How to get a job in Antarctica

Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to get a job in Antarctica. The process is long and tends to have a lot of hurdles; however, it can be quite rewarding in the end. The first step in the process is to submit an application. If you make it to the next round, you will be asked to attend a selection center.

The selection center is a group interview where you will be asked questions and monitored to see how you interact with others. If you are applying for a trade job, you will also have an interview with a supervisor in the field who can assess your experience and skills.

If you make it past the interview rounds, you will be required to submit for medical testing. These tests are required and necessary to assess your physical condition and fix any medical problems before you are sent to a very isolated and remote outpost.

After the medical tests, you will be required to undergo psychological testing. There are two forms of psych, and this is where they will be looking into your personality and triggers more closely to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for winter or summer work. There are significant differences between summer and winter psych.

These tests will look a little more specifically into how you handle isolation and how well you will handle living in a small group. Typically, you will be in a group of 15 to 18, and you will be stuck in these living quarters for approximately seven months out of the year. While emergency rescue is possible, it is extremely dangerous.

Life in Antarctica requires a healthy mind and body as well as the ability to adapt easily. The biggest and most popular American stations in Antarctica are:

• McMurdo on Ross Island

• Palmer on Anvers Island

• Amundsen-Scott on the South Pole

There are other smaller stations and summer base camps as well. It should be noted that working in Antarctica can be extremely dangerous. The remote and wild nature of the continent should not be underestimated.