The Top 50 shortlisted candidates for the original Best Job in the World received e-mails today from Dean Horvath of Vancouver based travel company, Mason Horvath. What was the e-mail about? Well, I might as well let you read it:
The NEXT Best Job in the World
Hi Anny,
I’ve been following the Island Reef Job contest from the start and I’ve been amazed with the quality of all of the shortlist contests’ video submissions. Unfortunately, only one person can get the best job in the world, so here’s what I want to do: I want to give you a second chance.
Who am I? My name’s Dean Horvath and I own Mason Horvath, a luxury travel agency here in Vancouver. I want to offer you a chance at another job, The Next Best Job in the World!
As Mason Horvath’s Elite Travel Correspondent, you’ll travel the world for six months, searching out the most unique and mind-blowing experiences normally reserved for the rich and famous. Experiences like a private candlelight dinner on the Great Wall of China, racing a Ferrari through the winding back roads of Tuscany, and spending the afternoon picnicking in the Moroccan desert.
Why are we doing this? It’s simple. Mason Horvath has always provided our clients with the most unique and exclusive experiences the world has to offer and now we want to share them with the world.
What are the specifics? First thing: you’re going to be traveling around the world living in the most luxurious hotels and resorts imaginable, taking part in the most unique and exclusive experiences money can buy. Then, you’re going to share this with the world through the website thenextbestjob.com. You’ll get to experience well over half a million dollars worth of travel and we’ll pay you USD $50,000 to do it!
Also, you’ll need to find someone to come with you as well. All of this luxury is too much for one person to manage, so you’ll need someone to help out.
How do you enter? Simple. I am inviting all of the shortlisted candidates from the Island Reef Job to submit a 60 second video to Mason Horvath describing the most unique and out-of-this-world experience in your own home town.
Feel free to visit the contest website at www.thenextbestjob.com and our corporate website at www.masonhorvath.com for more information.
So, are you interested? If so, simply send me an email at and I will forward you the specific rules and regulations.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Dean Horvath—
Website: www.masonhorvath.com
So what do you think? Obviously this campaign won’t be nearly as successful as the original, but what do you think about “the NEXT Best Job..” idea? Many companies have tried to replicate the Best Job in the World campaign these past few weeks or tried to latch onto the existing campaign by offering free products to the successful applicant (*cough cough* Fosters *cough*). But, this is the first campaign I’ve heard of that’s only open to Top 50 applicants.
If you didn’t make the Top 50 shortlist, you can enter the random draw to be the 5th “wild card”-type person to be flown in directly to the interview stage by clicking HERE. You do not need to create a video to be eligible for this fifth position. The remaining four candidates will be chosen from the Top 50 Best Job in the World applicants that apply.
Do you think the Top 50 candidates will apply? Should they apply? Why or why not?
And another question I had: Did Julia from Russia get an e-mail too?
interesting. it’s a little lame to be piggy backing on another contest, yet at the same time very smart.
i can see why you posted it as a question, it walks both sides of the good idea / copycat idea line equally.
i guess you just have to see if you want to put yourself out there again and if it appeals to you.
it does sound like fun!
I had a lot of fun with the Best Job in the World campaign but I don’t think this one is nearly as appealing.
I have no idea how I feel about this. It’s like getting a golden ticket to the Wonka factory without the “sparks and barks” feeling, of the first go round. And the 5th person chosen at random not even submitting a video?! What is THAT all about.
This puppet master is starting to get a little too abstract for my taste.
Regardless, you should start making a video Anny. Time to try again.
I considered it. But, then I thought about why the campaign might have been created. It didn’t make sense for an elite luxury travel company. Then I did the math and thought some more and got really peeved.
Is this starting to seem like reality tv eliminations or is it just me?
Just wait until the end of May!
“Win our love” “lets see who is up for eliminations tonight“
is what I meant. haha. Ok I am going to bed.
oh!that’s sound smart ad but a little tricky. if it’s success, means they spend less cost to advertise and get a good people from 50 list. At the same time, if its not success, at least people know this thing…quite smart though…
I think u can try but sounds to me like they should not just limited to 50 candidates that TQ already did the hard work.….…
But will this campaign attract the attention of the super rich target market customers the company is interested in?
Not limiting it to the Top 50 would create too much work for this company. I’m not sure if they have the resources.
Speaking of Willy Wonka and the Golden Ticket…
http://www.ivegotagoldenticket.com
Sorry to hear you didn’t make it to the Top 16, Anny!
