The job of Butler
A role defined by employer expectations
Depending on the expectations of its clients and the organization of the team of housekeeping staff (which may be made up in larger residences of a household manager, a housekeeper, a nanny or even a private chef), the Butler has an operational and/or managerial role. Most often, he/she is responsible for day-to-day assistance, table service, welcoming and serving guests, stock management, inventories and purchasing. He will thus be able to travel miles to respond to the requests of his employers, or even take a return flight in the same day to respond to a specific request or find a coveted item.
"The butler is the soul of the house, invisible but indispensable."
— Jean-François Parot
A profession where commitment is limitless
A true trusted man/woman and right-hand man of his employers, the butler is in direct contact with them. His role is not simply to respond to requests: he must anticipate them, with the greatest discretion. His working conditions adapt to the organization and constraints of his employers, but you should know that his schedule is rarely established over 35 hours. To be a butler, a first significant experience in high-end hotels/restaurants is very often required, in the absence of having already worked as a Butler. Fluency in several languages is also often required. Furthermore, although there is little training, some renowned schools provide internationally recognized training, such as The International Butler Academy in the Netherlands. In France, EPM Paris delivers tailor-made training for existing domestic staff. These training courses are also aimed at housekeepers or private chef, among others. In terms of personality, a sense of service and devotion are essential, being one of the private service professions most focused on the well-being and comfort of individuals.
Employment conditions commensurate with the investment requested
The remuneration of a Butler can be high, even very high, for a position requiring great availability and extreme rigor. The monthly net salary at the start of your career starts at 2000 euros. The most talented and loyal Butlers can sometimes be paid more than 10,000 euros per month at the end of their career. Over the course of one’s career, an evolution towards a position of General Manager or Household manager is quite common. This function is more focused on the management of his employers’ properties, on the management of household staff or even administrative management… Function close to that of a hotel manager, the General Manager therefore has little operational tasks to be carried out in order to dedicate to human relations on behalf of the personalities he assists, and to the more global management of their environment.
"A great butler can certainly only be one who possesses a dignity in keeping with his position."
— Kazuo Ishiguro