Certified Executive Housekeeper Career Pros and Cons
A certified executive housekeeper, also referred to as a first-line supervisor of housekeeping employees, is in charge of monitoring workers, scheduling shifts and managing budgets. These workers might find employment at hospitals, hotels, educational institutions or businesses that use housekeeping services for their cleaning needs. Review the pros and cons below to see whether this job might be a good fit for you.
| Pros of Becoming an Executive Housekeeper |
|---|
| Usually only need a high school diploma to find employment* |
| Higher average salary (about $36,270) compared to the average salaries for high school graduates (about $34,736)** |
| Wide variety of daily tasks, including hiring new applicants, selecting cleaning materials and managing employees*** |
| You can serve as a leader and mentor to your employees* |
| Cons of Becoming an Executive Housekeeper |
|---|
| Average job growth expected for all housekeeping workers (13% projected growth from 2012-2022)** |
| This position can be stressful at times, since you may handle employee and customer grievances* |
| Can require you to work long hours* |
| A great deal of physical work may be required* |
Sources: *O*Net Online, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ***Career One Stop.
Career Information
Job Duties and Description
As an executive housekeeper, you must oversee the housekeepers and janitors for the company you work for. This includes hiring, coaching and training employees, as well as performing cleaning and maintenance duties as needed. This position also requires you to perform some administrative tasks, such as payroll, financial budgets and cost analysis. You might need to prepare reports, maintain equipment and supplies, schedule employee hours and assess the location where cleaning will be performed to ensure that the appropriate number of employees are used and the correct cleaning supplies and equipment are on hand. You are also relied upon to make sure proper communication channels exist between other staff members.
Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average annual wage for first-line supervisors of housekeepers was around $36,270 as of May 2014 (www.bls.gov). The BLS noted that all types of housekeeping jobs were expected to increase by 13% between 2012 and 2022, which was average. Furthermore, jobs as first-line supervisors of housekeepers were expected to experience little or no change over the same time period. As of 2012, there were 250,000 employees in this career field, with about 91,600 new job openings expected between 2012 and 2022.
Career Skills and Requirements
Education/Training
While a high school diploma is usually the only education necessary to become an executive housekeeper or housekeeping manager, you'll need to earn certification with the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) if you wish to earn the status of Certified Executive Housekeeper (CEH). To take IEHA's CEH exam, you must receive a high school diploma or a GED and complete one of three program options (www.ieha.org). You can choose to earn an associate's degree or a certificate at a local college, or you can complete IEHA's sponsored program. Courses can cover accounting, linen services, staff development and management styles. You must renew your CEH credential every three years by taking an exam or obtaining 30 hours of continuing education.
Useful Skills
Employers often look for executive housekeepers who are skilled at managing and working with others. You must also know how to use your time wisely and problem solve for a variety of issues. Other useful skills include:
- Customer service experience
- Human resource skills
- Ability to educate and train others
- Knowledge and use of common managerial practices
- Effective time management skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to make decisions and use logical thinking to solve problems
- Knowledge of computers
- Ability to manage payrolls and budgets
Job Postings from Real Employers
The following job details are from recent May 2012 job ads seeking an executive housekeeper. Most of these employers looked for someone with previous management and/or housekeeping experience.
- A hotel chain in Arizona seeks an executive housekeeper who preferably holds past supervising experience. The executive must supervise the housekeeping and laundry areas, train staff, inspect rooms, manage supplies and use a computer to track hotel rooms. The employer wants someone who can work well under pressure, pay attention to detail and meet the physical demands of the job. Applicants must hold a high school diploma.
- A senior living facility located in Maryland wants a lead housekeeper to supervise the housekeeping staff, oversee all housekeeping functions and manage supplies. Candidates should have a high school diploma, knowledge of housekeeping procedures and 3-4 years of supervisor experience in the housekeeping field.
- A casino resort in Louisiana is looking for an executive housekeeper who has prior hotel experience. Applicants should be outgoing and pay attention to detail.
Standing Out
If you want to expand on you IEHA certification, consider two more advanced certifications that the organization offers. You can earn your Registered Executive Housekeeper (REH) status by earning a bachelor's degree, taking certain collegiate courses outlined by the IEHA, submitting your resume and passing an exam. Like the CEH title, this designation must also be renewed every three years.
You may also earn a Master CEH or Master REH title if you're seeking high-level managerial positions. You must be a certified CEH or REH for five or more years and have at least eight years of management experience. You also need to provide three letters of written recommendation and an essay that notes your expertise.
Alternative Career Options
Food Preparation Supervisor
If you're interested in managing staff and performing customer service duties in the food industry, rather than the housekeeping field, you might become a food preparation supervisor. This career only requires you to hold a high school diploma. Workers made a median annual salary of about $30,000 as of May 2011, reported the BLS. Projected growth for this career was average from 2010-2020.
Landscaping and Lawn Service Supervisor
If you enjoy working outdoors and still want to lead and supervise others, then a landscaping supervisor career might appeal to you. You could oversee the landscapers and grounds crew for a variety of different employers, including sports agencies or independent landscaping companies. Planting trees, managing lawns, directing workers, training new employees and maintaining equipment are some of the duties you can expect to undertake. The BLS reported that the median annual salary for this career was about $42,000 as of May 2011.
Office Supervisor
If you don't want to work in an industry that requires manual labor, a job as an office manager or supervisor is another good leadership option. You would be responsible for carrying out office policies and procedures in an administrative setting. Managing data and information, handling performance reviews and maintaining office records are other job duties you may have. This is a career that may require some vocational training or an associate's degree. As of May 2011, the median annual salary for this career field was almost $49,000, reported the BLS.
