2nd Best job in the world falls short on salary

by Tom Johansmeyer on

What’s the difference between a Brit and an Australian? Oh, about AU$150,000. The recent “best job in the world” contest compared applications from around the world, culminating in an in-person trial. Like Hamilton Island, Aroha Island advertised for a caretaker – calling it the “second best job in the room.”

The North Island position doesn’t pay a dime, but volunteer manager Jill Smith says the place has “got to be the second best” and that “there’s nothing plastic fantastic or flashy about us … [w]e’re just without the deep pockets of Australia’s tourism boards.”

Aroha Island is 400 meters by 200 meters, not leaving much room to wander around, but it needs someone to keep an eye on it. New Zealand media outlets pushed the opportunity to the world, ultimately leading to 150 quality applications from places as far as the United States, India, Pakistan and Mexico. Ten Australians applied – strangely, mostly from Queensland.

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Psychometric testing next on list for reef job finalists

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Jetlagged, stressed and swamped by media, the finalists for the “Best Job in the World Contest” still managed to “sing the praises of the natural wonder in a series of online blogs” … as if they could put out a series of printed blogs on short notice.

The competition finalists are in the midst of a three-day job interview of sorts on Hamilton Island in Queensland, with the winner emerging richer and set for the next six months.

What comes up next? Psychometric testing.

The finalists have been watched by a four-judge panel since they hit the ground on Hamilton Island, not to mention camera crews, photographers and journalists from all over the world. One candidate, Greg Ryan, likened the media attention to a “cameraman firing squad.”

In a mere 14 hours, the deed will be done.