This article was taken from the November 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Since Russian explorers first sighted Antarctica in 1820, humanity has been trying to move in. If you don't mind freezing temperatures and six months of darkness, here's how you can find gainful employment at the bottom of the world.
1. BRING A USEFUL TRADE
You don't need to be a scientist to work on an Antarctic base, says Ian Dunn from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). "We employ chefs, plumbers, carpenters, communications experts, doctors, survival experts... and a few scientists."
2. BE A TEAM PLAYER
Long months in a confined space can bring out the worst in people, so it's important that new recruits be team players. Dunn lists "team spirit and a sense of fun and adventure" as crucial qualities in South Pole job applicants.
3. EXPERIENCE NOT REQUIRED
You don't need to be familiar with the polar regions. The BAS hires survival and mountain experts to keep field scientists alive and well for as long as several months away from the base.
4. BE FLEXIBLE
Although you'll be sent to Antarctica to do a particular job, there will always be other tasks that need taking care of at any time of the day or night. If an aerial blows down in a storm, everyone will have to help get it back upright again.
5. HAVE PATIENCE
BAS scientists spend more time at the organisation's Cambridge HQ than in Antarctica, so don't expect to hit the snow right away. "Postings range from two to three months every year, to one trip every two to three years," says Dunn.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
