Are there jobs in St. Croix?...

Best case scenio for you line of work for a assistant or office manager is about $15 to $17 an hour. If you have more skills like in bookkeeping or HR you may be able to make a little more. But mostly they pay in the $10 to $15 an hour range. And its hard to make a living here on that. I honestly think in a good restaurant here you would make more waiting tables and have shorter hours. If its just you and no kids, you can do it but you'll have to be very careful with money. Come with a large next egg. All rentals will want first, last, and deposit, all utilites are expensive(!!!) and require deposits as well, and you'll need transportation. Don't come here if you are in debt, it will be very hard to work you way out of it here.

Best of Luck!

Actually, I have a 13 year old daughter. Thanks Betty for your advice.

I just found a job ( :@) ) so have spent the last month searching the job market here. I found my job through word of mouth but here are a couple of sites to keep an eye on:

www.career.vi

www.stanfordfinancial.com/careers_opportunities_at_stanford (go to the bottom of the page to search for St Croix openings, there is an executive assistant position open now)

Also once you're here you can register at Department of Labor and be eligible to search for jobs that they have listed at their office or on their website.

Hey Congrats GoalUSVI...I've been looking for a Marketing job here on STT and it's rough!

Thanks, Trippi - Make sure EVERYONE you know is aware you're looking for a job. I had everyone from our favorite bartender to the property manager that I got our rental from to people we bought a car from looking for me. I ended up finding my perfect job through someone I met at the place I volunteer. Good luck. I know it's stressful searching!

Like everywhere there are always jobs available but whether they are good jobs, mediocre jobs or bad jobs FOR YOU depends on your qualifications and personality. Most transplants find that pay scales tend to be lower than for comparable positions "back home" and living expenses tend to be higher. That's the Catch-22 about living in the Caribbean. Be prepared to make some concessions.

Finding a job on STX is not necessarily going to be any more difficult than finding a job elsewhere - it takes time and effort. Don't expect the job to fall into your lap. The job isn't going to come looking for you - you have to find it. You have to do your homework, make contacts, check the want ads, knock on doors, send out resumes, pound the pavement and "network" with everybody. Remember you are going to be one of many looking for a job. It's like doing a mass mailing - you might have to make 100 inquiries to get 5 interviews so the more people you contact the more opportunities you'll have to get a favorable response. There's no set time frame for finding employment - some people find what they are seeking in a few days, others take much longer that's why it useful have have a small nest egg available to hold you over until you find gainful employment.

Also, don't be afraid to call back and re-inquire about a job! Resume's are a BIG plus...I'm a career bartender of 25 yrs. with a one page resume. They work! Don't be afraid to trust your gut feelings when applying. If you feel 'funky' or not quite right, then move on. You WILL get a job out here. Good luck and keep us in the loop.(tu)

I wouldn't drop a teenager from the states into a VI public school, and private school wouldn't be an option on a $15/hour paycheck. Unless you're getting a lot of child support, or have extensive family on STX that will help you out, I would reconsider options other than moving to the VI.