30,000 dollars are waiting for you if you are able to survive six months on an island, without traffic, without noise, sea, wind and birds, like in Cast Away. This is a real job offer that has sparked a lot of interest in Europe, and it comes from Scotland, where they are looking for people willing to change their entire life to live for half a year on an uninhabited island. Pure nature and total isolation, would you do it? 30,000 dollars at stake!
Handa, the promised land!
The adventure takes place on the island of Handa, off the northwest coast of Scotland. It looks close to the mainland, but in reality there is nothing. Literally nothing. No towns, no shops, no roads, only seabirds and cliffs. During the summer the island is full of wildlife, but very few humans.
Who offers the job
The offer comes from the Scottish Wildlife Trust, an organization in charge of protecting and managing this natural space. Its mission is to conserve the ecosystem and ensure that human visits do not damage it.
Each season, around 8,000 people arrive at Handa to observe birds and landscapes, and the workers are key to making this possible without putting the environment at risk.
Not a “paid vacation”
It is important to be clear from the beginning, this is not a spiritual retreat with a salary. You are going to work, and it is physically demanding work with a lot of responsibility.
The tasks are very similar to those of a ranger. You will maintain trails, assist visitors, monitor wildlife and support logistical tasks. Knowledge of seabirds is highly valued and, above all, the ability to work as a team in an environment where there is no easy escape.
Life without comforts
Living on Handa means accepting certain sacrifices. There are no supermarkets or bars, and no doctors. Internet connection is very limited and the weather, well, it is Scotland. It is changeable, windy and it will probably rain a lot.
To get supplies, periodic trips must be organized to Scourie, a small mainland village from where all basic supplies such as water or gas are brought.
Living together is everything
One of the key points in the selection process is not the résumé, but the ability to live together. You will share months of isolation with very few people, so the ultimate test is patience.
The salary
The almost 30,000 euros for six months are meant to compensate for the isolation, the climate and the intensity of the experience. Even so, many candidates discover that money is not everything and withdraw when they learn about the real conditions.
One flight away, but in another world
Getting to Scotland is not difficult at all, but on Handa you will feel like you are at the end of the world, although for many people that is exactly what makes it attractive.
It is clear that this is not a place or a job for everyone. British media already warn that not everyone copes well with the cold, the rain or the lack of comforts, we are used to living in paradise, so only a few privileged people will make it.
Changing the pace
This may be the most striking part of the job offer. The world is hyperconnected and here they literally offer the need to “stop”, to have silence and nature. For some people, living without their smartphone would be unthinkable, but for others it could be the work experience of a lifetime. Would you dare?