I landed a job in Antarctica at 60 after a grueling physical examination and background check. Here's how I got the job.

This as-told-to composition is according to a conversation alongside May Lee, a 60-year-old broadcast engineer alongside GreyHawk Global at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. She earlier worked there as a provision technician for Amentum following spending decades at HP, most lately as a promotion and communications manager. The conversation has been edited for dimension and clarity.

I was laid off from HP following 30 years, so I decided to appearance beyond tech jobs and prosecute item distinct at 60.

I had visited Antarctica twice for holiday and cut in affection alongside it. At the time, I didn't cognize that you could activity there. When I looked into it, I knew I had to apply.

It's so difficult to depict how amazing it is to activity at McMurdo Station. If you always get a chance to cognition it, I extremely propose it.

Here's what the job use procedure was like.

I applied for 3 roles, but didn't acknowledge how rivalrous it is

The US National Science Foundation manages the US Antarctic Program. The build contracts out operational assistance to multiple companies, all alongside a particular focus. For example, Gana A'Yoo is liable for areas akin food services and discarded management.

In mid-April, I applied for three roles: rooms coordinator at Gana A'Yoo, assistance array assistance technician at Grey Hawk Global, and a provision aide supervisor at Amentum.

I applied using my HP résumé, which lists my assorted roles at the company.

I was turned downward for the rooms coordinator function inside a week or two, alongside an email stating that I did "not encounter the minimum requirements."

This came as a astonishment to me. So, I started researching additional concerning operating in Antarctica — item I should have done in advance — and learned that it's extremely rivalrous to get a job there. I peruse on blogs that if you don't make your résumé equivalent the job clarification exactly, you get weeded out. So, I think that's what happened.

A recruiter reached out to me anyway

I afterward benevolent of wrote off my chase of a job in Antarctica. I idea perchance this fair wasn't meant to be.

Then, in May, a recruiter from Amentum, which offers roles in logistics and skilled trades, reached out to me, saying that my résumé appeared to be a equivalent for what they were looking for. The job I got was a provision technician at Amentum.

When asked to dispatch my résumé by email, I updated it to create certain it matched the job description.

I additionally received a pre-screening questionnaire concerning my availability, credentials, and whether I could activity in the US without sponsorship.

I got hired as an alternate

A week later, I had a 30-minute video call alongside the recruiter concerning what the hiring procedure entails and additional particulars concerning the job environment.

This was followed a few days afterward by an 80-minute phone call alongside the hiring manager, during which they asked behavioral, situational, and competency-based questions.

I received an recommendation agreement for an substitute position. An substitute is the backup for a chief who can't go for any reason. I was told that the quicker I get through the backdrop and physical qualification (PQ) checks, the quicker I could get to the top of the substitute list.

The health inspect is extensive

Because Antarctica is so remote, they desire to create certain that you're healthy. Because if you go downward there and item happens, there are no medicinal accommodation that can obtain attention of you.

In June, I received a 17-page PQ form that requested thorough medicinal and dental information.

There were eight required lifeblood tests, a bodily exam, imagination screening, and a dental exam, among others. Depending on your age, sex, and deployment location and term, there may be additional tests. The expenses of these were reimbursable by the company.

There is additionally a extremely thorough backdrop check

In supplement to the PQ, I underwent a thorough authorities backdrop check.

I was cleared to onboard in June and was notified that I was changed to a chief in July.

Often, this is since a chief has dropped out; they might've unsuccessful the PQ, equal if they passed it the twelvemonth before, or item in their existence might've happened that requires them to remain home.

There was several back-and-forth alongside my PQ, which I had to resubmit following getting an updated Tdap vaccine.

In September, I received the current-season influenza vaccine, and my PQ was approved.

I made it to Antarctica in October

I flew from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, and afterward to Christchurch. There were a brace of days of training, and I additionally got outfitted alongside extreme-cold-weather gear.

Then, following seven months of preparation, I was eventually deployed to McMurdo on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.