Housekeeping is one of the best career choices for folks with strong customer service skills, work ethics, and an eye for detail. Be it hotels, restaurants, lodges, resorts, railways, airlines, cruise liners, etc., housekeepers provide the customers with clean, attractive, comfortable, pleasing, and welcoming surroundings providing them with the best value for money.
The hospitality industry is a manpower-intensive industry, where the business’s success, to a large extent, depends on the performance and efficiency of the workforce. Without cleanliness, a business can’t expect happy and loyal customers, making housekeepers an invaluable asset. The housekeeping department works round the clock, ensuring customers have the best service and experience.
In this article, students will learn what a diploma in housekeeping is? Primary job responsibilities, top career options, the career path to be a hotel housekeeper, and much more.
What is Hotel housekeeping? What is a diploma in hotel housekeeping?
Hotel housekeeping is an essential department of the hospitality business. In general, housekeeping means maintaining the premises’ cleanliness, keeping things in order, fulfilling service standards, maintaining a pleasant ambiance, etc.
A diploma in housekeeping is a 1-year diploma certificate course. The course breakup is for 36 weeks of classroom learning followed by 24 weeks of industrial training. After passing class 12th with English as one of the subjects, students can apply for this course.
During the course, students get the required knowledge, skills, and training for the job. Students learn about ironing clothes, handling laundry, cleaning rooms, keeping things in order, etc.
Primary job responsibilities-
The primary job responsibilities of housekeepers are-
- Execute various cleaning activities such as sweeping, dusting, mopping, polishing, etc.
- Maintain professional behavior while dealing with the customers.
- Maintain housekeeping, health, and safety standards.
- Maintains the inventory of essential supplies. Maintain the housekeeping equipment.
- Ensure the best overall customer experience and satisfaction.
- Handle reasonable complaints and requests while maintaining professionalism and patience.
- Establish and maintain a sound working association with other departments.
Career path to be a hotel housekeeper
The first step to creating a career in housekeeping is to join a diploma in housekeeping. Students have many good college options in many cities to choose from. Students can easily find good hotel management colleges in Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, etc. After getting entry into a good college, students should work hard to learn the subjects well and master the job skills.
Top career options after diploma in hotel housekeeping
Below are some of the best career options for students after completing their diploma in hotel housekeeping-
- Join a hospitality business
After completing their diploma, students can look for career opportunities in various hospitality firms. Students can join as executive housekeepers, front office executives, attendants, decorators, laundry workers, etc. The top recruiters are- Hyatt Hotels Corporation, HLV (Hotel Leela Venture), InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International India, Radisson Blu Hotels, Shangri La Hotels & Resorts, The Lalit Hotels, Indian Hotels Company Limited, etc.
Students can also look for employment in various local hotels, restaurants, resorts, etc. The job opportunities for housekeepers are booming in the post-pandemic growth, and students should best utilise this opportunity to build up a career.
- Join companies as housekeepers
Almost all business premises like offices, malls, warehouses, auditoriums, banquets, halls, colleges, universities, hospitals, etc., require housekeeping staff. Ample job opportunities are there to grab. Many housekeeping and cleaning firms also recruit housekeepers. Both contract and full-time options are there for students, which they can utilize to kickstart their careers.
Moreover, after completing their diploma in housekeeping, students can also look for opportunities abroad. After gaining the required experience, students can search for opportunities in Canada, Singapore, Germany, UAE, etc.
- Start own business
After getting experienced and seasoned in the job, students can start their own businesses. Some of the best entrepreneurial opportunities after a diploma in housekeeping are-
- Cleaning service company- Students can start their own cleaning service company, providing- janitorial services, carpet cleaning services, laundry services, garbage handling services, housekeeping services, etc. There are ample business opportunities in the private and government sector, which students can encash.
- Floral decoration services- Floral decoration is part of the diploma in housekeeping curriculum. Students can start their own floral decoration services. Marriages, functions, parties, etc., all require floral decorations; ample opportunities will be there for students to utilize.
- Start your own hotel/lodge- After some years of work, students will be well versed in the hospitality industry. Students can utilize their experience to start their own hotels, lodging, or hostels. Students can create their business on a small scale and gradually expand it.
- Food services/Restaurants- Food services and restaurants are among the best business options. Although cooking is not a part of the diploma in housekeeping curriculum, they are taught handling the restaurant business. Students can start food services like- tiffin service, ghost restaurants, mess, etc.
- Join further study
The hotel and hospitality industry has many employment options. After working for a few years in the industry, students can shift to other options as well. Students who wish to explore further job options can join other diploma courses like diplomas in hotel management, hospitality management, global hospitality, etc.
Moreover, students can join graduation courses like Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM), etc.; after pursuing these courses, students can take up higher job roles in hospitality firms. After graduation, students can even join an MBA to build a promising corporate career!
Students can join the best business schools in Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, etc., to ensure the best learning, training, and placement opportunities.
Skills for a career in housekeeping
- Ability to work independently while maintaining a high level of efficiency and performance.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills for maintaining good customer, employer, and worker relationships.
- Time management skills
- Attention to detail.
- Creativity.
This article summarises some of the top career options for students after a diploma in housekeeping. Housekeeping is required in almost every major business like hospitals, hotels, restaurants, offices, etc.; as a versatile field with huge demand, housekeeping can be one of the career options for students.
