Butler

Job Description:

Butlers carry out personal and household tasks for their employers.

Job Category:

Food & Drink

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What you will do:

In this role you could:

manage diary appointments, book restaurants and travel
represent your client at meetings
manage the household and staff
set formal dining tables and serve food and drinks
chauffeur your client to appointments
look after guests
manage a wine cellar
cook and prepare meals
take care of pets
organise activities on country estates

Skills:

You’ll need:

to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As well as:

excellent verbal communication skills
active listening skills
customer service skills
sensitivity and understanding
leadership skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others (teamwork)
concentration skills

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

To become a Butler, formal education requirements are not strictly defined, and specific qualifications are not mandatory. Instead, becoming a Butler typically involves a combination of personal attributes, skills, and often, specialised training. However, certain subjects and skills can be beneficial in preparing for a career as a Butler. Here are some subjects that can be helpful:

English Language: Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for a Butler, as they may be responsible for correspondence, writing reports, and interacting with employers and guests.
Mathematics: Basic math skills are important for tasks like budgeting, financial management, and possibly handling household expenses.
Hospitality and Service Industry Courses (Optional): If available, courses related to the hospitality industry, customer service, or service etiquette can provide valuable knowledge and skills.
Foreign Languages (Optional): Knowledge of additional languages, particularly those commonly spoken by the employer or guests, can be advantageous in an international household.

Post School

You could get into this job through:

applying directly
specialist courses run by private training organisations

Direct Application
You can apply for work directly or through a housekeeping agency if you have:

experience of the hospitality or personal services industries
the ability to speak a second language, if you’re looking to work with clients whose first language is not English

Other Routes
You can get a qualification in butler skills which may improve your employment chances. There are private courses that teach traditional and modern professional butler skills, like:

valeting, including clothing and shoe care
setting a formal dining table and providing a waiting service
social and dining etiquette
international etiquette and protocols
confidence and deportment

Working Hours and Environment:

You could work at a client’s home, in a hotel or on a cruise ship.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience, you could become a head butler and supervise and train people new to the role.

Once you have a wide range of experience and contacts in the industry, you could look at setting up your own business, like a butler training school or a butler recruitment agency.