There are housekeeping roles within almost every area of industry, from hotel housekeeping to assisted housing, personal housekeepers to housekeeping within the medical sector. Those within the housekeeping sector will also have many opportunities for promotion and further training, with supervisory and managerial roles offering varying types of experience. Housekeeping roles are popular for those looking for an entry-level job that can also help them build new skills and gain experience in a wide variety of areas. Because of this, many will choose housekeeping as the starting point in their careers. Nevertheless, employers will be looking for individuals with a dedicated work ethic and an ability to adapt to any situation. A well-written housekeeping resume is vital in setting you apart from other applicants – it can be the key to landing your desired role.
What Is a Housekeeping Resume?
A housekeeping resume is a resume that is specifically designed to help individuals achieve jobs within the housekeeping sector. This could be an entry-level housekeeping job within commercial businesses, work within the hotel industry or a more experienced, supervisory position. Creating a specially tailored resume helps employers to see quickly and easily how well suited you are to the job. Highlighting the skills which are of the most interest to interviewers within this area of employment can set you apart from other applicants. Even if you have never worked in housekeeping before, there are plenty of ways to help your resume or CV stand out and ensure that you are offered your dream position.
What Should be on a Housekeeping Resume?
It may seem obvious, but definitely include any relevant experience on your housekeeping resume, even if it did not come from a paid job. Many people perform housekeeping duties on a daily basis – it is important to tailor what experience you list specifically for the job you want. Individuals with no employment history may also feel that they have no experience to add, but this is, again, not true. Experience does not only relate to work. There are skills from everyday life that are useful when working, and housekeeping is no different. For example, voluntary positions, such as helping at your local church or community events, can be used to prove your work ethic as well as show skills such as hygiene management. Your housekeeping resume should emphasise skills that directly relate to the job you are applying for. These can often be found in the job description. For example, if you are applying for a hotel housekeeping position, then highlight experience relevant to hospitality on your CV or resume. If you are looking for a supervisory or managerial role, then it is beneficial to talk about times when you have been in a position of authority. If you are applying for a housekeeping job for the first time, then you may be concerned that you are unable to add specific housekeeping experience to your resume. This is understandable. Instead, you can show your many skills that are transferable between industries and appeal to employers. In a previous position, you may have been trained in hygiene and safety skills or you may have experience in customer service. These are both important and valuable skills in housekeeping as well, even if you gained them elsewhere. Before creating or tailoring your resume, make sure to have a thorough look at the housekeeper job description, so that you can be sure to focus on the most appropriate skills. For example, if you are applying for a position that involves supervising other staff members, then any experience you have of managing people and supervising others should be listed first as this will be the most relevant thing to the employer. Remember to be specific to the role you are applying for – managerial or supervisory roles will need an emphasis on experience in those areas, while hotel housekeeping roles will benefit from employees who have worked in customer‐facing roles. If you are applying for a role that primarily deals with young children or senior citizens, then relevant experience in those sectors, plus any prior background or safety checks, should be highlighted.
Previous housekeeping experience Customer service experience Supervisory or managerial experience Any previous knowledge of health and safety regulations Experience of working independently and as part of a team Experience using pieces of equipment relevant to housekeeping; for example, floor cleaning equipment or industrial-size laundry machinery Experience organising schedules and time-management skills
Attention to detail is vital when listing your skills. A potential employer will want to know that you are going to be thorough in your approach to the job.
Writing Your Housekeeping Resume
As a general rule, a resume needs to be direct and to the point. A potential employer does not want to spend a lot of time working out who you are, what you want and what you are trying to say. When you sit down to write your housekeeping resume, it may be difficult to decide what to put where. Following this basic outline can make the whole process of writing an eye-catching resume a lot easier and less daunting.
Heading
Always make sure to start with your full name and the word ‘Resume’ or ‘CV’. This instantly tells an employer who you are and why you are contacting them. Make sure your file is named the same. Example: Miss Jane Grey – Resume, Jane_Grey_Resume.docx
Contact Details
A contact number and email address are always important to add just below the heading. It may be relevant to include your address too. Example: Email – jane.grey@email.com Telephone – 1357924680
First Paragraph
The first paragraph of your resume should be a brief summary (often called a resume objective) of your professional experience and personal interests. This introductory paragraph should be no more than four or five sentences long. The aim is to catch the interest of the employer. Example: If you choose to use a list format, use bullet points to ensure that it is easy to read. Paragraphs should be concise. Example:
Customer service Time management Organisational skills The ability to work as part of a team Self-motivated Experience in handling and operating industrial machinery including laundry machines and floor polishing equipment (specifically, models XYZ and ABC)
When creating this section, start from the most recent and work your way down to the oldest position you have held. If there are gaps in your employment history, consider adding a note to explain these (for example: 2016-2017 – Employment break after becoming a parent) Example: July 2017 – January 2018, Private client – Personal Housekeeper May 2015 – July 2017, Aberforth Care Home – Junior Housekeeper Prior to May 2015 – Attended Carcassone High School It is important to make sure that the most relevant qualifications are listed towards the top. These would include any housekeeping or cleaning certificates that you have achieved, as well as certificates relevant to health, hygiene and safety. Always be sure to thoroughly read the housekeeper job description so that you know you have all the essential qualifications they ask for. Example: Health and Safety Certification – Achieved 2019 GED – Achieved 2015 The most important thing to remember is to consistently tailor your skills and achievements for the position you are applying for. If you put those things at the top of each list, then the employer will see the most important information first. Above all, a good resume is achievable and worth the effort that you put into it.
