Locals in lead for Best Job in the World

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you want a great job, move to Queensland. In the ongoing “Best Job in the World” contest, two of the top five are from Queensland – with contest leader Clare Wang from Taiwan. According to international betting agency PinnacleSports.com Wang’s odds of nabbing this cushy assignment are 3.5:1. Queenslander James Hill follows at 5:1 (in the #2 spot). Hailey Turner, from Brisbane, is in fifth, with odds of 13:1.

Unsurprisingly, an American and a German are in a race to the bottom. Greg Reynen (from the United States) has odds of 44.8:1, with Mirjam Novak edging slightly ahead in this immaterial corner of the contest at 43.5:1. The odds for contestants with experience in the porn business were not revealed, but common sense would suggest they aren’t favorable.

The final 16 candidates will head to Hamilton Island next month to spend a week participating in this spectacular publicity stunt working on the island and exploring the Great Barrier Reef.

The Best Job in the World lured 34,684 applicants as part of a $1.7 million global marketing gimmick. It’s paid off already, generating AU$100 million in publicity for Queensland.



The winner will get a lazy one-year contract for AU$150,000.

Get to know the top Aussie in the contest, Hailey, after the jump.

That island dream job in Australia? Osama bin Laden wants it along with 9000 others

by Jamie Rhein on

When the dream job to work as a caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef islands in Queensland, Australia was announced, more than 9,000 people applied–including Osama bin Laden. At least from the video posted in the article in The Sydney Morning Herald, it looks like Osama bin Laden applied.

Full, scraggly beard? Check. White robe with matching hat? Check. A certain droning quality to the voice? Check. The video, though, as real as it seems, is dubbed.

The guy saying that he is versed in “sandy areas” and is experienced in “large scale event coordination” is not really bin Laden. Instead, the application was sent in as a joke. The dubbed voice also claims to have interests in the arts, crafts and renovating. The people collecting the applications did toss this one out. There are loads of legitimate contenders, however.

At this point, people from 162 countries have applied. If you’re one of them, your competition is fierce. As Scott stated in Gadling’s original post that announced this job, the application period closes on February 22. Eleven candidates will be chosen to be flown to Hamilton Island for an interview.

To see the video, go to the article and scroll down. Supposedly, the video is posted on YouTube, but I couldn’t find it. The video reminded me of the video spoofs that David Letterman does on bin Laden from time to time.

The best job in the world comes with an island and a $100,000 salary

by Scott Carmichael on

If the current economic climate is starting to make you feel a little down, how about taking a job as a caretaker at the Great Barrier Reef?

You’ll work very hard (for several hours a week), posting to a blog, picking up the mail and feeding the fish.

And for all that hard work, you will be paid about $8400 every 2 weeks (or $100,000 for the 6 month duration of your contract).

When your contract starts, you’ll be flown from anywhere in the world to Hamilton Island and you’ll live in a 3 bedroom house, all for free.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s all part of a job hunt/pr stunt by Queensland Tourism to find their next caretaker and promote the area.

Of course, this isn’t as simple as sending in an application and packing your bags. You’ll be competing with thousands of others who think they are better suited for this job than you. That said, it is a real job, and the offer is most certainly legitimate.

If you feel up to the challenge, and think you have what it takes to send in an interesting application, head on over to their “apply now” page and keep your fingers crossed.

The final selection process for candidates takes place on Hamilton Island, and if you make the final cut, you’ll be flown there, all expenses paid!

The PR part of the job means you’ll sit on your island telling the world what a fantastic place the Great Barrier Reef islands are. To help you with your job, the tourist agency even provides you with Internet access, a computer and some video equipment.

You have until February 22nd to submit your application!

UPDATE: Please don’t contact Gadling with applications or questions about this job. Gadling is NOT sponsoring this job. If you have questions, please visit IslandReefJob.com to learn more.

UPDATE 2: If IslandReefJob.com does not load, it’s because their server is getting crushed from visits. Please be patient and try again soon.

Click the pictures to read about the 10 stupidest laws you could encounter abroad … are any in Australia?