The simplest definition of housekeeping is the provision and maintenance of a safe, clean and comfortable environment, often done through cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming, and polishing surfaces. Housekeeping duties are, therefore, the chores involved in successfully running a household or hotel and are usually done by the housekeeping staff.
We have something for you if you have been eyeing a housekeeping job. Our article will examine the roles and responsibilities involved in housekeeping and the requirements surrounding a housekeeping position, i.e., education, skills, and experience. We have also written two detailed resumes to help you develop the best housekeeping resume for your upcoming job application. Let’s get right into it!
Housekeeping Job Description
Housekeeping staff offers homeowners or guests a safe, habitable and comfortable environment by maintaining general cleanliness and aesthetics. They clean floors, dust, and polish surfaces and ensure that rooms are well arranged. Other roles include maintaining housekeeping equipment and informing homeowners or management of damages and disturbances.
To succeed in a housekeeping job, one needs excellent time management skills, the ability to multitask, excellent customer service skills, and vast experience using different cleaning equipment and tools. It is also mandatory that a housekeeper maintains high-performance levels.
Housekeeping Roles and Responsibilities
- Performing several cleaning activities on a day-to-day basis, e.g., mopping, cleaning, dusting, and polishing surfaces
- For those in management/supervisory positions, creating duty rosters and supervising other housekeeping staff to ensure discipline, good conduct, and performance
- Ensuring that rooms are arranged to the required standards
- Inspecting rooms for damages, defects, or disturbances and reporting to the right persons
- Performing inventory control and management duties for consumables and ordering supplies when necessary
- Adhering to all safety and health guidelines when going about their duties
- Keeping all common areas clean and in the right conditions
- Using different equipment, tools, and cleaning agents to clean spills and other stubborn dirt
- Facilitating the timely collection and disposal of trash
- Notifying the right persons of necessary repair
- Keeping and maintaining records of every housekeeping supply or equipment
- Performing scheduled deep clean-ups regularly
- Collaborating with other housekeepers to keep the facility, establishment, or home clean, comfortable, and habitable
- Creating and maintaining positive relationships with guests and other housekeeping staff
- Attending to incoming housekeeping requests, such as clearing broken glasses
- Helping with laundry management, i.e., washing, ironing, drying, and sorting clothes and other linen
- Safely retrieving and reporting any item left behind by a guest to the right personnel/ department
- Performing bedroom-related housekeeping duties such as changing bed sheets and arranging towels
- Using the correct housekeeping equipment and tools to clean surfaces and perform other housekeeping duties
- Cleaning, sanitizing, and storing all cleaning equipment upon the end of the shift
- Taking time to spotlessly clean upholstered furniture
- Successfully facilitating guest room repairs and servicing
- Inspecting rooms and shares areas to identify cleaning needs
- Maintaining high levels of confidentiality when going about housekeeping duties
Housekeeping Required Knowledge and Skills
- Working knowledge of cleaning equipment and tools
- Knowledge of how to select and properly use cleaning agents
- In-depth understanding of all housekeeping duties
- Attention to details
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Basic inventory control/ management skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to multitask
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent organization skills
- Physical strength and stamina
- Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality
- Creativity
- Ability to work with little to no supervision
- Ability to achieve and maintain a high-performance level
- Friendly attitude
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent carpet cleaning and vacuuming skills
- Infection control
- Innovation
- Technical Skills such as sweeping, mopping, deep cleaning, bathroom cleaning, surface polishing, dusting, window treatment, and cleaning.
