Housekeeping assistant
Make sure that hotel rooms are clean, tidy and inviting for guests.
Also known as: housekeeper, chamberperson, chambermaid
About the job
What it's like
You would make sure that hotel rooms are clean, tidy and inviting for guests.
You would need to be methodical, work quickly and take pride in making sure the rooms are pleasant for people to stay in during their holidays or business trip. You’d also clean and tidy the rooms during the time the guests are staying.
You would:
Change bed linen and towels
Make beds
Vacuum floors
Dust and polish furniture
Clean bathrooms
Replace stocks of guest supplies such as shampoo and soap
Re-stock drinks in the mini-bar
In a small hotel you would be told which rooms to clean by the housekeeper or housekeeping manager who would check your work. In larger hotels you would report to the floor housekeeper or assistant housekeeper.
In the very smallest establishments you may be supervised by the hotel owner or manager, who may also do some of the work themselves.
Hours
You would usually work shifts, including early starts, as well as some weekends and bank holidays. Part-time, seasonal and temporary work is common.
Environment
Your employer would usually provide a uniform.
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Related industries
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Tourism
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- housekeeping
- mopping
- furniture cleaning
- linens
- ironing
- bed-making
- commercial cleaning
- infection control
- service specification
- organizational communications
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- reliable
- time management
- managing resources
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- respecting
- cooperating
- persevering
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Skills for Work: Hospitality
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this job but a good general education (SCQF level 4/5) may be required by some employers.
Training is mainly on the job.
Qualifications and experience that show:
knowledge of the hospitality industry
fitness
cleaning skills
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