STT vs. STX

STT is a lot busier than STX and has lots more shopping and services available. STX doesn't have as many organized activities and tourist events going on. We have a fraction of the traffic and lots more open space. STT has some restaurant options that we don't have. 🙁 That's the one thing I do envy them for. lol. When I visit STT it seems to me that everyone I come into contact with is hustling to make a buck, usually from tourists. STX isn't like that at all. Because we have less tourism, we have less job opportunities for people who want to provide services to the tourism industry.

Houses need painted here just as they do anywhere and actually more often due to the salt air environment. (By the way, one of the best ways to make a paint job last on the interior of a house here is to use exterior paint with an algicide additive since most of us keep our homes open to the elements a lot of the time.) Most locals will paint their own homes when the mood strikes them and they have the $$ on hand. Most transplants would prefer to hire someone to paint their house for them, inside and out. If you are any good, there is a pretty high income to be made painting both houses and condos and probably businesses as well. You'd need to advertise a lot at first to get the word out that you were available, but most handyman type services take on a life of their own through word of mouth once someone has been working here for even six months and has happy customers.

Hovensa has all kinds of job openings in every facet you can think of. They don't only need petrochemical engineers and pipe fitters, although they hire a lot of those! The refinery is a city in itself and needs all kinds of services. It never hurts to go talk to their HR department to see if there is any kind of a fit for you with them directly or through one of the sub-contracting companies. They also have training programs available for people who want to start at entry level and work their way up in one category of job or another. A good work ethic is the best way to get the best opportunities.

Thanks very much for your thorough response. I notice you are very active on this message board and provide well thought out and helpful input. After I move down, I'll put together a campaign to elect you Mayor of St Croix. 😉

There is no local government on any of the islands, no mayors or councils. Only the Territorial Government.

Alexandra for honorary Mayor!

Thanks for that, but I was only kidding. Good to learn about forms of governement though.

beachbumbq - thanks for the kind remark. I do appreciate the humor with which you made it and am glad to have been able to help answer your questions. (But I think I'd pass on being Mayor! It would undoubtedly be a thankless job and much less fun than working with buyers who are so excited about relocating to the islands.)

beachbumq -

As Alexandra mentioned, there are subcontractors for Hovensa - an online search may be of benefit - I know we met quite a few people who had been transferred from the mainland to STX for 6-12 month contracts or something.....Hovensa has some excellent benefits. Definitely an idea worth pursuing. Perhaps it has already been posted, I think I saw it in another post - but there is a direct link to current Hovensa openings on the web. Not sure who the stateside "headhunters" are for that particular company, but I'd betcha someone knows.....what a great way to start your life on island, with steady employment already secured from stateside! Perhaps you could roll over your contract at the end - I don't know how that works, but good luck to you in purusing your dream!

As far as the painting goes - I know there is a gentleman on the east end of STX who started with a general handyman ad in the local paper and within a few months had more work than he knew what to do with......dependability is the key.....we tended to drift toward those workers who would say "I WILL be here in the morning", and then actually did so - used them over and over.......We found a number of workers who kept promising tomorrow at four o'clock....never did see them again......

Thanks Becky R.

im interested in getting a job at hovensa.. someone knows some webpages, or maybe an webpage on stx?

Thanks!

http://www.hovensa.com/hr/about.htm