–Bill
Thanks Bill
They didn’t call it the NEXT BEST job in the world for nothing… it’s not best, it’s next-best. However, I think it’s very astute of that company to invite the 50 shortlisted people because it’s letting AU tourism do the work of finding the most likely 50 people in the world for their job.
Anny, go for it! It’s like you’ve been handed a 1 in 50 chance ticket to win a great lottery. You have put in your time and your work and you deserve the chance to win that lottery. To answer your question, OF COURSE you 50 invitees should be applying! It would be crazy not to.
I don’t know Kate, sure $50,000 and travelling the world sounds good. But when you consider that the salary is shared amongst two people, that the luxury activities have to be sought out on your own, that this job requires more than twice the amount of work as the BJITW for half the salary among twice as many people, and that six months after the contract has ended you’re not allowed to make any money off of your own intellectual property??
If your dream is to try all these activities normally reserved only for the rich and famous, maybe it’s worth it. But I also wonder whether only choosing the Top 50 was a good idea after all, considering that most of the Top 50 are environmentally conscious individuals. Luxury tourism doesn’t usually go hand in hand with being eco-friendly.
.…Also, you’ll need to find someone to come with you as well. All of this luxury is too much for one person to manage, so you’ll need someone to help out.
Interesting! I vote for Marcella to be your travelling buddy!
Oh, Marcella and I would have so much fun!!!
Wow! Look at this, Anny! Next stop: OUTER SPACE! Is that cool or what??? That would be a great contest!
By Diane Strandberg, The Tri-City News
Published: September 25, 2008
.…Coquitlam’s Dean Horvath has his feet firmly on the ground but his eyes are on the stars.
His elite travel agency, Mason Horvath, has been given the right to book passengers on Virgin Galactic, a commercial airline with plans to send passengers who are not astronauts into sub-orbital space by 2010.…
Yeah, I heard about that. It’s $200,000 per person though and I’m fairly certain you need to book at least one or two years in advance. Considering Mason Horvath’s budget for this campaign and the amount of training (and training time) required for the trip, I highly doubt the hired person would be able to go. Maybe if they really really REALLY like the person? *sigh* One can hope.
Hi Anny,
It’s you and me baby!
High 5’s,
Marcella
I know I already told you on the phone how much fun I think that would be, but I didn’t want to look like a snob and leave your comment the only one without a reply!
ooooh most interesting! Yeah you and Marcella should team up to kick the ass out of the other contestents… I’m still a little shitty that I’m not going to meet you guys, but at the same relief as I thought you guys were the strongest competitors.
Totally team up… you guys would be awesome to follow!
Thanks James! Coming from you (who I know both Marcella and I considered one of the major “competitors”), it means a lot! Good luck in the Top 16!!!
I’ve had some wine
*James: you and Marcella should join up and kick the shit out of the other contestants*
Er… thanks James! I’m so glad all that quality time we spent together left such a nice impression! I hope all the contestants I’ve never met kick the shit out of you on Hamo
Anny — I agree completely with everything you’ve said… I don’t know how I feel about it at all. I haven’t even had responses to the emails I’ve sent him…
I’ve heard you’re not the only one who hasn’t received a response to your e-mails. I hope you get one soon though ’cause I’d like to hear your take on it all too!
I was in Queensland covering the launch of Best Job, and the powers that be were predicting that this was going to happen.
Are you going to do it??
Hi Kristin!!
It’s nice to hear from you. How have you been?
Right now I’m pretty sure I’m not going to apply for the “next best job.” I just spent the entire day debating things in my head and researching the whole thing like mad. It just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Maybe I’m wrong. I can’t say for sure until they release more details I guess.
How is it NOT as good as the original Queensland campaign. Don’t you think it would get a bit boring and stifling staying in the same spot for six months? Wouldn’t you rather see the most exclusive spots in the world? Seems like a no-brainer to me. Good luck!
I just spent the whole day thinking about it. Here’s a quick and dirty account of why it might not be so great: http://bit.ly/h1R4u
Let me know if, given the chance, you’d be interested in it and why. I’m curious to see what others think of it.
Yeah, it’s a bit copy cat, but it’s also another opportunity. What’s meant to be will be and based on your original QT application, you would be perfect for what they are describing. Go for it Anny.
Thanks JacJac! I wish more opportunities would pop up. I’m not against companies copying the original idea when it’s that obvious. It’s just a matter of how they approach it.
Following up on your responses before I read your next blog. You have some VERY valid points, wow I didn’t even THINK of all that — talk about thinking outside the box and seeing clearly! Like the top 50 consist of environmentally friendly people and should they compromise their individual Eco style for a shiny new ad?
Thanks for the enlightenment! I shall read the next entry now.