"I wanted to accomplish great things, help others, make a difference. I wanted to do everything and be everywhere. I had big ambitions, but I was totally directionless... Now it was up to me to determine my path." - Sean Aiken
Recently finished reading the book The One-Week Project: One Man, One Year, 52 Jobs by Sean Aiken. Anyone needing some new job ideas or just some inspiration during a job search should read this book and I guarantee you, you will find some inspiration. I know I did!
I haven't worked for two years, but when I think about it, I have been on a job search for eight years! The year was 2002, I was entering my senior year in college. That's when you think that all your hard work will finally pay off, you will be rewarded with a great job, and that all your dreams will come true. Then reality sets in. You perfect your resume, write those impressive cover letters, apply to that coveted job, and if you're luck you score an interview, and wait for the call. The call comes in but it's not the one you want to hear, "your qualifications and background are impressive but we decided to go with someone else..."
So after years of applying to jobs that find my qualifications and background impressive but not impressive enough, I'm thinking that Sean Aiken was on to something with The One-Week Project. Instead of focusing on that one big goal of the perfect job, maybe it's better to break it down into smaller goals of one-week or freelance jobs to gain the experience that I need to succeed in my career choice.
I sort of have an idea of what I want to do with my life - something in the marketing field, but I'm not sure which industry and there are many areas I want to explore: Event Planning, Entertainment, Market Research, Non-Profit, Publishing, and so much more! My One-Week Project will be focused in and around Chicago, at the companies that I have been targeting to work for. Call it my "Dream Job Bucket List." And since I have already gone two years without a paycheck, a few more months won't hurt. I want to do these jobs because I feel that it is my passion and to gain more experience, so like Sean, I would like my paychecks donated to causes that are near and dear to me: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition or Autism Speaks.
Ideally at the end of this, I would like a job offer. But if I don't impress any of the employers enough, I will finally suck it up and know that this is not the path I am supposed to be on. I just might, maybe, consider a more sensible career.
These are just some of the companies that I have applied for recently and in the past few years or businesses that I would like to learn more about. The list will probably grow but right now here are the ones I can think of.
My Dream Job Bucket List:
- Harpo Studios
- Rockit Ranch
- Event Architect
- Event Creative
- Experiential Agency
- Kehoe Designs
- Molly's Cupcake
- Flirty Cupcakes
- Sugar Bliss
- Millward Brown
- TNS
- Nielsen
- McDonald's Corporate
- Sara Lee Corporate
- The Marketing Store
- Leo Burnett
- Ogilvy&Mather
- Time Out Chicago
- Chicago Tribune
- Chicago Magazine
- Sourcebooks
- Crain's Chicago
- 101.9 The Mix
- B96.3
- Kiss 103.5
- Clear Channel
- WGN
- NBC
- ABC
- Chicago Film Office
- Bears
- Blackhawks
- Cubs
- Bulls
- Fire
- American Cancer Society
- Make A Wish Foundation
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Children's Memorial Hospital
- NorthShore University
- Macy's Glamorama
- Ulta Corporate
- Alberto Culver
- American Marketing Association
- Sanford-Newell Rubbermaid
What is on your dream job bucket list?
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