Housekeepers and Maids

Any cleaning experience you can obtain—such as helping your parents clean the house or working in a part-time or summer job as a maid at a hotel—will be useful.

To be a successful maid, you need to be in good physical condition and have plenty of stamina. You'll be on your feet all day—scrubbing, bending, lifting, and stretching. You should also be detail oriented, punctual, organized, and able to follow instructions. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are important because you will need to get along well with your employers, as well as work efficiently with coworkers.

Housekeepers need business and mathematical acumen and leadership, organizational, communication, and time-management skills.