Butler

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

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 etiquette, dining etiquette and international etiquette and protocols
• confidence and deportment

You'll need:

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

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• personal assistant duties such as diary management and booking restaurants and travel
• representing your client at meetings
• managing the household and staff
• table setting and serving food and drinks
• chauffeur duties
• looking after guests
• wine cellar management
• cooking and meal preparation
• flower presentation and design
• valeting such as clothing and shoe care
• taking care of pets
• organising shoots on country estates

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

You may need to wear a uniform.