No formal education is required if you want to become a butler, but a career in this field can be quite difficult to break down as well. Good training and previous work experience will make you eligible to compete, if you do eventually succeed in becoming a butler, you will have to be prepared for all the challenges and responsibilities that come with it.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Education
Step 1. Do your own research
Before you begin the process of becoming a butler, you should do some preparatory research in your spare time. Learn what to expect from this field by reading books and online about butler duties in the modern era.
- Although butlers have traditionally been male, nowadays, women can also pursue careers in this field.
- During 2013, the average salary of a butler in the United States ranged from 660 million to 1.5 billion rupiah per year. Note, though, that your salary may be lower if you take on a start-up job.
- Today, most butlers take care of their own household operations management roles. You have to be good at doing a lot of homework.
- You must be healthy and physically strong. Since household chores depend on you, you need to be physically and mentally strong to handle the tasks without any breaks or days off.
- The butler usually lives in an apartment or one of the rooms in the main house or in a small house in the master's neighborhood. That's all, so you can be called 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Step 2. Finish high school
Apart from a high school diploma or GED, you don't need any formal education to become a butler. Most employers want to have servants who have completed high school.
During high school, consider taking classes that match your chosen career. For example, take classes related to home economics and finance
Step 3. Learn the skills you need
While you don't need a higher level of education, you do need to have the right skills to become a waiter. You should be able to learn most of these abilities.
- As a butler, you may have to manage other household staff, hire new staff, arrange and organize your employer's grooming equipment, take on secretarial duties at home, manage family schedules, serve food and drinks, set the table, receive guests, and keep the house safe..
- Consider taking additional classes in finance, security, food preparation, and etiquette. Basic computer skills can also give you the skills needed to manage your family's finances, and their schedule.
Step 4. Attend formal training
Although formal education is not required, there are several post-education schools that can provide lessons in this area. Coming to this training can hone your skills, the training also usually offers a job placement.
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You can seek domestic management lessons at a technical school or open class, or you can go to a school that specializes in this area. Some of the well-known specialized schools in this field of training are:
- The Professional Domestic Institute (Powell, Ohio, United States)
- The Estate Management Studies program at the French Culinary Institute (New York City, New York, United States of America)
- The Charles MacPherson Academy (Toronto, Ontario)
- The International Butler Academy (Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands)
- A formal training program will teach you the code of ethics for this profession, along with all the skills required. You can also learn about professional presentations, table service, routine housekeeping, washing and cleaning activities.
Method 2 of 3: Experience
Step 1. Practice with a professional
Find a professional butler and ask him about special study possibilities. Observing a professional's performance will help you develop a perspective to improve your own abilities.
You may not be paid for your observations and these observations will only last for a few weeks. During this time, observe the professional's behavior in as much detail as possible. When given assignments, use them as experiences and examples for you
Step 2. Work as a maid or housekeeper
Although butlers and maids have different duties, some of them can intersect. Try working through an agency.
- Instead of looking for work as an independent waitress or cleaner, try to find work with a maid and cleaning agency. Look for the nearest cleaning agency and find a way to apply.
- Focus on a job that will give you a cleaner-like experience. Working as a waiter in a hotel would also be a good option. Avoid janitor positions in industrial establishments, at all costs, as the skills you gain there will not have anything to do with your career as a butler.
Step 3. Get work experience in a hotel
There are various positions in the hotel where you can hone your skills. In addition to honing your skills, you will also benefit from including this experience in your job application.
- Working as a door opener will give you the experience of welcoming guests and taking care of accommodation.
- If you can't find a desk position, find a job as a lifter or waitress. Even if these jobs have little to do with the abilities of a butler, they will still provide valuable experience and get you used to fulfilling client wishes.
Step 4. Gather as much experience in the service industry as possible
A butler can do many things, and you gain all of those abilities by working in the ministry.
- Work as a greeter or waitress in a restaurant to gain the skills to set the table, serve drinks, and serve food.
- Consider working as a washerwoman to gain knowledge about how to care for clothes.
- Take a job as a secretary or receptionist in your office to prepare for secretarial duties as a butler.
- Spend time as a call driver to gain experience as a driver. Although chauffeur and butler are usually two different jobs, there will be times when a butler is also expected to be a good driver.
Method 3 of 3: Looking for a Job
Step 1. Try joining a union or organization
Joining a trade union or professional organization for maids and domestic staff is very beneficial because you will get some kind of “formal” assistance. Potential clients usually look for a waiter through professional organizations before looking for them in general.
- One of the largest organizations you can join is the International Union of Professional Servants (https://www.butlersguild.com/). You need to register with a union and submit a job application. After that, you'll have access to a list of available jobs, just like any other resource.
- Just as there are organizations that hire and place domestic helpers, there are also agencies that hire and place butlers. They are quite rare, especially in the United States, so finding them in your area may be quite difficult. If you can't find it in the phone book or online, contact the nearest domestic help agency or people associated with the cleaning industry to find out where the nearest butler organization is.
Step 2. Look for job advertisements
Look for job vacancies. These days, legitimate butler positions are rare, and it's even rarer to find advertisements seeking waiters in newspapers or online. They can be advertised very rarely, so keeping an eye on the ad column can pay off.
- Big cities have more need in this area, especially if there is a neighborhood of wealthy people there. Focus on finding vacancies in the area first.
- Be careful when accepting advertised jobs. Since positions as butlers are so rare, many of the advertisements may just be hoaxes and can be dangerous. Avoid meeting clients in deserted areas, and if your instincts tell you to leave, listen.
Step 3. Get recommendations
As long as you accumulate experience in other service areas, you will naturally come into contact with professionals. If you make a good impression on the people you work with, someone may be able to recommend you to a client.
