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*Continued from Amanda’s One Week Job Summary – Part 2 of 3*

Amanda’s Summary of Realizations

1. At the end of it all, I came to realize my love of small business.  With the exception of the Science Centre, every job I chose to shadow was either a personal or family venture.  I can legitimately see myself as my own boss – creating and being responsible for my own day-to-day.

2. I want to do something creative.  Whether it’s video production, photography, or latte art – I need to create.  I am passionate about this, no contest.

3. I want a job that means something.  I want to make a positive impact on others through my job. This could simply be bringing someone a perfectly poured cup of coffee, taking their wedding photos, or planning a favorite event.

4. I want to work as part of a TEAM.

5. It’s OK to not know!  Try different jobs.  Get out of your comfort zone.  Just be sure to enjoy whatever it is you’re doing, otherwise you’re wasting your time.

6. I like writing.  Hopefully you enjoyed some of what I had to say!

So…what now?

This is the million dollar question!  Everyone’s been asking me what the plan is now that I’m finished the program, as I’m sure they did like crazy when Sean Aiken finished his 52 weeks!  To be honest – I’m excited.  There are opportunities out there, and I know that I’m in charge of navigating them.

But then again, it’s kind of scary out here.  I’ve narrowed things down a bit in my head, but I’m still technically jobless!  As much as I can preach the ‘love your job’ mantra, humans have created the world to be a consumer haven – and I still have to play by those rules.  I still need money, and I still need to find a job to earn that money.  Some friends have asked if I’ve become even MORE confused now that I’ve done this program!  I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m confused – but perhaps more picky.

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— Continued from Amanda’s One Week Job Summary – Part 1 of 3 —–

Week 5 – Event Planning: Vancouver, BC

Whoa boy!  Week 5 took me by storm.  After a week of my yogic stretching and breathing, Event Planning caught me a bit off-guard.

Gut Reaction: Always been interested in Event Planning, but didn’t really know what to expect.  Kind of worried…

Lessons Learned: It’s a lot of work!  Karen at Reframe Marketing helped me out as much as she could, but in the end, the success/failure of the event was up to me.  It was confusing at first, as I didn’t really know what kind of an event I was going to do, and who I was going to do it for.  I was given freedom, but had no idea what to do with that freedom!

I learned the importance of delegation and trusting in your team – all of whom showed up on time and rarin’ to go the day of our Pop-Up Event in Vancouver!  I also learned to take responsibilities on one at a time.  Easier said than done, but it does keep you from losing track of your original goal.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I need WAAAY more experience in this field!  I was completely overwhelmed and panicked most of the time (although I hid this pretty well apparently) even though we created an insanely simple event.  I’m a quick learner, but not as quick as I needed to be in this case.

Future Projections: This week tired me out – and made me rethink being an Event Planner in ‘real-life’.  It’s a lot of stress, and I’m not sure I want to place myself in a high-stress environment at this point in my life.

Week 6 – Helicopter Pilot: Squamish, BC

Squamish is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever had the privilege of visiting.  The mountains, the ocean, the sky – hiking, mountain biking, kite-surfing…wowzah.

Gut Reaction: Flying is awesome.  Therefore, being a helicopter pilot must be one of the coolest jobs in the world!  Hello Britannia Beach Heli Tours!

Lessons Learned: Patience is a virtue, right Stu?!  With a few mechanical tune-ups and some 400 forest fires working to slow us down, a good chunk of Week 6 was spent waiting and crossing our fingers.  Marketing was also a big focus during this week, as the company is still fairly small.  A good sign, I suppose, is that I got a huge kick out of brainstorming new and groovy ways to improve the exposure of the business.  Maybe there is hope for me to be involved in event planning/marketing after all…?

As for the flying part – it was amazing.  This job, by far, has THE BEST COMMUTE out of any job I experienced.  1500 feet in the air.  Over the mountains.  Over the ocean.  Whew.  To be a pilot you have to be adaptable, and in the case of this business, know how to deal with the mechanics of the machine, understand weather patterns, have customer service skills, and some marketing know-how.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: Waiting was hard.  It’s all part of the tourism-industry game, but it was hard.  I do admit though, that it was pretty exciting to see customers get ready for their first ever helicopter ride!  They were happy, which made me happy.  Especially when we hosted a summer camp of 3-4 year olds…cutest lil’ pilots ever.

