Best Job In The World

Looking for the best job in the world? Your competition is stiff – over 200 people have applied for the job as the caretaker of Hamilton Island, off the coast of Queensland, a position which requires the successful applicant to explore the Great Barrier Reef, laze by the beach and make friends with locals.

The 6-month position will pay $180,000 NZD, and has created so much interest that the job application site has crashed today after over 800,000 visits since Monday. Technicians were forced to boost the site’s server capacity several times this morning, as applicants uploaded their one-minute video applications by the dozen.

The position is not a competition and is a genuine job listing, requiring legitimate caretaking tasks as well as the more leisurely activities which must be regularly completed. The caretaker will also get to live rent-free in a $6 million villa, and will need to report back on their experiences via blogs, video diaries and media interviews.

Launched as a viral marketing ploy to draw intention to Hamilton Island as a tropical holiday destination, it is estimated that the campaign will generate $85 million NZD worth of publicity worldwide.

Image from Flickr.