- Reliability
- Active listening skills
- High levels of flexibility
- Honesty
- Ability to perform basic repairs and maintenance on cleaning appliances and tools
- Ability to interact positively with guests
- Ability to maintain a professional appearance
- A hardworking personality
- Task scheduling and prioritization skills
Housekeeping Education and Experience
- High School Diploma or its equivalent
- Relevant industry certifications
- Associate Degree/ certificate in hospitality management (not mandatory, but highly recommended)
- Proven experience in corporate housekeeping
- Experience using different housekeeping appliances and tools
Housekeeping Salary
Glassdoor, an outstanding job, and salary review site estimate junior housekeepers averagely make $33,000 annually while their senior counterparts earn $6,000 (or thereabout) more. Housekeepers paid hourly earn $13- $20, most falling into the $13- $15 bracket. Strive to gain more experience and skills and qualify for a higher position (such as an executive housekeeper or house manager) to increase your salary/wages.
Housekeeping CV Examples 1
James Hall
Physical address: 2100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California (CA), 92453
Email address: halljames78@gmail.com
Phone number: (836) 749- 9483
Personal Profile
Executive housekeeper with 11+ years of experience performing an array of cleaning, sanitization, and inventory management tasks in hotels and residential suites across the country. Customer-oriented and friendly professional ready to lead, supervise and collaborate with other housekeeping attendants for high-performance levels. Excellent communicator with vast experience maintaining cleaning equipment and tools.
Work Experience
08/2019- 10/2022, Executive Housekeeper, Haven Suites, Santa Monica, California
- Responsible for the general cleanliness and servicing of a 200-rooms residential suite
- Organized, coordinated, and supervised the work of 30 housekeeping staff, motivating them to stay productive daily
- Recruited 15 new cleaning employees and trained them on housekeeping duties, customer service provision, and performance improvement
- Contributed to the professional development of the cleaning staff by organizing and delivering regular training and coaching sessions
- Evaluated employee performance and liaised with the resident manager to decide on promotions and transfers
- Applied human resource management skills to deal with housekeeping staff issues
- Researched and introduced seven improved cleaning products for increases safety and cleanliness levels
- Regularly developed and implemented new procedures in liaison with the resident manager, increasing labour and product use efficiency
- Used Excel spreadsheets to maintain a regular inventory of cleaning equipment, common areas furniture, and housekeeping attendants’ uniforms
- Liaised with the resident manager to create a staff development program for all housekeeping employees
- Created new and improved housekeeping schedules, reducing working hours by 15%
- Tailored employee training to comply with revised time schedules, reducing overtime and minimizing labour costs by 10%
05/2016- 07/2019, Deputy Housekeeper, Beverley Hotels, Palo Alto, CA
- Reported to the executive housekeeper, contributing to successful housekeeping operations of a 120-rooms hotel
- Liaised with the housekeeper to develop and deliver safety training programs to all housekeepers, reducing reported incidents by 75%
- Organized, coordinated, and supervised the work of 30 housekeepers in the absence of the executive housekeeper
- Assisted in the development and tracking of a $2.8M annual operational budget
- Served as the first point of contact between the junior housekeeping staff and hotel management
- Ensured the efficient use and correct storage of chemicals and disinfectants for safety purposes
- Motivated housekeeping staff through positive acknowledgment and constructive feedback, increasing their overall productivity by 20%
- Inspected work done by 5+ contractors, e.g., laundry and pest control teams, and reported to the executive housekeeper and resident manager
- Performed employee evaluation and helped the executive housekeeper make promotion, termination, and discipline decisions
02/2013- 04/2016, Assistant Housekeeper, Roadside Hotels, Fresno, CA
- Cleaned and serviced 100+ guest rooms daily in collaboration with 25 housekeeping staff
- Applied excellent customer service skills to respond to guest requests and keep them comfortable
- Used Excel spreadsheets to maintain a 100% accurate inventory of housekeeping supplies
- Mentored 10+ new hires on hotel procedures, cleaning duties, and overall best practices
- Observed high levels of hygiene and appeared professional 100% of the time
- Attended 10+ events on safety and general housekeeping to develop professionally
- Named the best assistant housekeeper of 2014 for maintaining excellent performance standards
Education
- 02/2008- 08/2010, Associate Degree in Hospitality Management, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California
- 03/2005- 05/2007, High School Diploma, Fresno Senior High School, Fresno, California
Skills
- Languages
- English
- French
- Croatian
Technical Skills
- Laundry
- Carpet Cleaning
- Sweeping
- Dusting surfaces
- Mopping
- Bathroom cleaning
- Surface polishing
- Infection control
- Innovation
- Window treatment cleaning
- Soft Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Organization
- Attention to detail
Hard work
- Active listening
- Reliability
- Self-control
- Honesty
- Time management
Certifications
06/14, Certified Housekeeping Manager, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Housekeeping CV Example 2
Ressy Jackson
Physical address: 2453 Worden Street, San Diego, CA, 97854
Email address: jacksonressy18@gmail.con
Phone number: (825) 789-6532
Personal Profile
Housekeeping attendant with 10+ years of experience cleaning and maintaining residential properties and hotels. Customer service expert with working knowledge of cleaning products and equipment ready to give homeowners and guests a clean, comfortable and habitable environment. Avid team worker with the ability to work with little or no supervision.