Future Projections: Probably won’t be a pilot.  But I would LOVE to work for a company like this – one just starting out, that I could help grow.  Perhaps even work as a photographer from 1500 feet up?!  GET ME TO ZEE CHOPPER!

*AUTHOR’S NOTE*

After Week 6, I’m going to completely honest with you: I got the point.  I figured out what I like to call my ‘Moral-Of-The-Story,’ which is simply this:  Don’t stay in a job you don’t like. Ground-breaking, hey?  Yeah…I know.

By this point in the summer I was completely exhausted from traveling, changing lives every week, all the new, and all my internal discussion.  I understood what had brought me to this point: my previous job hadn’t been fulfilling and I was curious about other careers.  Why hadn’t I explored other options on my own already?  Why was I so lazy?  Why was I looking to impress others, when I really just needed to satisfy myself?

I spoke to a few friends about their take on the OWJ Project, and got some very honest answers.  Most people were quick to shout out their praise and encouragement, but a few others were a bit more scrutinizing with their assessments.  Who was actually reading my blog?  Who actually cared what happened?  No employer was ever going to pay me to ‘find myself’… True story.

I could have stopped the program right here and felt like I’d done enough.  I’d read Sean’s book, and felt that the next couple weeks would just be more of the same.  I would figure out the basic ideas and motions of whatever job I was doing, and then be done.  Not enough time to dig in and actually get dirty.  A part of me thinks that to truly benefit, one needs a solid two weeks or even up to a month in a job before you can even start to understand the depth of it.  One week is enough to taste, and maybe smell – but nowhere near enough time to fully see or touch the real inner-workings of how a job can become a career.

But don’t caste me as being ungrateful in any sense, as that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  It was life working itself out, and questioning it is part of the experience.  I still had two weeks left, and they were going to be great…

Week 7 – Painter: Calgary, AB

Gut Reaction: I was looking forward to getting dirty, and making ART!

Lessons Learned: Dean Stanton teaches that art doesn’t have to be learned, individual, or high-brow.  Art can be teamwork, collaboration, and silly.  Art should be accessible!

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I had a great time – painting, helping out with a kids camp, priming, tracing, etc.  The trick with art is (taa-daa): marketing.  I guess my Event Planning week is going to come in handy more than I realized…;)

Future Projections: Painting isn’t really my strong point, but the lessons learned regarding the business side will come in handy if I get into any sort of small business myself.  Photography lends itself to a similar model, and I could see myself doing something like this with that kind of art.  As far as Dean’s artwork goes, this guy obviously loves what he does, and really enjoys making art accessible to a larger community.  If memory serves, I think he mentioned that he was booked up until spring of 2011…awesome.

Week 8 – PR/Communications: Calgary, AB

Gut Reaction: That it would be great to see Cassandra from the TELUS World of Science, and learn what the heck to do with my Communications Degree!

Lessons Learned: Internal Communication is just as important as External Communication.  Brainstorming exercises are not only fun, but can help to build both professional and personal relationships.  Everyone who works for a company, works on the same TEAM.  Having an end goal helps productivity.  If you don’t know what you’re working for, what are you doing?  In the end I also realized that if you believe what you’re doing makes a difference, your job becomes that much more meaningful.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I saw so many parts of the Science Centre that I couldn’t help but be amazed.  I felt very involved in the brainstorming sessions, was active as a Discovery Team Leader, and saw how insanely busy Cassandra was as she filled her role on the Communications team.  Definitely satisfied.

Future Projections: Talking to Cassandra made me more aware of what a Communications career entails, and she gave me resources to further educate myself in the industry.  I really enjoyed the social networking aspect, and the networking opportunities.  It’s fun to be around other people and work together.  With a little more education I could see myself in this role for sure.

*CLICK HERE for Part 3 of 3 – Amanda’s Realizations or: What am I going to do now?!*

Long time no blog!

I’m so sorry for not blogging more about Job #8 folks. All in all, I had a wonderful time with Stan and learned a ton. I plan to post one more blog with pictures of the week sometime soon.

So, I have an announcement! I am now a single job lady! What I mean is that I got a job this week after being interviewed on Wednesday and meeting with the manager yesterday!

I am thrilled to have this job because it is a starting point that will help me move closer towards my ultimate goal: to own a coffeehouse and possibly, a roastery. As I pondered this week, I kept coming back to the idea of “settling.” My greatest fear in pursuing a coffee shop job is that I would be settling for a job that doesn’t pay much, doesn’t look extraordinary on a resume’, and is a basic job overall.

