Ritz Carlton

If you are talking strictly about working your way up in a resort, not specifically at a resort in VI, I can offer my experience and opinion.

I worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years. I went from F&B secretary to banquet captain and from catering secretary to Director of Catering & Conference Planning in 4 and 5 star hotels throughout the U.S. So, yes it can happen.

Sometimes it has nothing to do with how "hard" you work though. I've worked with people who were considered "blue collar workers." They put in more time than me and worked much harder than I, yet I became their boss. No matter what management position you apply for, you've got to have management quality and that usually means being organized, extremely good with people; both clients and staff, be willing to train others how to do what you do, be cognizant of time, waste, and budgets, be exemplary, and it helps to be in the right place at the right time. You have to also think outside of the box and kiss a lot of ass. Just the way the hotel industry is...

If you have any management experience, that will be extremely helpful. And, from my experience, it doesn't have to be in the hospitality industry.

Good luck.

That wa so well said. Thanks. By the way, it applies to all professions in all fields.

Thanks for your help, I just wanted to make sure there is no glass ceiling I wasn't aware of. Like I said, I was hoping to land a job there that will turn into a great career

Yeah, I was also wondering if anyone has an idea of what kind of salary a person would make in a upper management position at a property like the Ritz

Salaries, unfortunately, vary considerably from hotel to hotel of the same caliber, and of the same corporation (Ritz to Ritz, for example). It depends on location, education, years of experience, prior salary, and NEGOTIATIONS. If you go to Salary.com you can get an idea. (But, you may see that it ranges by sometimes 10's of thousands of dollars.) Remember, no matter what you'll make in the states, expect approximately 33% less in VI.

In the hospitality business (and most likely every industry) If you work your way up in the same company, you will make LESS than the guy that's hired from another property. In the hotel biz, it's not uncommon to make a move every couple of years. It's sometimes the only way you can increase your income.

Don't be afraid to start in a 3 star or less hotel. You learn a ton (and usually how to handle the worst of situations) before moving up. Sometimes you get more respect from the recruiters for it!

I would strongly suggest submitting a resume online with the Ritz Carlton. They have a very active website and list the jobs available. They also absolutely do respond to a submission which is so really rare.

I had gotten 'in' so to speak I guess when I was going for a concierge job and at a point down the road the head of HR actually sent me a job listing including salaries.

I would definately pursue the Ritz Carlton - for many reasons.

Hey Ryan,

Here's the skinny on big hotel chains. I actually got my first job the day I turned 16 at the local Marriott. I started out washing dishes and helping out the cooks where needed. I saw a position in the catering division and applied instantly. I started learning how to buss tables and decorate for big banquets. Only a year and half later, I was already managing (out-of-house) and (in-house) catered events with staff sizes of almost 15 people. I actually was promoted to the highest position that was available for someone with only a high school diploma at the age of 18. With my experience, Marriott always took care of their good workers. Maybe you can find a Marriott there! Good luck!

Josh B

Speaking of entry level...

Does anybody know how much Home Depot pays its entry level hourly workers?

I've always wanted to live somewhere tropical, and I always thought it would be cool to work at for Home Depot. This might be my opportunity to nail two birds with one stone.

Jay

PS: Sorry in advance for the thread creep.

Hello Jay,

Have you thought of applying for a Home Depot job wherever you are now (assuming you are in an area where there is one) and transfering when you are ready to move?

(I don't know what their pay scale is.)

--Islander

Our Home Depot experience , for what it's worth:

My hubby applied at Home Depot last year after being laid off by the software company he had worked for . He applied via the Home Depot web site, and made very careful seletions when asked about availability, preferred shifts, etc. because he needed to be available to help me at specific times of the day and week.

