The Best Job In The World

The Best Job In The World?

14 February, 2009

by Serge

queensland

Somebody even posed as a terrorist to bag this job.

Ah, the things people do in this economy. More than ever, now is the time to dash the rareness of rollicking in cold cash earned by lazing around in ethereal, warm utopia.

By now, every unemployed person on earth must have gotten wind of the hoopla surrounding Tourism Queensland’s smash hit of a marketing stunt about “the best job in the world.” To them, the hundredth-thousandth Aussie dollar does not come for naught when it predestines a mammoth ROI in tourism.

An oversized job ad-the notion is half the no-brainer of print advertising than an understatement of a really fantastic occupation. Putting “anyone can apply” after the fact—priceless populism.

News of the job, along with the print ad, broke out sometime last month. In two days, a global phalanx of visitors crashed its website several times. Reportedly, there were 25,000 visitors trickling in just an hour, at 40 hits per second.

It’s the employee benefit, mate: the newly hired would essentially be paid US$105,000 (AUD$150,000) to bum around in paradise.

The workplace in itself is the greatest incentive. For six months, the lucky jobseeker would live in the neighborhood of the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, where the sky is eternally azure, the waters are limpid, the sand crystalline, and the air tropical year-long.

He or she will be billeted on Hamilton Island near Queensland, specifically in a swanky beachfront mansion called the Blue Pearl, amidst restrained urbanity and exotic wildlife. More importantly, somebody else would foot the rent.

Between sleeping and waking in a palatial house, the worker gets to soak up the sun as a token “caretaker.” Work consists of nothing more daunting than snorkeling, the occasional pool-cleaning, plane-riding above the islands, and basically just holding court over a World Heritage realm as one pleases.

Applications are due on February 22, after which 11 applicants will be short-listed for a round of interviews. As of Thursday, the number of applications have clocked in at more than 15,500.

They’re not really looking for a supermodel. All Tourism Queensland wants is charisma sinewy enough to stand the press. The rationale of this little ruckus is recession-proofing Queensland’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry.

Hence, the caretaker is bid to explore the islands and flaunt those jaunts to the world. He or she will show them off in a portal hosting a weekly blog, video diary and photo gallery, among others.

On July 1, the successful jobseeker will report to this office:

Advertising Agency: CumminsNitro Brisbane, Australia
Creative Directors: Nancy Hartley, James burchill
Art Directors: Ralphie Barnett, Cristian Staal
Copywriter: Merrin McCormack
Additional credits: Adam Ford, Jason Kibsgaard, Darren McColl, Edwina Gilmour, Anne-Maree Wilson