Backpacker 'wasn't expecting' response to job ad
Monday, 18 February 2019
Mari Vahanen says she wasn't expecting to get the sort of attention she has when she posted an ad looking for work.
'I've been working in Australia for two years now and I'm moving to New Zealand in two weeks.
'I am reliable, hardworking and fit due to my background in personal training. I am motivated and work with common sense and always up for a challenge. I'm great with animals and operating machinery.'
**READ MORE:
* Sleaze and outrage on farmer website over backpacker's search for work
* Worker shortage on the land as farmers compete for staff
* Overseas rural workers vital: contractors**
She listed her skills as including machine operation, cattlework and horse grooming, but had been most recently working on the Brisbane airport runway.
Those who commented, though, were not as impressed by her work history as they were by her appearance.
The post got 1600 comments, ranging from the mild to indecent. 'Send me a copy of your CV and I'll just quickly nip out and buy a farm,' said one of the more innocuous.
Vahanen said she had posted similar ads with similar pictures when looking for work in Australia. 'It's very common if you have a look at other backpackers job Facebook pages.'
She said she posted the same ad on a backpacking page and it only had 32 likes and a few offers.
'So I was surprised. I don't really care what people say about my looks so, no, I didn't get upset. I've worked in a male-dominated industry and you always get those few odd people who think women should go sit in the office. I like my job and I've worked with so many great people who've always stood up for me… . Exactly the same thing that happened in that Facebook group. People who doesn't even know me were defending me and vice versa. Not everything needs my reaction. I pick the genuine ones and ignore the rest.'
She said she assumed it would be normal to run a photo with a job ad.
'I personally would rather communicate with people who can put their faces up so I sort of know who I am talking with.'
She was attracted to farming and operating machines because she liked the rural lifestyle.
'I love country people and life in the country is more laidback.
She was hoping New Zealand would be similar to Australia.
'I honestly know nothing about New Zealand but my visa here runs out and I thought I should give New Zealand a crack.'
She arrives on March 3 and said she had not yet signed up to a job. She had not counted how many positions she had been offered.
'I haven't actually had the time to go through all the job offers yet… it's hard to say which ones are genuine.'
Comments are closed on this article.