Starting a new job in an office or a private household, you will always come across the stage of adaptation. This process can be exhausting both mentally and physically as each working environment has its own rules, orders, pace and people.
As Morgan & Mallet International specialises in placing household staff, we would like to provide some tips that may help you make your process of adaptation to a new household stress-free:
- You have applied for a position that seemed interesting to you and afterwards you were invited for an in-person interview. Do not be afraid to ask questions! It is really important to understand the environment you are going to work in. Even though the job description looks pretty and everything is clear to you, it is always better to double-check, especially what is going to be in your list of duties. Ask how many people work in the property; what their positions are; who you will have to report to; if it is a formal or informal household. If it is a replacement position, ask why the previous candidate left the job. We would also recommend to discuss the salary if possible. The answers to these questions may give you a rough idea of the household organisation and if it will be easy to adapt to it.
- If your interview was successful and you accepted the offer, you will have to prepare yourself for your first day. Normally, you will have a probation period and this period is not only for your employer but for you as well. If you want to adapt easily, we would recommend keeping a notebook and a pen with you everywhere, especially during the first day. Some people do not mind explaining things to you, but they may lose patience if you ask the same questions repeatedly. Moreover, in case of emergency, you will not have to wait for someone’s order but your notes will help you to take initiative. Ask as many questions about the client’s preferences as possible, and a notebook will be particularly useful in order to keep everything recorded (and your employer will appreciate this a lot). Last but not least, make sure that you know where all rooms for staff are and what their functions are.
- It is important to be flexible in your habits. If you are used to making beds one way but your current employer prefers another way, do not try to convince anyone to do it your way. Try to perceive criticism as a piece of valuable information to expand your knowledge and not as a reproach to your abilities or self-esteem. Practising such approach, you will always feel that you are in the right place.
- One of the most essential things for adaptation to your new role is to blend with the team. Perhaps sometimes you will not be officially introduced to each member of the household but if you have a chance make sure that you know the names of all team members and you have introduced yourself. It will also be useful to know their duties and responsibilities in order to know who to refer to when you need some assistance. We would recommend having a small chat during coffee/tea breaks as people might share useful information with you or you can find a person with common interests that will help you adapt to your new position.
In case you are looking for a new challenge in your career and want to try these tips in practice, you are welcome to apply through Morgan & Mallet International. Our consultants will be happy to share with you our currently available positions.