After accepting a barista job today though, I was struck with this thought:

“To take a job just for the sake of making more money, being more “comfortable,” and feeling like I’ve arrived in the career world…

THAT would be majorly settling!

As I worked eight different jobs this summer, one thing become very evident: I love people!

After spending a full week with Charlie Mustard at Jittery Joe’s Coffee in Athens, GA, my passion for coffee and all that it represents was definitely affirmed. I realized that there are people (like Charlie) who are making a living by doing what they love to do!

It seems like a cliche’ dream to say that I want to own my coffee shop(s), but think of how many people hope to do things that never make an action step towards making it happen. I truly get revved up about the idea of owning my own business, designing a beautiful space for the community to enjoy, and serving the highest quality coffee and food!

Getting an entry-level job at Seattle’s Best coffee shop is an absolute dream for me! Unlike my previous job that only partially dealt with coffee, this job will offer plenty of chances to make drinks, learn what it takes to run a cafe’, and interact with customers.

I’m thrilled and I’m even more thrilled that I’m not settling.

Settling is a vague term anyways.

This would be a terrible world if people made decisions only based on how others would perceive them.

This summer, more than anything, I learned that it’s so freeing to be different. People were amazed that I was part of the One-Week Job Program and jealous too!

I considered over and over the idea of continuing to work more one-week jobs for the next month or longer. Going back to the idea of “settling,” that would be settling too. Here’s the thing: I know I want to do something related to coffee, business, and people. It would be amazing to try more jobs, but the fun can only last so long. I’ve used most of my travel funds, learned a lot about myself, and now, I’m ready to act on the things I learned!

This post is probably sounding like a rant or a major ramble-fest so I do apologize. I write this post to give you readers an idea of how the One-Week Job Program affected me and changed my life.

I learned a ton and met people who I will never forget.

Now, I’m on to a new project: serving the fine folks of Knoxville, TN some mighty fine coffee! I’m ecstatic that I’ll be able to be with my family, learn more about the retail coffee business, and focus on one job!

I’d love to post more thoughts, but I’ve got  a job to start! I’m off to start training today. Please keep following the blog as I share more about Job #8 and thoughts about this new permanent job.

Thanks,

Kieley Best

Email me at bestweekjob@gmail.com or follow me on twitter here.

Hey Guys!

Well, it’s been a couple weeks since my last blog, but this is a note to let you know that I’m not done just yet!!  I have a summary blog in the works, but this note is to tide you over until I get that finished.

At the beginning of my 8-week journey, a filmmaker friend of mine asked me to write a guest blog on the topic of ‘Advice to Those Who Hate Their Jobs.’  Her name is Punam, and she has dealt with her fair share of career struggles.  Her recent film Young Masters actually deals with the subject of the skilled-trades and the students who master them.

“Although destined for the podium as masters in their respective trades of autobody repair, painting, and IT, these young people reveal how they are often treated like second-class citizens because of their vocation.  In a society that values the head over the hands, university over college, and white collar over blue, can these young people also prove to be masters of their own futures?”

- Quote from the synopsis of Young Masters

Visit the Young Masters Website

Punam and I spoke about our individual experiences and struggles, and realized that there’s a lot more to this whole movement than we first thought.  This is the blog I wrote for her.

Stuck

The Break-Up

I have to be honest with you.

It’s been over a year. A year of trying to convince myself, a year of minor meltdowns, a year of disappointment, disagreement, and gut rot.

I swear I’ve tried!  I’ve worked hard, committed myself, and opened up to some new and wonderful things.  I have nodded my head, stepped up, and paid my dues.

The thing is, no matter how good you think we work together, this just isn’t working…

Quite simply: it’s not me – it’s you.

Have you ever felt this way?  Not just about romantic relationships, but about your job?  I’m willing to bet that a good number of people out there aren’t being fulfilled by what they do to earn a living.  Maybe you fell into this job because of financial reasons – you had loans to pay off, a mortgage to worry about, or children to raise.  Perhaps you were expected to take over the family business, or felt society bully you down a certain path.  Maybe you just got used to a certain routine and can’t even remember what it was that got you into this job in the first place.

Whatever it was that got you into this position, however, the reality is that you want out.  Some days you may even go so far as to say that you hate your job.

