Starting from scratch

There aren't many human resources departments except in government, at the hotels, and the refinery in St. Croix. So a job at or near your field might be tough. It's a matter of timing.

"Is it somewhere that people generally like to have a career?" I'm not sure what that means. People who live here have careers, just like anywhere else. Being in a small place is either really good or not so good, depending on your perspective. If you are successful, you can be a big fish in a small pond. But if you want to have a long, varied HR career, the options here are limited. This applies in almost any field you may choose for a career.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info....i was thinking that but just wanted to get a second opinion

Uh, you are way over qualified to work there. It is not exactly a career type place. Many folks I know have moved to the islands, gotten jobs like bartender or bellboy (with no experience) and within 6 or 8 months become the manager the establishment. It is a great place to waste your life.

Patricia: I usually ignore postings such as yours, but I feel compelled to respond.I don't know what your understanding of the Virgin Islands is, and quite honestly folks who come here to be bartenders and bellboys do not have a balanced view of the society in general... There are many men and women here who have "career type" lives. There are teachers, nurses, social workers, lawyers, doctors, child care workers, librarians, psychologists, small businesspersons, reporters, ad people, graphic designers, hoteliers and restauranteurs, accountants, diesel mechanics, sail makers, carpenters, artists... shall I go on?

Thanks East Ender for setting Ms Patricia Strait. Patricia not because you may have had bad experiences living in the VI, not all people that are hoping to move there will have the same experiences that you had.

Sorry I agree with Patricia. I lived there for a little over a year in 1996. Loved it!!! I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. But lets' get real the islands are a great place to "party". If you really want to get a real career going - this is not the place.

"A real career" : I'm sure that phrase is defined relatively, but I'm guessing you mean a career such as one you could find within a large private organization in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. If that is the case, then I would agree that one would have a better chance in a large urban area in the continental USA.

"A great place to waste your life" : That is such a biased and unfair statement that it is hardly, if at all, worth responding to.

Let's face it: Sure, the USVI doesn't compare to cities like those mentioned above when it comes to most career choices. Because the major players (companies) and the population are not there, what more would you expect? Compare it to Scott's chances in some small village in rural Idaho...that wouldn't be the best place for him with his career goals either, would it?

The USVI, just as the regulars here constantly say, is not the right place for everyone. There are tradeoffs no matter where you live.

I think that Patricia and Julie were actually trying to offer Scott some constructive advice, it is just that they did it in a way that was offensive to almost everyone else!

Chris

Hmmm...well Minneapolis, Chicago, and San Fransisco must be great places to waste your life then too...I've certainly got some old buddies that seem to think so...

Then again, maybe it's not the "place" ???

THAT IS TRUE BOB I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS WHO HAVE LEFT THE ISLANDS TO LIVE IN BIG CITIES SUCH AS NEW YORK, CHICAGO ETC., FOR BIGGER AND BETTER OPPORUTNITIES AND HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISH A THING THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN HOMES PAYING RENT ALL OF THEIR LIVES MOVING FROM JOB TO JOB ETC.. DID I BLAME THE CITIES FOR MY FRIENDS NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING WITH THEIR LIVES NO. I BLAME THEM FOR NOT HAVING THE INITIATIVE TO DO BETTER. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL AND WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE.

Julie: You were here for one year- to "party"...Did you meet people who were raising families, working to improve the fabric of the society, having meaningful lives? Yes, this is a place that one is able to "party", but please don't think that is the only thing one is able to do here!!

Two years ago I made the decision to leave my career at a large corporate bank in Atlanta to come to St. Thomas. I’ve started my own successful business and have met many professional individuals. Instead of being stuck in a cube on the 18th floor of a 58 story building. I look out my office door and see the blue ocean and mountains. It defiantly depend on the individual not the place in which they live. You will find the” party people” no matter where you live Atlanta, New York, Chicago etc. If I was a betting person most of these party people are under age of 30 or just lost.

Scott,

Check out

http://hrweb.uvi.edu/employment/index.html

The University of the Virgin Islands is seeking an innovative leader to direct its Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is vitally important to ensuring the University’s continuous success and future growth as a first class educational and cultural institution in the Virgin Islands.

The salary range for this position is $60,658 - $70,396 depending on the experience and qualifications of the individual selected. The University offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, life, disability, prescription drug, 21 days vacation and 15 sick days per year.

--Islander

Tchoki,

What type of business did you start in St. Thomas?

YL

An internet cafe, phones and phone cards business. I'm located on the ship port in Havensight Mall.