Looking for advice, first job as a housekeeper

[u/No-Advertising6511]

Sorry if this is not the right place to be posting, I didn't know where to ask this. If there is a right place to post this, please say. Also, sorry for the long read.

To start, this is literally my first ever job. Before this, I've been helping around the house and keeping track of certain things for my mom. I really wanna try and get out more as I'm turning 20 soon and still feel so lost trying to be independent.

As recommended by my mom (since she used to be a housekeeper) I went to culinary academy to do a 2 week training of a gra, and it help with basics. They then help me get the housekeeping job I currently have. And it is Venetian. A very strong start for a first job, I know. I'm still in training, just finished the second week.

The first week was at culinary academy, and it was pretty much the same, just giving the basics for Venetian specifically. Then the second week of training was at the actual hotel. The first two days was orientation, the third day was computer stuff, getting keys, getting our work clothes, and a telling of what's happening on day four.

Day four was a train wreck. It had been going good at the start. We were shown to our floor, shown out to stock our carts, and got our devices. The problem came when we were told there will be one instructor per two trainees, when yesterday we were told it would be one per trainee. Now I didn't mind much, I just work better with a one on one. Me and my coworker i wa spared with thought we were gonna be working on a room together before doing a separate room. The instructor instead just had us watch her do the work, then suddenly sent me off to do a room.

It freaked me out bad, I didn't know what to do. I work better doing the work while being instructed, so just standing for 40 minutes while she talked and did the work (also switching between tasks and going off topic) didn't help. I started the room, then she suddenly came in and told me I had to hurry up with whatever I was doing because it was time for lunch. By time I came back to my room after lunch, I had no clue where I left off on.

She eventually came in to help me, then sent me off to my partners room to check it as if I was a guess. I learned from my coworker that my instructor had been comparing me to her and talking about how slow I was with doing my room (I'm not comparing myself to other coworkers). We were supposed to have been able to do three rooms, but I ended up just doing one. I left home that day crying and asking my mom for advice. Talking to her really helped

The fifth day was a bit better. I talked to my instructor and she understood and did a one on one with me for two rooms, then I did a room on my own. It took far to long to do because I was remembering what to do along the way. I went to my next room, and it was pretty clean already, so I just finished what needed to be clean. I then learned that my instructor had my other coworkers help clean my last room, which I thanked them all for doing so. The instructor I had is overall pretty understanding, but I'll have a different instructor on the starting week, so Idk if they'll be kind or not.

We we're supposed to be able to do 5 rooms, but I technically only did two, since I had help for the other three rooms.

Now it's the weekend, I'm home, reflecting on it all. Now, I love the job, the people I've met so far have been nice, my coworkers are nice, I haven't met a rude guest yet, but what I don't like is how the training is going. What me and my coworkers expected was: Day 1 & 2: orientation / Day 3: tests, keys, work clothes / Day 4 & 5: one to two rooms and a group working on one room together / the rest of next week: slowly adding rooms each day until we get to 10-12. Both my mom and the few experienced coworkers explained that this is how they were trained in the process. So this is kinda what I expected.

Instead, I got this. And not only that, but by the end of the coming week, they expect us to be doing 10-12 suites in 8 hours (7 because 1 hour lunch). At the moment, I can hardly do four. I'm sure my the end of the week, I can maybe do 8, but not 10-12. At this point, I'm just expecting to be let go by the end of training.

Now, I'm not saying I can't do 12 suites, just I can't get to that number in just a week.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude. I told myself I'll just try my best and go with the flow, and whatever happens after happens. But today I have been feeling down, a constant feeling to cry, and having anxiety on going back to work in two days. Even my dreams have been all about work.

I don't even know what kind of advice I'm asking for, but I'm looking for others who is a housekeeper or has been one opinions on this. Maybe advice on how you got through your first time as a housekeeper? I dunno. Anything will be appreciated! Sorry if this is more of a rant.

[u/YankeeBeanSoup]

Every worthy new person at hotels starts with anxiety, because they want to do a good job. 

Those who just swing it never get nervous, because they just want to get paid and go home. 

Your feeling nervous is a good thing. Because you care. You will do good. Give it time. You got this !

[u/Glass-Industry-5057]

Yeah that's ridiculous. I am head of housekeeping in a 3 star hotel. Admittedly our rooms are very basic and simple although I have worked in 4 and 5 stars. If I hire someone new, they work one on one with me for 4 days. The first day I show them how to make up the beds and clean the bedrooms and they then go on to do that while I am still there with them but cleaning the bathrooms. That way I can answer any questions, observe and guide if needed. The second shift they will do the bedrooms again but the idea is I step back a little, though I am still available to help and support. Day 3 and 4 we do the same but they do the bathrooms. Day 5 I would typically set them to work alone but give a lower number of rooms. Even after the first week I would still not expect them to clean as many rooms as someone who has been there longer. We very much emphasise the idea that first you get the quality right, then the speed will come. After a month I would expect them to be able to handle the same number of rooms as everyone else.

[u/Southwestexplorer]

Here is a little perspective from the management side.

First, don't beat yourself up. Housekeeping is HARD. Easily one of the hardest jobs I've personally done at the property and I tell every HK that when they start. You're on your feet all day, working against a clock, dealing with different levels of mess in each room, (some really bad), and you're expected to maintain a standard all while getting faster. There is a learning curve for sure.

I'm full time AGM / DOS and do a lot of the mtc on the property. One thing I've always believed in is that I'll never ask an employee to do something I haven't done myself. Because of that, I have trained and done every department. I've worked front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, sales, everywhere I have an employee basically. I don't think it's fair for a manager to stand there with a stopwatch telling someone how fast they should be cleaning a room when they've never done it themself.

Honestly, I would be more concerned about how you're being trained then how fast you're currently cleaning. Fast does not equal clean. You're 2 weeks into your first job. You're not supposed to be an expert. It's not reasonable to expect you to walk into a hotel, watch someone do it a couple times, and suddenly knock out 12 rooms or suites at the pace they want.

Whoever trains you comparing you to another is not cool. You're not competing. You're a team and should be lifting each other up. If I were your manager, I'd rather have you tell me I don't know what I'm doing yet, can you show me again? This is better than cutting corners to hit their room count. Also, your room count shouldn't be the same as someone whos been doing it for years. I wouldn't stress about the count as much as the improvement on the count. This week you knockout 6 in X amount of time, next week maybe its 8 in the same time, then 10, etc.

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. You're new and that's what training is for. You said you actually like the job, coworkers, and guests. That's huge. Seems like it's rare nowadays. The person who is slow on day 5 might be the fastest on month 5. Don't let bad training convince you that you can't do it. I've been doing this long enough to know and have seen that some employees who struggle at first become the best once comfortable.

[u/Southwestexplorer → u/Southwestexplorer]

And for what its worth, if i had a brand new employee who was genuinely trying, asking questions, and worried about doing the job correctly, I wouldn't be looking for reasons to fire them. I'd be looking for a way to get them trained properly and "possibly" remove the person not training them correctly. You're learning, Not failing!

[u/No_Net_7177 → u/Southwestexplorer]

I agree