If the one thing you’d bring along to a desert island is a book, there’s a dream job opportunity perfect for you. The super luxurious Maldives resort, Soneva Fushi, is hiring a “barefoot bookseller.”
Whoever lands this great gig would have a pop-up bookstore for an office with a gorgeous tropical island as their backyard. The shop is filled with posh books from the publishing house Phaidon. Most of the books cover art, design, style, cooking and local interests.
Bibliophile By The Beach
In addition to selling books and helping resort guests in the store, job responsibilities include writing a blog about the experience, hosting writing workshops and leading children’s story time sessions.
We want someone on the ground who is creative and inspiring and can maybe get more people to share the pleasure of reading, which is what people enjoy doing on holiday,” said store owner and Ultimate Library CEO Philip Blackwell.
Additionally, candidates need to be able to commit to at least three months on the job, beginning in November. Though to us, signing on to three months on an island paradise sounds more like a perk than a requirement.
Blackwell explained to The Guardian, “The pay is derisory but the fringe benefits unparalleled. It’s a dream job for many people. If I was 25 again I would do it.”
The job also includes accommodations. Normally, the resort’s villas range from under $2,000 to $26,000 per night. The bookseller won’t reside in one of these villas, but nearby with similar tropical surroundings. If this sounds like a gig for you, send in your resume and a writing sample here as soon as possible.
Better Books
The store is part of Blackwell’s Ultimate Library, which he established to improve hotels’ book collections and encourage travelers to read. Since 2007, Ultimate Library has been adding bespoke, locally-inspired book collections to hotels, resorts, private residences and retail spaces around the world.
The Maldives has beaches to spare but lacks bookshops. So if this venture is successful, Blackwell will consider adding more shops and potentially more dream jobs like this one in the area.
Again, act now. Because this opportunity will be gone by the end of August 23.