Work Experience
08/2019- 10/2022, Housekeeping Manager, Sevan Suites, San Jose, CA
- Successfully managed all the operations of the housekeeping department of a 150-unit suite
- Implemented and chaired a 10-member safety committee tasked with delivering safety training, ensuring compliance with safety guidelines, and investigating on-job accidents
- Ensured proper maintenance, repair, and replacement of 100+ cleaning equipment for reduced downtime
- Maintained the $2.5M+ annual housekeeping budget by tracking expenses and documenting billing summaries
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive training program for new employees covering areas such as custodial and maintenance procedures
- Encouraged excellent customer service among housekeeping staff, reducing guest complaints by 40%
- Supervised cleaning teams to ensure 100% compliance with OSHA, state, and federal regulations
- Assisted the hotel manager directly with managing employee issues
05/2016- 06/2019, Executive Housekeeper, Riddley Serviced Apartment Complex, Tampa, FL
- Managed the overall cleaning and servicing operations of a 50-units apartment complex
- Organized, coordinated, and supervised the daily work operations of 20 housekeeping staff, motivating and keeping them on their toes for increased productivity
- Improved housekeeping schedules and encouraged excellent time management, reducing housekeeping hours by 15%
- Managed inventory through inventory maintenance, ordering, and order documentation for adequate supplies
- Recruited ten new employees in liaison with the resident manager and facilitated their onboarding
- Searched, tested, and recommended 15+ improved cleaning products for the cleaning teams
03/13- 04/2016, Floor Housekeeper, Delana Suites, San Diego, CA
- Escalated safety and security hazards to the 15-member security department for faster resolution
- Documented floor housekeeping procedures and prepared 100% accurate housekeeping status reports
- Supervised the cleaning of 30 rooms on the second floor, ensuring that all corridors, guestrooms, staircases, and pantries were in perfect condition
- Regularly inspected floor amenities and reported areas in need of maintenance to the assistant housekeeper and suite management
- Maintained inventory of all floor equipment and furniture, accounting for everything
- Facilitated the provision of 10+ extra services to floor guests, e.g., alcoholic beverages
- Used excellent communication and collaboration skills to maintain regular correspondence with the front office regarding ready rooms, maintenance work, and additional activities
Education
- 02/2009- 06/2011, Associate Degree in Hospitality Management, De Anza College, Cupertino, California
- 05/2005- 08/2007, High School Diploma, San Diego Senior High School, San Diego, CA
Skills
- Languages
- Spanish
- English
- French
Technical Skills
- Innovation
- Laundry management
- Bathroom cleaning
- Infection control
- Surface polishing
- Infection control
- Vacuuming
- Window treatment cleaning
- Carpet Cleaning
- Mopping
Soft Skills
- Active listening
- Reliability
- Flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Self-control
- Time management
- Customer service
- Attention to details
- Organization
Certifications
04/13, Certified Executive Housekeeper, International Executive Housekeepers Association, IEHA
Housekeeping Resume Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which Technical Skills Can I Include in My Housekeeping Resume?
