If you are interested in becoming a butler, choosing the right butler course can make a significant difference in both developing your competency as a household manager as well as your ability to find employment. When evaluating courses, consider your career ambitions, the focus of the school, and the qualifications of its instructor or instructors. You should also think about the location of a butler course and whether it is feasible for you to attend classes there. If finances are an issue for you, it is important that you find a school that you can afford. Finally, you should find out whether the school has a good reputation and ask about the success its graduates have finding butler jobs after graduation.
A personal butler is the senior servant in a household and acts as a household manager, overseeing other servants as well as outside contractors who perform work in the house. A butler's duties may vary, but he may also assume the role of assisting his employer or employers in scheduling appointments, planning in-house entertainment, and preparing for travel. Some hotels, resorts, and cruise ships also employ butlers to provide similar services to their guests. Although butlers have historically been male, women also now work as butlers. Some butlers rise to their position after working many years in personal service, though others take a butler course in order to learn the skills necessary to serve in this position.
When researching butler schools, pay attention to how long the school has been in operation as well as the credentials of its instructors. You want to make sure that the school is financially sound and that it won't take your tuition money and close up, something that is always a risk with vocational schools. Find out whether the school's butler course instructors have actual experience in the profession. You should also inquire as to the focus of the school. In some cases, a butler course may be geared toward a specific type of butler work, such as working in the hospitality industry or managing a private residence. Consider your career goals before enrolling in a school so you can choose the course that best suits your needs.
As you investigate schools, ask whether their programs offer job placement assistance after graduation. If they do, ask if these services continue to be available for a period of time after you complete a butler course or whether the placement assistance ends soon after you graduate. Finally, talk to people who have actually completed butler training and ask for their opinion of different schools and training programs.
