How to Become a Live-in-Maid
Hiring a live-in maid is more complex than hiring a housekeeper, since the person you hire will be living with you and must be incorporated into your family life, according to the domestic service career website, Housekeeper. If you would like to obtain a live-in maid position, you must consider the advantages and disadvantages of residing at your place of employment. Experience, quality work and references are the key things needed to secure a good job in this field. Even if you do not have live-in maid experience, networking among families and friends will increase your hiring chances.
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Instructions
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Know how to clean. Get as much experience as you can. If you do not have a formal position, volunteer to clean at churches and local businesses. Call friends and family and offer your services. Learn about cleaning products, how to remove stains and cleaning odd materials. Aside from the regular routine, a live-in maid is the go-to person for a housekeeping crisis, so you must be able to deliver.
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Get good references. Without at least two to three good housekeeping references, you may not able to break into this field. Develop good contacts with old employers. Always leave on good terms so they can refer you to a new position. They may even spread the word about your talent to their friends or post an ad online for you. If you lack the experience, contact professional friends to vouch for your housekeeping abilities.
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Make a domestic service resume. Include all of your strengths in your cover letter. List any similar positions you have had, the number years you have been a housekeeper, your previous duties, language skills and experience with pets and children. Write briefly about your openness to live where you work. Explain why you are ready for this change in your life, or why you prefer this kind of arrangement. Be sure to post all up-to-date, relevant cleaning experience on your resume, including any certifications or training.
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Join a housekeeping agency to help you find a live-in maid position in your city. Practice your interviewing skills and speak to other housekeepers about their experiences. Sharing stories with others may help you get a better picture of what your future employers may be looking for in a live-in housekeeper.
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Know your worth. Think about what you would like for compensation. Explore the market and housekeeping agencies to see what the average pay is in your state, commensurable to your experience. Also, check out what a standard housekeeping contract looks like before you are approached with one. Write down your salary requirements, benefits and incentives that you expect from a future employer so you can know where to look for employment.
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Tips & Warnings
Be drug-free and smoke-free. Employers often run drug tests before hiring. Also, smoking cigarettes is not illegal but this habit may work against you. Get your credit score high as possible, too, as employers may check it.
References
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