One needs specialized knowledge and expertise to perform housekeeping duties and successfully use housekeeping tools. Popularly known as technical skills, these job requirements are normally found in job listings. Here are some of the most common: bathroom cleaning, deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, sweeping, using different cleaning equipment and machines, window treatment cleaning, innovation, cleaning tools maintenance, infection control, surface polishing, dusting, and disinfection.
Other technical skills worth mentioning in your resume’s profile, work experience, and skill sections include vacuuming, hospitality management, laundry management, house arrangement, cooking and inventory management. Review the job listing once more to ensure you have included all the required technical skills.
2. Which Are Some of the Most Common Keywords in Housekeeping Resumes?
The only proven way to get past applicant tracking systems is to optimize your resume using the right keywords. These can be the tools, skills, abilities, and values the hiring manager wants in an employee. Some of the most common keywords on housekeeping job applications are rooms division, hospitality management, home management, inventory, cleaning, property management systems, food & beverage, guest service management, revenue analysis, front office, hospitality, housekeeping, furniture, carpet installation, and sanitation.
Additional keywords include dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, disinfectant, stocking, laundry services, scheduling, infection control, bathroom cleaning, window treatment, deep cleaning, mopping, etc. Ensure that you tailor your resume to meet the job requirements by including all the keywords hinted in the job listing and easily capture the hiring manager’s attention.
3. Which Soft Skills Should I Include in My Resume?
Soft skills are equally helpful as they allow you to interact easily with housekeepers, homeowners, and other staff members. For the best results, include the following soft skills in your housekeeping resume: verbal communication, organization, reliability, flexibility, ability to work well under pressure, active listening, time management, excellent customer service, attention to detail, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and decision-making.
Additional skills include self-control, adaptability, stress management, honesty, multitasking, and collaboration. All in all, remember to find out what the hiring manager needs by reviewing the job listing.
4. Which Certifications Can I Pursue and Include in My Resume?
Here are the best certifications for housekeepers that apply to your resume:
- Certified Executive Housekeeper Certification– The CEH certification offered by International Executive Housekeeping Association is one of the most renowned credentials for housekeeping staff. It can be obtained through a certificate program, a self-study program, or college hours. It must be renewed every three years.
- Certified Housekeeping Manager (CHM)– This American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute’s certification shows holders have extensive human resources expertise, sound judgment, practical skills, and inventory management expertise. Holders must be committed to improving their housekeeping knowledge, sharing their experiences with others, and keeping up with change.
- Certified Hospitality Housekeeping Executive (CHHE)– Like the certified housekeeping manager certification, holders of this credential have housekeeping expertise, practical skills, sound judgment, and human resource management know-how. They must also stay committed to knowledge improvement, sharing their knowledge and experience with others and staying abreast of changes.
Other certifications that may interest you as a housekeeper include the OSHA safety certificate, EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certificate, and Certified Customer Service Specialist. Note that some of these have renewal periods that should be observed.
5. How Can I Increase My Housekeeping Skills?
The surest way of getting into house management and other senior positions is continuously improving your housekeeping skills, which can be done in three main ways. One, take courses on communication, organization, and management- some of the mandatory housekeeping skills. You can also look for online programs on deep cleaning, career development, and job professionalism.
Two, update your resume by highlighting all the skills you have learned and training you have undergone in the recent past. Do not forget to include time management, an important skill that tells employers that you have their timelines and schedules in mind. Lastly, maintain safety knowledge by understanding how different equipment and cleaning products work. Also, strictly adhere to safety procedures and standards.
Taking time to improve your housekeeping skills makes you outstanding and more competitive. You will earn more wages as compared to your counterparts.