After reading this job description, you will have a detailed understanding of what the job of a housekeeper entails.
The job of a housekeeper requires physical strength and consumes a lot of time.
Some of the duties and responsibilities of a housekeeper include washing clothes, cleaning, making the beds, and purchasing groceries and food pieces of stuff.
They are also responsible for operating cleaning machines and ensuring they are kept in the best conditions.
Those who require the services of a housekeeper usually look out for qualified candidates who possess certain attributes.
Ideal candidates should have physical stamina and be given details.
They should also possess good interpersonal and communication skills.
Employers do not always need candidates who have any form of academic certification.
Which makes it a career path to go into easily.
With this short introduction, I have summarised what you need to know about housekeeping.
Now, let’s go ahead to properly explain everything step by step.
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What does a Housekeeper do?
Housekeepers are responsible for keeping the organization’s premises or the apartment owner clean and organized.
Aside from cleaning, they are also in charge of storekeeping; they purchase household supplies.
This job requires the use of modern cleaning equipment and machines.
Therefore, if you are applying for this job, you must know their use, maintenance, and storage.
Performing the duties of a housekeeper requires a lot of standing, bending, lifting, and walking; therefore, applicants are expected to be physically fit and take their health seriously.
Aside from being physically fit, housekeepers are also expected to practice personal hygiene and grooming.
Some organizations usually require cleaning agencies and housekeepers to comply with National Infection Control and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) guidelines.
As well as all regular safety and health precautions.
If you want to know the duties and responsibilities of a housekeeper, continue reading this article.
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What are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Housekeeper?
Here are the duties and responsibilities of a housekeeper usually featured in the job description:
1. Having a keen understanding of the Organisation’s Policies
For housekeepers to adequately satisfy their employers or clients, they must have a keen understanding of the organization’s policies.
Also, they must stay up-to-date with hygiene rules.
2. Performing Housekeeping Duties
The primary duty of a housekeeper is to perform housekeeping duties such as:
- Washing
- Making beds
- Drying
- Ironing
- Sorting
- Folding
- Dusting
Almost everything that concerns cleaning is the responsibility of a housekeeper.
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3. Returning Lost but Found ItemsÂ
While performing your daily tasks as a housekeeper, you may come around forgotten items in the room.
In such a situation, you must return such items to the management.
4. Bring areas that need Repair to the Attention of the Management
Also, while cleaning and arranging the environment, a housekeeper observes areas needing repair before the apartment owner or the company’s management.
As such, you must bring areas that need repair to your employer.
5. Maintain Cleaning Equipment?
Housekeepers are usually in charge of using and operating cleaning equipment.
Therefore, it is also their responsibility to ensure you store that equipment in its unique condition.
Other duties and responsibilities of a housekeeper include:
- Ensure that you securely keep the belongings of customers
- Formally request housekeeping needs from the management.
- Emptying trash cans into a sanitary container.
- Clean carpets using a vacuum cleaner.
- Inspect rooms to ensure that all appliances are working properly
- Adhere to all company safety and security measures.
- Replenish room supplies such as soaps, towels, and drinking glasses.
- Inspect room mattresses periodically.
Domestic housekeepers wash places, prepare meals and also take care of children.
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What Qualifications do I need to become a Housekeeper?
You don’t need academic certification to become a housekeeper, but having a high school diploma or GED is advantageous.
Employers usually look out for candidates with experience using Cleaning equipment and chemicals.
Also, they should be familiar with the organization’s specific cleaning procedure.
You need expert knowledge of sensitive cleaning materials is also required.
Those who desire a better career in housekeeping may obtain an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in hotel and hospitality management.
Such educational advancement will enable you to handle more senior housekeeping roles.
A successful housekeeper must be physically fit.
This is because their job requires a lot of strength to pull through.
Frequently, employers prefer hiring those who have a level of experience in cleaning, housekeeping, or janitorial duties.
But prospective housekeepers who do not have any form of experience can receive on-the-job training from more experienced colleagues.
What Skills should a Housekeeper have?
Although no academic certification is mandatory for housekeepers, employers prefer employing those with certain skills.
A complete job description should contain the essential skills a housekeeper should have.
Possessing these skills or attributes makes it much easier for a housekeeper to do his or her job.
Here are some of the skills every good housekeeper should have:
1. Communication Skills
Since housekeepers carry out most of their duties indoors, they still come in contact with people.
Those who work in hotels do not come in contact with their colleagues only but with visitors as well.
Therefore a successful housekeeper should be able to communicate.
They should be able to relate necessary information to the appropriate part verbally and in writing.
2. Interpersonal Skills
It is also relevant for a housekeeper to develop good relationships with colleagues, visitors, or house owners.
Therefore a good housekeeper should possess solid interpersonal skills.
3. Customer Service Skills
Housekeepers who work in hotels and have contact with visitors must have good customer service orientation.
This is because poor customer service would result in a loss of customers.
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4. Attention to Detail
Most of the duties of a housekeeper require giving attention to details.
This is important because it enables a house to give attention to areas that may be hidden and can easily be ignored.
5. Integrity
Whether you work in a hotel or at an apartment, it is important to be trustworthy as a housekeeper.
All housekeepers must know what is confidential and keep it that way.
6. Organisation Skills
A good housekeeper must also be organized.
After cleaning, they should be able to put everything back in place.
Where do Housekeepers Work?
There are two types of housekeepers, which are:
- Domestic housekeepers
- Hotel housekeepers
From the above titles, you can easily tell that housekeepers work at private apartments and hotels.
Vacancies are usually advertised online on the website of hotels and recruitment agencies.
Advertisements may also be done offline on radio and television stations and in local and international newspapers.
How much do Housekeepers make?
The following factors may influence the salary or wage of a housekeeper:
- Location: in a location where the economy is poor, housekeepers may not be paid well.
- Employers: Those who work in large hostels or for affluent individuals usually earn better than others.
- Experience: More experienced housekeepers may have reasons to bargain a better pay with employers.
- Qualification: More qualified candidates are preferred and paid better than their less qualified colleagues.
Your scope of work and season may also influence your wage.
According to Indeed, housekeepers in the United States earn up to $11.30 per hour.
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Housekeepers’ Work Environments and Schedule
Housekeepers usually work indoors in the laundry room.
Domestic housekeepers may have to clean all the rooms in an apartment.
Also, the services of a hotel housekeeper may be required in rooms either when a guest is present or not.
Therefore, as much as these individuals work indoors, they also come In contact with people.
Typically, a domestic housekeeper may work full-time or part-time.
Whereas hotel housekeepers’ working hours and days depending on their shifts.
One common thing with both types of housekeepers is that they both work on weekends and evenings.
What should I Include in my Housekeeping Resume?
 If you want to create a professional resume, don’t hesitate to use this job description.
Here are certain things you should consider including in it:
- Years of experience
- Place of experience
- Qualification
- Hard skills
- Soft skills
You should also refer to the above information when asked questions during your interview.
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Conclusion: Housekeeper Job Description Guide
Housekeeping may be stressful, but it is one of the easiest career paths.
This is because it does not necessarily require formal education, and on-the-job training is usually available.
Employers can also use this job description as a template for creating a unique housekeeper job description.
On that note, they are free to make changes and adjustments to it if they need to.
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