moving to STT next month cant find spa jobs

It'll be easier when you're actually on island and can be present.
Meanwhile you can check the online phonebook yellow pages and call around to see if any are hiring. It's the height of season right now.
Maybe check Craig's List.

When you get on island, pick up the Daily News and Island Trader and check their Classified section. Good luck.

Thanks! I appreciate the luck! I have checked craigslist but only found bartending jobs so far. But I will try the phone book, thank you for the tip!

Good morning bwhite,

Are you moving soon? It is the middle of high season right now, so most of the positions are filled. It can be easier to land a position in late spring or early fall.

Businesses here receive lots of inquiries from people who want to move here, many of whom aren't serious about it. It's costly to count on an employee to arrive by a certain date and then have them not show up, so it's common not to hire until someone is actually on island. Are you able to come down in person for a pre-move visit of at least a week? Meeting people face-to-face could help.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how things unfold for you!

Yes I am coming down the first week of march for a full week to better line things up. I have really high hopes of working for Sugar Bay resort. Any tips on where to stay around there while I'm checking things out?

Perfect - search online, make a list of everywhere you think you'd like to work (resorts as well as private spas), then call and set up appointments while you are here to meet briefly with the manager if you can. This will give you an opportunity to see for yourself what the facilities and vibe are actually like, sometimes very different than expected from a website. The best jobs are almost never advertised, so connecting in person with someone is often the fastest way in.

Come with a stack of resumes and business cards, and don't forget to say "good morning/afternoon" to everyone. For the places you think you'd like to work, ask everyone you meet how they like it there, and ask around when you go to dinner, happy hour, etc. if anyone knows someone who works at those places. Connections are everywhere...

I don't live on STT, so someone else can offer a better idea on where to stay. If Sugar Bay is your top pick, I'd choose the east end (Red Hook area) as it's where you'd be more likely to live.

All the resort's have spas and there are many private ones.
I'm not sure how financially stable Sugar Bay is after losing its EDC benefits after its massive layoffs a couple years ago.
Anyone been there recently?

Don't neglect the smaller and very nice salons - if you present yourself in a professional manner in person after you arrive you will have a much better response than communicating from off island and looking at ads.
It will be easier to narrow your search for housing as well once you are on the scene and decide where you will be working and where your child is in school to cut down on driving and transportation logistics.
Good luck - check your private messages as well.

If you've read the forum you'll see that it's a slim to none chance to secure a job when you land. If it was that easy, everyone would do it.

bwhite85,

I am a nationally certified and VI licensed massage therapist (and certified Pilates, yoga and fitness practitioner) - not the exact same field as yours but very similar. I'm not sure where you have searched for jobs, however, most all of the above comments are correct in that it is (almost) impossible to secure a job when you are off island. That being said, do as fdr says above and make a list of all the places to check on, in person - with resumes, business cards, professional attire and a good morning/good afternoon to everyone! Alana33 and Exit Zero made an excellent point of not discounting all of the small salons on island as well.

I am no longer on STT (on STX now) but my suggestions of where to go would be: The Ritz Carlton Spa, Sugar Bay (although as Alana33 said, they may not be doing so well at this point), Point Pleasant Resort, The Elysian, Secret Harbor, perhaps Margaritaville? Not sure if they have a spa but I would assume so. Those are all out East. Then there is the Marriott Frenchman's Reef, just east of downtown. The (old) Holiday Inn (Windward Passage now) downtown has (had?) a spa at one time...may be worth checking on.
Smaller private spas worth checking on: Sugar and Spice (Yacht Haven), Prana Spa (Yacht Haven - however, the owner has had difficulty in the past meeting payroll! I think they may have worked the kinks out by now!), Erica's Salon in Frenchtown (Erica has a little room in the back of her hair salon that was used for massage and esthetics. She is also a lovely person!!). Also, check with Annette (the owner) at Phoenix Visions Salon in Crown Bay Marina - she may be doing esthetics there since Zina left (the one esthetics place that used to be there) - I used to do massage there and Annette and all the ladies in the salon are fabulous to work with!! There is a small salon across from Red Hook (out East), too, but I can never remember the name of it! Maybe someone else can chime in with that...Start with that list and go from there.
Now, the most important question is - have you done anything about getting licensed in the VI? Started that process?? If not, I suggest you begin the process now, from wherever you are, as it can take awhile to receive your license and most spas (at least resort ones) will NOT let you work without one! Some places may accomodate you if you prove that your VI license is in process. All depends on who you are dealing with, though.
Feel free to ask me any other questions you may have; I would be happy to help. Best of luck!

Another place, bwhite85, is Esthetica Day Spa (can't believe I forgot them as I used to work there some, too!). They are very small but I would check to see if they would want soemone to share space with them with your skill set - they are located next to the Crossfit gym at Antilles School. I believe it has changed hands (Elena Tigini used to own it but i believe sold it...to Janet Sweeney). Worth checking there...a sweet little spot!

As on another thread, you'll need to be locally licensed.
It can be a tedious process. Start now if you haven't already.
Call them @ Dept. Of Licensing and Consumer Affairs/DLCA.
Ask to speak to Mrs. Jeffers or Tiffany Grovsner.
340-774-3130