Find A Housekeeping Job
January 8, 2013
Whether you want to find full-time work as a housekeeper, or whether you just need a part-time job to supplement your family’s income, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of being hired.
- First of all, have your resume ready. Outline your past job history and your experience as a housekeeper, even if your experience is limited to managing your own home. Include skills that are relevant to a housekeeping job, such as the ability to work independently, provide quality customer service, and work quickly. It would also be important to be prepared with a list of references that prospective employers can call.
- If you are looking for full-time work, you might want to create of list of potential employers you could approach, such as hotels, motels, college dorms, hospitals, nursing homes.
- If you are looking for part-time or more varied work, get the word out that you are looking for a housekeeping job. Post a profile, talk with family, friends and neighbors, place an ad in the local paper or in your church bulletin, write up flyers to distribute. Business cards with your contact information are helpful – not only to give out when someone inquires, but they are also a handy way to advertise on grocery store bulletin boards.
- Consider signing up with an agency. Many prospective employers prefer to deal with an agency which has pre-screened their housekeepers. An agency can match your qualifications and desired work hours, whether full-time or part-time, to available positions.
- When interviewing, it would be important to show that you are a friendly person and that you have enough energy to complete the tasks that a housekeeping job requires. Do your best to be cheerful and alert.
- Once you have a housekeeping job, ask for referrals. Often your employer will have friends or family who are looking for help too and could use your services.
- Do you have any other skills or experience? Working as a nanny share could make you a more attractive candidate!
Additional Housekeeping Job Interview Tips
An interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your housekeeping qualifications to an employer, so it pays to be well prepared. The following information provides some helpful hints.
Preparation
- Learn about the family or employer.
- Have a specific cleaning job or jobs in mind.
- Review your qualifications for the job.
- Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job.
- Be ready to answer broad questions, such as “Why should I hire you?” “Why do you want this job?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- Practice an interview with a friend or relative.
Personal Appearance
- Be well groomed.
- Dress appropriately.
- Do not chew gum or smoke.
The Interview
- Be early.
- Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm handshake.
- Use good manners with everyone you meet.
- Relax and answer each question concisely.
- Use proper English-avoid slang.
- Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
- Use body language to show interest-use eye contact and don’t slouch.
- Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company Web site.
- Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits unless a job offer is made.
- Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands.
- Send a short thank you note.
