Butler
Job Description:Butlers carry out personal and household tasks for their employers.
Job Category: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
Entry Requirements:
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.