Denial

You catch yourself daydreaming about what it’s like to be that crazy cat lady you see collecting bottles through your office window.  You start raving to the receptionist about strange tickles in your throat, and begin blowing your nose excessively in hopes that your boss will notice and send you home.  Or even worse, as you catch your bus to work you start to realize that it’s not unusual to feel the familiar sting of tears welling up in your eyes.

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Job #7 was a full week of learning! Even though Clayton Homes wasn’t on my list of jobs that Sean Aiken gave me for the One-Week Job Program, I am thankful they hosted me for week #7. In case you’re behind, you can read my first two posts of this week here and here.

After working at the corporate office on Monday and Tuesday, I spent Wednesday at the Clayton Homes  sales center.

Thursday, I got the true behind-the-scenes experience! I drove an hour from the corporate office to the  Norris Homes building facility. Norris is just one of the “factories” where Clayton homes are built. As I stepped in the door, I was greeted by the manager Charlie. I spent some time with one of his salesmen to learn how they actually build a house!

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This week I am working with Clayton Homes, the largest home building company is the United States! I spent my first day at the corporate office with the I-house specialist, Beth. To read my first post about Job #7, click here.

Day #2 was full of a variety of tasks as I spent the day with the I-House product manager, Brandon O’ Connor. Brandon and I started the morning by reading design & building blogs. One thing that stood out to me about working in this field is that the industry is constantly moving. To keep up with his job, Brandon must stay current on design trends, new innovations, new building codes, and more. He dedicates approximately an hour every morning to read blogs, interact with customers on Facebook,  and to check for i-House mentions in the media.

After checking out some industry blogs, I got to listen in on some phone calls as Brandon discussed future I-House projects with his business partners.

The highlight of the day was the very last hour!

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Well my week with the PR/Media Relations expert at the TELUS World of Science came to a close…and I would have to say that it was one of my favorite weeks!

Cassandra brought me along to EVERY meeting she had, and introduced me to so many different parts of the Science Centre.  We talked about media plans and marketing strategies, internal relations and external support.  It’s a big job, but she manages to do it all, and to do it calmly at that.

Out of all the jobs I did this summer, I would have to say that this is one that makes some of the most sense to me.  As I mentioned before, the goal of the Centre is to support education and community involvement.  The Communications and Marketing Team also seemed to work together really well.  The regularly scheduled meetings definitely helped communicate what everyone was working on, and what was happening next.

Some tid-bits I learned over the week:

- Know your audience. Something really interesting that the Communications Team did in advance of the Body Worlds exhibit, was invite the city’s religious leaders to preview the show.  Body Worlds has been a bit controversial, as they use dead bodies to teach people about anatomy.  Obviously this doesn’t sit well with some, but it was part of the Communication Team’s job to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible.  The preview allowed the religious groups to ask questions of the exhibit, and to give them a point of reference that they could then take to their congregations.  ALL of the groups expressed appreciation for being included in such an event, and the preview night is something the Team plans on using in the future for any controversial shows.

- Know what kind of publications and media outlets (magazine, local news shows, etc…) fit into your demographic.  Obviously, your organization should only put money into advertising where it will make the most ROI – Return On Investment. The media strategy meetings I attended talked a lot about where advertising dollars should go…it’s like a big investment game…only with real money…;)

- Knowing what just happened is just as important as knowing what’s coming up AKA: Learn From Your Mistakes. The meetings I attended also talked a lot about this one…important!

- Awareness, Awareness, Awareness.  The Coms Team did a survey of their members, and 88% of them were aware of the Body Worlds show!  That’s huge!  The goal was 60%, so they have definitely gone above and beyond all expectations.

With so many meetings during the week, it did get a little intense.  It almost felt like there was no time to actually work on what was decided on, because there always seemed to be another meeting to go to!  But with so many changes going on at the TELUS World of Science (the new Science Centre opening next year, new exhibits going up, budget, hours, staff, etc), communication is paramount.

I think I could handle this kind of job…I enjoy planning and acting as a liason of sorts… With the Coms Degree I have though, I would probably have to go back to school and take a few other courses just to get up-to-speed on the nitty-gritty of the profession.  Cassandra told me about the International Association of Business Communicators as well as the Canadian Public Relations Society that have workshops and courses to help further my education.

