Comments on: A Closer Look at “The Best Job in the World”

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:19:44 +0000

I just got an email from the PR team:

*Total applications received – 34,684 from over 200 countries.
*We received over 7,500 on the weekend alone!
*The highest number of applicants have come from the US with 11,565, followed by Canada with 2791, Great Britain with 2262 and Australia with 2064.

Wow.

(Report comment)

By: ScribeDownUnder

ScribeDownUnder — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:23:32 +0000

After reading this, I am deflated knowing that Susie Parish is an applicant. She's good, real good! Well, time to re-inflate and learn from the best in order to become the best. Good luck to all! I'm still all in. And, yes, the marketing worked. Whether or not I'm selected for the job, I'll be visiting the islands of The Great Barrier Reef someday.

(Report comment)

By: Milk

Milk — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:35 +0000

i see nothing bad in such communication. PR is very clever – people win as well. everybody's happy! so why not?

(Report comment)

By: Peace

Peace — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:28:06 +0000

Great article Craig, and an excellent campaign Tourism Qld congratulations!!

(Report comment)

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:11:03 +0000

No, I decided not to apply in the end. I've been writing about it instead I'll be over in Queensland in April so I'll get a chance to visit the area in any case.

Apart from the pay-check, the job's actually more restricting than my current lifestyle! I've been travelling full-time for the last three years.

(Report comment)

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:08:12 +0000

Thanks for your positive feedback everyone.

(Report comment)

By: Hal

Hal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:40:30 +0000

This is really interesting stuff, and well-written as well. Thanks, Craig!

(Report comment)

By: Gwendolyn Alley

Gwendolyn Alley — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:57:34 +0000

I'm still editing my video…and your point here was a good reminder of what to keep in and reinforce and what to cut!

"By forcing candidates to show their knowledge of the Great Barrier Reef, Tourism Queensland has collected an immense amount of quality user-generated content. They couldn’t have bought this coverage if they tried. Every time someone watches an job applicant’s video, they learn something about the area… and that something makes people want to visit."

You make an excellent point here:

"The real gold is in learning to use new media tools in mutually beneficial ways: if the consumer wins, the companies will too."

Are you an applicant, Craig? I'll have to go check your profile! I'm on there too–that's where I learned of your article.

(Report comment)

By: Tim Patterson

Tim Patterson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:51:45 +0000

A very incisive and balanced critique!

(Report comment)

By: Reymos

Reymos — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:36:22 +0000

I think it is targetting both: job campaign and a marketing strategy. Job campaign in a way that companies will do innovative ways to look for the right and best people for their companies and I think video application is something that will provide a real answer – who is the best candidate to get the job prior to the actual interview.

Marketing strategy for tourism is changing and whats happening now is really astonishing for companies (both the private and public sector) to do the same. Information is vital and having internet as the medium of communication to attract people to visit a place is effective – without really doing massive TV/brochures commercial promotions. Socialised networks like facebook, multiply, friendster, myspace, beebo, and of course Ning are free venues to do the promotion and to reach the target customers.

(Report comment)