There's nothing better than laying on a beach and catching up on a good book. Well, it could get better if you got paid to do that. Sounds like a dream, right? Not for one luxury hotel in the Maldives. Soneva Fushi, an American Express Fine Hotel & Resort property, is looking for a "Barefoot Bookseller" to man their pop-up bookstore.
Yes, the five-star property located in Baa Atoll is partnering with Ultimate Library to create a bookstore starting in mid-October, and they need a literary lover to help run it. According to the job website, the lucky candidate will live at the resort for six months taking on several duties. You would be in charge of the day-to-day running of the bookshop, including sales management, engaging with guests, stock management, and reporting back on sales.
There's also the opportunity to host experiences for Soneva guests such as creative writing classes, bibliotherapy, tutoring children and teens, as well as giving literary lectures. Running the Barefoot Bookseller social media, writing monthly blog posts, creating newsletters, and liaising with marketing teams on potential events and collaborations are also included in the job description.
Two Barefoot Booksellers have already taken on the role. Hugo Wilson was the first to run the shop in October before he passed it on to Aimee Johnson from Penguin Random House Ireland in January. "Being the Barefoot Bookseller was an absolute dream," Johnson said in a statement. "I got to meet amazing people, work with incredible books, and live on a stunning luxury island. Very much the dream job!"
She closed the shop at the end of May, and the resort is now looking for a new individual to take over again in the fall.
While it's not explicitly clear how much you would be paid or what expenses are covered, it is guaranteed that you would spend your days at one of the most stunning resorts. The private island is made up of 62 stunning beachfront villas ranging from $1,400 to $28,000 a night and was recently the hotel of choice for Joe Jonas' and Sophie Turner's honeymoon.
So, what does it take to land the dream job? You must have excellent written and verbal English skills, a passion for reading, in-depth knowledge of both classical and modern literature, experience in bookselling/publishing, knowledge of running social media pages, and experience writing blogs or newsletters. The resort would also prefer if you have experience in sales, photography, and tutoring.
To apply, send your resume and a cover letter to barefoot@ultimatelibrary.co.uk.