Between all the Bodies, the critters, brainstorming sessions and Team Meetings, I really enjoyed my time with the TELUS World of Science!  Cassandra, thank you so much for being so welcoming, and allowing me to pick your brain!  Perhaps one day, I’ll be working WITH you, as opposed to just shadowing.

Best!

Amanda

Kieley here!

Sorry for disappearing from blog world over the past week! I’ve been in the process of moving and in case that wasn’t enough, I picked up a cold and have been trying to get well.

In case you’ve been following Michelle and Amanda’s blogs, you’ve noticed that they finished Job #8 last week. I am on the slow and steady track and am just starting Job #7 this week. Why? Well, family is very important to me so I took a family vacation earlier in the summer and last week I got sick and needed time to rest up. What’s the lesson here? This program is incredible, but it would be foolish to work different jobs like a madwoman and sacrifice my health and time with my family.

Alright, so to get back on topic, let me share my job for this week!

This week, I’m in Knoxville, Tennessee! I’ll be working with the United States’ largest home building company, Clayton Homes. Clayton homes is known for their high-quality manufactured and modular homes, but more recently for their I-House. This week I’m joining the I-house team to learn more about modular prefabricated homes.

What is the I-House?

The I-House is a new (released in 2009) house that is environmentally friendly, reasonably priced, and beautifully designed.

Here’s a picture of the model I-House to give you a better idea:

Why did I pick this job?

I’m a curious person and since a young-age, I’ve been fascinated by architecture and modern houses. After stumbling upon Dwell Magazine, I discovered prefabricated houses. I love the idea of custom designing a house and then having it built in a factory and delivered to the site. It’s mind-boggling that a house can be factory-built! The I-House is fabulous because it combines energy-efficiency with modern design.

My boss for the week is Brandon O’ Connor, the head of the I-House team.

I learned a tremendous amount about this industry in just one day at the corporate Clayton Homes office. After having a brief meeting with Brandon to discuss my schedule for the week, I met Beth Walker. Beth works as the I-House Specialist, a unique customer-oriented position that allows her to interact with people interested in the I-House. It’s impossible to know every detail about the house, but she sure knows a lot. Here is the I-House manual, which could basically be called the “I-House Bible.”

I spent most of the day sitting with Beth and listening in on calls with prospective I-House buyers. It might sound boring that I sat in a cubicle for the majority of my day. It was the opposite of boring! Each phone call was unique and required good people and problem solving skills.

I had looked at the I-House website before this week, but I learned way more during my time with Beth actually listening to questions that prospective buyers ask. I realize now that people really get excited about custom designing homes and the process of building a manufactured home is well worth it.

So, what questions do you have about the I-House or about manufactured homes? I would love to receive honest comments with your feedback on this industry and your opinion on this type of house.

Stay tuned for interesting updates all week. Tomorrow I will be heading to the Clayton Homes Center, the place where all their different model homes are on display for people to physically walk through.

Please comment with your questions and thoughts about prefab houses.

Thanks,

Kieley Best

Greetings!

I’m back home in Tennessee this week! It’s been hectic since my family and I moved this week from Cleveland to Knoxville, Tennessee. In case you’re behind on the blog, you can read my posts from Job #6 at Dallas Market Center here and here.

To recap: I spent Wednesday-Sunday last week working at Dallas Market Center. During the year, the Market puts on numerous “markets” that each focus on a certain business. For example, they host home & gift, apparel & accessories, menswear, and bridal markets. It’s incredible because the World Trade Center (the building with 15-stories of showrooms) is transformed for each market to fit the theme. All the windows feature new displays and there are events that cater to the buyers specifically.

Like I said before, my schedule was jam-packed! Since I’m an eternal optimist, I honestly didn’t mind the chaos of being a human baton for a week. I literally spent every hour with a different Market employee and then went to another person. Someone joked, “you’ll probably know more about this business after this one week than I know after being here for years!” I think they were right!

I already explained what the Dallas Market Center does in a past blog, but now I’d like to run through the different departments that make a market happen. It would be great if there was a magic “instant market” switch, but alas, it takes fabulous people and lots of work!

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Man. I love coffee.

The crew at Pennylicks Gourmet Cafe in Toronto – in short – were amazing.  Chris, Steve, Rene, and Diego – THANK YOU!

Even though it was sweltering outside, inside the cafe I learned how to froth milk, deal with crazy customers, and make a mean panini…!

