On the job (part #2)

Posted on February 17, 2007 
Filed Under Butlering, Training Issues

So what’s a newly schooled Butler to do? And, more to the point, what’s an employer to do when giving a position to an untested, straight out of college individual?

Here’s an idea - what if the School followed through. In other words if the school, having taught the basics, and hopefully much more, to the student then placed that person in a private household and followed through by going, with the graduate, into that household - setting standards, creating duty/task lists and ensuring that the individual was up for the job. It shouldn’t take more than a day or three.

Every household being different this seems like a good idea to me. Good for the client, good for the Butler/House Manager - a good thing all round. For an experienced House Manager (i.e. the Trainer) to work/walk through the day to day tasks and duties that the newly appointed person will face would be a sensible way to bridge the gap between theory and reality.

The problem lies in the fact that there are relatively few large households these days (compared to the Victorian and Edwardian eras) with very large household brigades through which a novice Butler (i.e. Footman) could learn his trade and progress. I do occasionally come across an ad on an Agencies page for an Assistant Butler but not often.

I’m pleased to say that there are some (but not many) Domestic Staff agencies that do this e.g. Precise Home Management - I’m sure there are others too that I don’t know about - but they are in the minority.

Similarly the only Butler School that I know of that follows through in this way is Rick Fink’s Butler/Valet School in the UK.

Steven Ferry of the International Institute of Modern Butlers advocates a form of internship where a newly trained Butler accepts a lower salary to get a years experience in a fine home under his belt, working under a seasoned professional. A\ great idea and the client benefits too getting a second pair of hands at a lower rate of pay for a year. Next year, when the current intern moves on, they take on another school graduate - a kind of Butler fostering!

Yes you Mr ?

It seems to me that too many so called Butler Schools are charging a large amount of money for a 6/8/12 week course with the ‘promise’ of a well paid job at the end of said course. This can often end in tears and frustration.

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