'Best Job in the World' Wild Card Announced; 10 More Finalists to Be Revealed
March 25, 2009
Patricia Marroquin--HispanicBusiness.com
|
|
|
|
The "wild card" winner of a spot among 11 finalists was announced Wednesday for what's been called the "Best Job in the World" -- serving as the caretaker of a tropical island paradise in Australia for six months for $105,000.
Clare Wang of Taiwan won the spot from among nearly 35,000 people from around the world who applied for the "job" via videotapes, Tourism Queensland said in a news release.
Calling it "a unique opportunity to help promote the wondrous islands of the Great Barrier Reef," the tourism group said the job will be based on Hamilton Island, the largest inhabited island in the region where the climate is warm all year round.
"It's a live-in position with flexible working hours," the tourism group said of the 12-hour-a-month gig living rent-free in a three-bedroom villa with swimming pool. "Key responsibilities include exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef to discover what the area has to offer," the tourism group said. "You'll be required to report back on your adventures to Tourism Queensland headquarters in Brisbane (and the rest of the world) via weekly blogs, photo diary, video updates and ongoing media interviews."
Wang won the "wild card" spot after receiving 151,676 votes from the public.
"Clare has done a remarkable job of promoting her quest for the Best Job in the World in Taiwan and has become an overnight media celebrity," Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said in a statement. "Not only has she gained the support of the Taiwanese people, she has done an amazing job of promoting Queensland and the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, which is exactly what the Best Job in the World campaign is all about."
Tourism Queensland will select the remaining 10 finalists and reveal the names on April 3. All 11 finalists will be flown to Hamilton Island for interviews in early May, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. The "job" begins on July 1.
Among the qualities sought in the winner are good written and verbal English skills, a passion for the outdoors, an adventurous attitude, a willingness to try new things, good swimming skills and an enthusiasm for snorkeling and-or diving.
Hayes told the BBC that Tourism Queensland needs "a special person. They are going to be pretty busy having a good time."
Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2009. All rights reserved.
|
