How to Make a Housekeeper Job Description Sound Good

by Dana Severson

No matter the company or economy, employers need to work the marketplace to find qualified job applicants. You essentially need to sell the company as well as the position to fill vacant roles. One tool in your arsenal is the job description. If you’re looking for a housekeeper, highlight the benefits while sticking to the specifics of the job.

Essential Duties

Even if you don’t find being a housekeeper desirable, it doesn’t mean everyone else shares your opinion. Spell out the essential duties of the role, and do so as honestly and specifically as possible. Otherwise, you run the risk of a bait-and-switch, where the job posted is different than the one offered. Use standard phrasing. Start with a present-tense verb and move on to the object. For example, “operates mechanized cleaning equipment, such as vacuums, polishers and buffers” or “must handle various cleaning solutions, solvents and chemicals.” If a task is to be done daily, weekly or biweekly, include these descriptors as well.

Subjective Terminology

Avoid using subjective phrasing that can paint the position in an undesirable light. For example, telling applicants that they “must be comfortable cleaning up human waste and other bodily fluids” has a subjective tone to it. The inclusion of the word “comfortable” highlights your opinion of the duty. It’s like telling applicants that the majority of people are uncomfortable with the task, and they should be too. A better way to phrase it could be “follows company policy for cleaning up spills of blood and bodily fluid.”

Job Specifications

Always include the minimum qualifications for the role, particularly when it comes to essential functions. Are you looking for a seasoned housekeeper? Does he need to possess certain skills or knowledge? This is also good to note when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although the ADA doesn’t require descriptions of jobs, it does ask you to tell applicants what is required to fulfill the essential duties of the job with reasonable accommodations. Being clear at the start can avoid problems later on. Be warned, using phrases like “able-bodied” can be seen as negative. Instead, include details specific to the role, such as “required to carry, push and pull equipment” or “ability to lift 25 pounds.”

Benefits Package

Once you get through with the essential and nonessential duties of the role, focus your attention on the range of benefits. Does the housekeeping position come with a retirement plan? Do you offer vacation days? What about medical, dental and vision insurance? Are there opportunities for growth? If you offer perks to employees, this is a good place to highlight them as well. A hotel, for example, might offer their staff free-night stays or the use of facilities, such as pools or gyms. Publicize all the perks and benefits that come with the position to spark interest in readers.

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