I spent the majority of my time at the cafe with Rene, a cool dude from Mexico who is Steve and Chris’ “Right Hand Man.”  He’s super laid back, great at milk-frothing, and always willing to help out.  His way of teaching was definitely hands-on – within the first hour, he had me making lattes and washing dishes  Iced drinks were popular thanks to the heat, but a good number of espresso’s were through as well.

Steve would pop in from time to time to check on the cafe in between errands, and speak a few words of wisdom.  When I asked him what he thought the MOST important thing is about making a good cup of coffee – he singled out ‘Consistency’. From the roasting to the brewing, to the frothing and the customer service – each cup of coffee should be as tasty as the one that came before and the one that will come after.

We also chatted about doing business with family, and Steve and Chris are brothers as well as business partners.  Of course there are times when they wanna pull out each other’s hair – but Steve is the first to admit that each brother complements the other.  One is strong when the other is weak, and vice versa.  At the end of the day, they’re still family, after all.

The time it takes to start up your own business is MASSIVE.  Maybe you’re only physically at the business for a few hours a day, but even your time ‘off’ is spent running errands for the business, dealing with the finances of the business, and planning for the business.  It’s definitely not something to take lightly.  Vacations will be few and far between due to time commitments – not to mention the financial pressure to succeed.

Something I really loved about the cafe, were the customers who came in.  There are a lot of other small, local businesses in the area, and everyone tends to come out and support one another.  I quickly grew to know the owners of the clothing store next door, the restaurants down the street, and the regulars from the neighborhood.  I could see myself running a place like this and getting to know my customers as friends… now, if only they would all write poems like ‘Wunder’…

Wunder came in around 11am one morning…he wasn’t wearing a shirt, but had some sort of cape-like-contraption strung up around his neck to protect from the sun.  He offered a banana muffin in exchange for an espresso, and then threw in a poetry reading as well!  Haha!  The muffin was dangerous (don’t take candy from strangers – right?), the espresso was great (even if I do say so myself!), and the poem was fantastic (even if it was a little racy…)!

Something I’ve really loved about my first two jobs is that the people I’ve worked with have actually become my friends.  I’ve been invited out to suppers, tea parties, and even poker nights!  Steve even stopped in today and dropped off a book for me to read: ‘Achieving Success in Specialty Coffee’ – all about the first espresso machine, the roast, the art of latte making, customer service, and even starting your own business.  It’s going to make some great airplane reading!!

You see, I’m actually writing this from the airport as I wait for my boarding call, as I’m flying to Edmonton, Alberta tonight!!  And believe me – words cannot describe how insanely excited I am to be visiting my home province!!  My cousin is getting married on Saturday, and this will be a family-reunion of sorts.  There will be farm-living, cat-petting, and family-bonding.

I. Cannot. Wait.

I’ll be doing my next One Week Job in my hometown of Beaverlodge, Alberta – as…get this…a butcher. !!

More to come from my cafe experience – but I think I have to board my plane now…

In the words of the great Matt Mays:

“Good-bye girl gone to see the world,
Out to see every thing you choose
Now it’s becoming so clear
That your feet are planted deep
In your travellin’ shoes”

See you on the other side of the country folks!!

MWA!

-Amanda

Week One – Photographer

It all started off with a whim and a worry,

Not knowing who, where, or how hard to hurry.

But the woman I met put my worries to rest,

She explained the whole thing, without any stress.

She called clients and agents, models and friends,

She figured and triggered and spared all expense.

On shoot day she shot and she shot and she shot,

And she laughed the whole time, without getting caught.

It’s all about attitude, knowledge and trust,

Knowing your f-stops, your lighting, and just…

Believing your skills, and doubting not one,

Do your job well, but know when to have fun.

And so ends Week One, filled with photos galore!

Henrieta’s to thank, that girl I adore.

Go out and take pictures, and love what you do,

The great thing ’bout Week One, is it leads to Week Two!

-Amanda

Check out Henrieta’s Website: www.henrietahaniskova.com

Applications for the first semester of the One-Week Job Program are now closed!

We had many great submissions and have narrowed it down for you to vote.

The finalists have been notified and we’re gathering a few more questions in order to accurately profile them on the website. After that, we’ll be posting their video along with profile information and it will be up to you to vote for who think should be the first candidates selected for the inaugural semester of the One-Week Job Program!

Week 1 begins June 28th!

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