Undergraduate Blog / Career Development

Article: Best Job In The World

January 15, 2009

Temp Job in Paradise Pays $100,000

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Position: island caretaker. Duties: lazing around the Great Barrier Reef for six months. Salary: $100,000.

It sounds too good to be true, but the position is real. Calling it the “best job in the world,” Australian tourism officials say they are seeking someone to spend six months relaxing on Hamilton Island, part of the country’s Whitsunday Islands, while promoting the destination on a blog.

Within 24 hours, more than 200,000 prospective applicants had visited the Web site advertising the job, islandreefjob.com, a local tourism official said. Applicants must submit a 60-second video application, and 11 finalists will be flown from their home countries to the island in May for the final selection process. The application deadline is Feb. 22.

In exchange for the pay, a free stay in an oceanfront villa and airfare from the winner’s home country, the employee will be required to stroll the island’s white sand beaches, snorkel, maybe take a dip in the pool — and post photographs and videos of the experience on a weekly blog.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/asia/15australia.html?_r=1&ref=travel