIOUS POSTS

Week Eleven – Resident Caregiver
Week Eleven Announced – Caregiver
B I N G O !

Bienvenue au Quebec
Finding Congruence In The Workplace
Meetings, Oh Meetings
A Maclean’s Magazine Newsmaker

Week Ten – Marketer
Week Ten Announced – Sales & Marketing
Here’s To Not Settling!
Another Day At The Office
Life As A Trade Show Exhibitor

Television Segment From Week Four
Gill Deacon Show Cancelled
Dead Air And Day Dreaming

Week Nine – Event Planner
Week Nine Announced – Lake Louise Resort
Exhausted In The Rockies
Late, In The Season
Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…
Vancouver Bound
Saying Goodbye To Lake Louise

Week Eight – Dairy Farmer
Week Eight Announced – Dairy Farmer
Surrendering To The Pooh
April Snow Storms, Bring May Temperature Norms?
A ‘Dairy’ Good Time

Week Seven – Yoga Instructor
Week Seven Announced – Yoga Instructor… in training
Meet Henri Ferguson – Lifelong Learner
Sean’s Yoga Marathon
Inspiring Youth, Inspiring Me
My Yoga Instructor Debut
Saying Goodbye To Edmonton

Week Six – Florist
Edmonton Bound
City Slickers And Cowboys
Week Six Announced – Florist
Where Do All These Pieces Go?
Roses Are Red, Star Gazing Lilies Are Not
Long Weekends Are Fun

Week Five – Columnist
Week Five Announced – Columnist For 24hrs
Day In The Life Of A Columnist
Not Your Typical Employee Entrance
Surprise Attack On The ‘Employee Entrance’
A Reality ‘Cheque’ Assignment
Want to hear me on the radio?
Wine Tasting Extravaganza

Week Four – Volleyball Coach at Kids Camp
Week Four Announced – Volleyball Coach
Longest day of volleyball ever…
Surprise Interview On The Volleyball Courts

Week Three – Snowshoe Guide
Hot chocolate and sunshine at the top of Vancouver
Meet Garry: Software Developer Turned Snowshoe Guide
Reflections from Mount Seymour – Interview with Garry Rathbone

Week Two – TV Talk Show Intern/Co-host
Week Two Announced – Intern/Co-host
Sean On Shaw
Life behind the scenes of a tv talk show
Bidding farewell to the crew at Urban Rush

Week One – Bungee Operator/Marketing
Week One Announced – Marketing/Bungee Assistant
Sean Joins The Working World!
Taking the leap… literally!
It’s not everyday you jump off a bridge