I’m a “Best Job in the World” Reject

Other posts by MountainMama

Tourism Queensland is in the midst of an absolutely brilliant marketing campaign. It goes like this: Announce to the world that you’re hiring an “caretaker” for one of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef. The pay is $100,000AUD for a six-month stint, and all the caretaker has to do is feed the fish, clean the pool and blog all about his or her adventures swimming and snorkeling and playing in the ocean.

Uh, hello! Pick, me! Pick, me!

Indeed, I’d happily move my whole family to Australia to take this “job”! My husband could homeschool the kids while I’m out bushwalking and shooting underwater video of tropical fish. I’ve got it all thought out.

Unfortunately, Tourism Queensland didn’t want me. Yep, I uploaded my 60-second application video that detailed why I’m the best person for the job. I even got my kids involved. I (frankly) thought it was darling. But I was up against 35,000 other applicants and didn’t make the cut. (Not to mention, I believe all but one of TQ’s shortlisted applicants are under age 30; clearly, they’re looking for a hot young thing to rep the destination.)

So, I’m posting it below to see if any other tourism boards (shout out to Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and Caribbean Islands) would be interested in hiring a bright, professional (and, ahem, mature) writer who’s super-involved in social media and who has a super-cute family that would be willing to relocate for six months to help you promote your destination.

Can’t view the video in your browser? Check it out on YouTube.

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March 5, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, The Cookie Jar, Videos 

Comments

16 Responses to “I’m a “Best Job in the World” Reject”

  1. Keith says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Liked the video … I wonder if something similar would work for my dream job?

    (Test pilot in a sunlounger factory!)

  2. Sandy says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    I hear the young and cute, seems that is way way too prevalent throughout. Not just for the type of thing you’re referring to; in the work place, on TV in the movies etc. I prefer to think like fine we get better and better.

    Do stop by for a visit, no packing necessary.

    Questions: (still not up to speed here on Catalog)
    How does one do a kiss?
    How does one do a broadcast? I’ve only been able to find the option when replying to one I’ve received.
    How does one get the neat box of recent visitors instead of the list of the last 5? I see the box as an option, I click on it to configure it, er I believe it says get the code. When I do that and pick colors I do not get the box with the little avatars, I only get the last 5 in a list within a box.

    Thanks in advance for your help. Refilling my coffee now and singing, “It’s a small world after all…my daughters favorite part when we were at Disney

  3. MudslideMama says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Words cannot describe how much I love this video.

    Oh man! Wiping a little tear of joy.

  4. Mandy says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    I loved your video! I applied too and was rejected as well. Boo :(

  5. Susan Lanier-Graham says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Love the video. And mature is way better than young. I (we) know so much more now than we did then. The 40s are fab and Queensland doesn’t know what they’re passing up. Great job on the video.

  6. Irv says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Great video, and kudos for recycling it — if I had an island paradise to promote, I’d hire you! :-)

  7. Nathan Kam says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Mountain Mama, this video is classic! I love it. And if I had an extra $100K floating around in our PR budget, you’d be (with all the Traveling Mamas) blogging from Hawaii’s beaches for the next six months. As the saying goes, you can’t win them all.

  8. CajunMama says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    You vid is fabbo! You rawk hot mama!

  9. Nancy D. Brown says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Very cute audition tape, Kara. Love your daughter waving in the film. The next Traveling Teen?

  10. Sharlene says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    It was there loss. I heard about the dream job giveaway yesterday on the news. A little too late for me to enter but I am a 30 something mom with nothing rock hard about me so I didn’t stand a chance. Oh well. There are other dreams to be had.

  11. Bridget Smith says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    OK, just loved this video. Thanks for making me giggle!

    -Bridget

  12. Angie (Losing It and Loving It) says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Loved the video! You totally should have been chosen for that opportunity.

    I wonder if Jamaica would be interested in someone. I would be on that one!

  13. MountainMama says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    Thanks so much for the props. You guys are the BEST!

  14. Lagean "Gena" says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    Nice job. I enjoyed the read. Look forward to more!

  15. Lanora says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    Aargh! I’m getting “this video is no longer available” from YouTube!

    You must have crashed their servers with the influx of traffic from everyone who thinks you should have made the list of finalists.

    Please repost it!

  16. Lanora says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    Video finally worked! Yeah! And I still think you should have won, hands down.

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