Are you fascinated by the wonderful world of Butlering? The life of a Butler can be extremely exciting and truly no day will be the same. You might travel all over the world with your principal or work in the most beautiful places where the people might not have access to. But do you know how to become a Butler? It is not for everyone! So think carefully and consider if it might be the right thing for you.
So, how can you become a Butler?
Traits of a Butler
Firstly, let’s have a look at some typical traits of a Butler. It is extremely important to possess these. You can do all the training you like, but if you do not have the right personality it is unlikely you will be able to stick with the job. Let alone enjoy it! Being a Butler can be a truly wonderful job, but only if it suits your personality.
The following are a list of traits that make a great Butler – how many of those do you recognise in yourself?
- Professionality
- Being well presented at all times
- Happy to be in the background – never in the forefront
- A natural passion to provide great service
- A natural passion to care for people
- Being discreet and confidential
- Have an excellent eye for detail
- Being able to read signals and non-verbal communication
- Pre-empt problems
- A natural problem-solver
- A positive outlook
- A hard worker who doesn’t mind doing long hours.
Of course, you do not have to tick every single box in this list. But it really helps to recognise lots of yourself in it. If you are not naturally service orientated, discreet and a hard worker, you will probably struggle as a butler. And you probably would not enjoy it very much! Butlers often work long hours, and it is really all about you serving your employer or principal. There is very little room for ego in being a butler, you will never be the star of the show! If that all sounds like you – with the right training and experience you could make a great butler!
If you are not sure about any of the above, it might be interesting for you to take a personality test – the results might surprise you!
Training and Qualifications
If you are completely new to the butlering world, getting some solid training under your belt is where you would start. There are many different options available nowadays for butler training. Make sure you pick the one that is right for you. There are short or long term courses but their length doesn’t necessarily equal quality. Look for a reputable training school with lots of experience.
As a butler, you should definitely look into getting your silver service qualification as this will be a large part of being a butler. Especially if you will start working at parties and events. Considering looking at House Management training courses too – modern-day butlers often take on lots of House Management and managerial duties, so this is a great thing to specialise in too.
Finally, adding a course in wine, cigars, and food pairing can also make you stand out. You want to have well-rounded knowledge as a butler, especially when it comes to anything service related!
Experience
To become a great butler, experience really is important to learn the tricks of the trade. Many professionals will start working elsewhere in the service industry, such as in (high end) restaurants and hotels. This is a great way to be introduced to the world of hospitality and learn all its rules and formalities. However, being a butler is really about having that personal relationship and working more focused either just with your principal or with one household or family.
If you can find a job in a large household – this is a great way to start. You can work alongside other members of staff, under a Head Butler or House Manager who can teach you everything you need to know. You would be surprised how quickly you can progress and grow within your role too!
Hearing from a Real Butler
On of Polo & Tweed’s amazing trainers Hugh has been a Butler for many years. This is a great video to watch to get inspiration, learn about the wonderful world of Butlers. Listen to how you can grow in your career and how training can really make a difference:
How can Polo & Tweed Help?
If you would like to train to become a butler, Polo & Tweed are world-leading training providers to students all over the world, with an online academy for all the courses too – including Butler training! The internationally known and recognised training academy only works with the absolute best trainers in the industry. They have dedicated their years of experience and skill to the students and the training courses.
Whether you are completely new to the trade, or a seasoned professional. You will be able to learn so much from the online training course. The online courses are internationally acknowledged and provide you with a certificate upon passing your final assessment.
If you are looking to find a new job as a butler – we can help you with that too! Simply register with us to get on our books and we will keep you posted when a suitable job comes up.
To find out more about what options work best for you do contact us here now and we look forward to speaking to you!