Let’s face it, Private Service is not necessarily on top of every young kid’s top ten list when they are asked by Uncle John what they want to become when they grow up. Sadly, if little John Jr. or little Mary were to answer “I want to be a Household Manager,” Uncle John would probably have a quizzical look on his face. That quizzical look is unfortunate because Household Management is a profession with a long and
distinguished history and presents all sorts of fantastic opportunities for those who pursue it.
The failure to communicate the nature of private service as a professional field and the unique benefits of pursuing a career as a Household Manager rest, in part, with those of us who have been working in the field for so long. We are so used to practicing discretion, that we do little to promote what we do and the fun we have doing it (not always mind you). The result is a confused and uninformed public who have little to no understanding – other than what they see on popular television – why someone like little Mary or John Jr. might choose to become Household Managers.
Here is my effort to advocate for Household Management as a an option in one's career path. Options are good.
“Seven Reasons to Become a Household Manager”
As a Household Manager, each and every day will be a different from your previous day. A career that provides constantly varying experiences, opportunities and challenges is not very common in today’s world where most people expect little change as they walk into their office, factory, restaurant, etc. on a daily basis.
Household Managers are exposed to a world that would otherwise be closed to them. Opportunities like flying within the luxury cabin of a Gulfstream G800 or working in an environment with exquisite fine art do not come about very often. Take the job seriously and don't have "stars in your eyes", but there is truth to the above.
As a career, professional opportunities for a Household Manager are constantly unfolding. There is no glass ceiling. Both genders succeed in the field and it is a profession that often places a premium on maturity and wisdom. So, if you are in your 50s, all the better for you. The better you perform, the more opportunities and earning potential will come your way.
House Managers speak regularly about the satisfaction of doing good for others and contributing to the betterment of a home and family. It can be a source of professional pride.
Some Household Managers are presented with opportunities for travel. They might find themselves preparing a villa in the south of France for their employers’ arrival or escaping winter to conduct staff interviews for a home in Palm Beach. The world opens itself up to those who work in private service.
The absence of empowerment to solve problems is one of the great frustrations in today’s working environments. This is not so for most Household Managers. Empowerment comes with the job and rewards come to those who successfully use their empowerment to solve problems for the betterment of their employers.
In a world that undervalues soft skills like comportment, etiquette, personal presentation, listening and top notch communication skills, kindness and caring, informed decision making, an enthusiasm for taking on responsibility, heightened service attitudes, etc., Household Managers will discover a profession that places a high premium on such skills and rewards Managers for their effective use.
I could go on and on and probably on some more, but I am frequently told that I do exactly that far too often, so I will close by saying that becoming a fireman, a pilot, a doctor, or a lawyer are all good decisions for some people. It could be, however, that for some others – like John Jr. and Mary – Household Management is a better decision. Private Service might not be for everyone, and there is no such thing as a perfect job, but it is a different sort of job offering different kinds of perks.
The big question for another time is how to become a Household Manager. It isn't easy, but it is possible.
© Portico Inc., Scott Munden
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