The local franschise called him in for an interview within a day. Interview is a bit of an overstatement: it consisted of some very basic questions about his experience with the departments/tools/skills he checked on the online applications. They offered him a position at minimum wage -- $5.15/hour -- even though he had years of experience in managing a smaller but similar store), told him he was required to work shifts that were totally incompatible with our needs to be together. He asked if there could be any flexibility in that schedule and got a flat no. He told them he would talk it over with me and call them back by the end of the day. We decided it just couldn't work, and he called him back. WHen he connected tol the HR person who had interviewed him, he told her he was sorry but to please consider him if these olther shifts became available. She replied, "Whatever." -- her only comment during the call -- and hung up on him. He's certain she didn't even bother to figure out who called her.

His take from this is that HD is a very seniority based comany -- everyone new starts out with last pick of shifts and at minimum wage, and works their way up. We're hoping that this particular HR person was an anomoly.

I dont know what the Home Depot in STT starts you out with, but here in Florida they start out at about 8-10 dollars depending on experience. Sometimes they will work with you with the diff shifts.
The Virgin Islands store is doing good to. So more than likely they might hav ethe same pay scale as some of the other states.
My husband was to be transferred to the store in STT(which we was looking forward to) but some family health concerns that had to be taken care of, so we had to put the decision of moving back home on the back burner. : {

Thanks for input y'all!

The reason I don't apply for a job now with the local Home Depot is because I am currently working some 60 hours per week as a senior partner in an engineering services company and I just don't think the pay would match up very well! 🙂

Once I move it will be a different situation however. My area of expertise will have little or no demand there so I'll have to take what I can get until I learn some marketable skills.

In any event, I plan to have a large enough nest egg to weather any rough spots.

Regarding starting wages, I sort of suspected the rate might be higher In STT than minimum wage due to the high cost of living.

Having said all that, after searching thru the MLS real estate listings on both STT and STX, STX is looking like the more economical place to live. A condo in STT selling for 175k appears to go for less than 100k on STX.

Jay

Jay,

STX is the more economical place to live, which is one of the reasons we chose it over STT. STX is also the largest island, so I felt I would be less likely to get rock fever here. It also has the same population as STT, but with more than twice as many square miles of land, STX has a lot more open space and undeveloped land but still feels like a small town where everyone knows each other .

And I was really happy to be reminded by a post Islander left today that I haven't sat in a traffic standstill in 90 degree heat with taxis trying to cut me off since we left DC on Memorial Day weekend.

HC

Jay
The STT Home Depot does not pay as much as the mainland stores. most of the employees are working for minimum wage. The upper management makes around $13 to 15 an hour. The store manager is not interested in hiring employees from other
stores in the mainland due to an agreement with the V.I.'s government that 99% of the store must employ local residents. With a count of about 134 employees, that leaves only about 4 or 5 positions open that he is alowwed to fill. Most of those positions will be filled by only by specialist such as computer room personal, kitchen designers, expeditors and such. management positions are not offered to anyone who is not local. Employees are expected ( in full time status) to be able to work any shifts at any times. Weekends off are never an option. the store is busiest at these times. Flexibility is also usually not an option. If you are not able to make certain shifts, they will fire you and hire the next person in line who will do the job the way they want you too. Home Depots are usually set up the same way from store to store, STT is an exception. They have to comply with the government to meet there demands. A search in the local papers archives will show an article on this and the store managers quotes regarding the 99% ratio before the store opened. Local feelings are mixed on the store. Customers want to buy, but an unknowlegable staff with high turnover and a company who will not change policy ( such as not supporting carnival ) has had its ups and downs in business.

The STT Home Depot could definitely use some help. I have spent a lot of time in there the last two months upgrading my new home. The staff has a very small percentage of knowledgeable and friendly employees. For me it may say Home Depot on the sign outside but that is where it ends. I spoke to one of the new managers who said they were trying to turn things around. Im not sure how long that 99% rule applies or how long someone has to live on island to be considered local when hiring. I know for my wifes EDC company the agreement was 80-20, with the 20% being local, when hiring management level and a local was anyone who has lived on island at least one year. I have noticed at Home Depot more employees offering to help me even if they are not knowledgeable. I have gone in enough times now to seek out the HD employees I know and remember me to help.

I spent a week, in mid June, on STT working on my condo. I visited Home Depot every day. They were always very helpful.

F.I.