NO TAKERS FOR $150,000 JOB
A tourism operator on the ‘Forgotten Highway’ has been inundated with applicants for a job he’s been having trouble filling - despite offering over $150,000, free accommodation and the chance to work in the spectacular countryside around Taranaki.
Tour firm Forgotten World Adventures, which operates in and around Whangamomona, on State Highway 43 between Stratford and Taumarunui, advertised for a general manager more than four months ago.
But it appeared life in Taumarunui, a small town in the King Country, wasn’t that attractive to would-be applicants.
Director Ian Balme said he thought they’d found the right candidate earlier in the recruiting process, but then the candidate’s wife refused to move so they had to go back to the drawing board.
But when Balme’s plight was reported online yesterday morning, there was an almost instant change in his fortunes.
At 3pm Balme said he was in a state of shock at the number of applicants coming in from all over the country.
‘‘The emails are coming in faster than I can forward them to the office,’’ he said.
It would take them a few days to go through them all, but until they found the right person, the position would remain open.
‘‘The timing couldn’t have been better and we’re absolutely rapt.’’
He said applicants of interest would receive an email over the next few days.
The lucky candidate would receive over $150,000 and wouldn’t need to have experience in tourism, Balme said.
What they would need though was ‘‘true leadership skills’’ and to be someone ‘‘exceptional’’ who could help the business reach its goals.
‘‘We are looking for someone who is excited about doubling our revenue over the next three years, passionate about securing our position as a bucket list experience for our target market and focused on developing our reputation as an industry leader.’’
Balme said the company had been working on doubling revenue within the next three years.
A new milestone was achieved in November, which was the best the company had achieved in five years.
Over 1000 people had come through during the month, which Balme described as ‘‘flipping amazing.’’
‘‘The season at the moment is outstanding and the bookings look really good.’’
Next January Balme will be making some significant announcements. ‘‘We looking forward to some slightly different directions next season.’’