Cleaner Jobs Overview
As a professional cleaner, you're responsible for keeping a dedicated space clean and tidy. Some cleaners work in residential settings like homes or apartment complexes, while others work in commercial buildings like offices or retail shops. Cleaner jobs can be full-time or part-time, with the possibility of weekend or night shifts.
Cleaning jobs don't normally require a college degree. For the most part, hiring managers will be most impressed with your innate attention to detail or experience with cleaning tools. However, some employers may require a high school diploma or GED.
Some of the most common places that hire cleaners are schools, hotels, medical facilities, work offices, pest control companies, car washes, and large industrial complexes. Common duties for cleaners include:
- performing basic cleaning and maintenance tasks
- following regulations and safety guidelines
- restocking cleaning supply rooms
- gathering and emptying trash
- locking doors to secure buildings
Cleaner Jobs Salary
Cleaners can expect to earn an hourly wage of $12.12 to $17.46. The median pay for professional cleaners is $14.04 an hour. Many of these positions are full-time and come with benefits.
Cities with a high demand for cleaners include New York, NY; Las Vegas, NV; and Phoenix, AZ. You can use our Monster salary calculator to see how much you can earn with your cleaning skills in your city and others around the country.
How to Find the Right Cleaner Jobs for You
It's important to find a cleaning job that suits your education level, career goals, and lifestyle. The first thing to do is decide if you'd be more productive in the private or public sector. You can specialize in residential cleaning if you don't want to work in a commercial or public setting.
Of course, you’ll want to read through the cleaner job description to familiarize yourself with the company's mission and offerings in addition to the requirements of the position. As you search for the best cleaner jobs for you, consider the following:
- Make sure your physical abilities are a good fit for the work by comparing them to the job's requirements.
- Decide how well the required work schedule works for you, and note how flexible it is, taking into account your other obligations.
- Consider opportunities for advancement and learning new things.
- Give preference to companies that match your skills and experience and provide perks that you can appreciate.
Application Process for Cleaner Jobs
When you find a job description that suits you, be prepared to fill out an application that describes your relevant work experience and abilities. Many cleaning jobs will require you to submit a resume and references.
Prepare the Application
The best way to prepare your application for a cleaner job is to draw attention to your skills in cleaning and janitorial work. If you have a certificate in safe cleaning practices or safety training, be sure to mention it.
You also need to make sure you can provide any necessary certificates. Some jobs may require a certificate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or some other type of workplace safety training. If the job requires you to drive a company vehicle, you will need to provide a valid driver's license.
Write a Strong Resume
Your resume format should match your prior work history and skills. If you already have cleaning experience, a chronological resume outlining your work history is a good idea. If you don't have previous cleaning experience, a functional resume format highlighting your skills and willingness to complete training will work better.
Follow this advice for your cleaner resume:
- Highlight your cleaning experience by including a description of the facilities or buildings you cleaned and the jobs you completed.
- Name some of your cleaning-related talents, including how to properly sanitize, your use of various cleaning tools, and your attention to detail.
- Showcase your successes by mentioning quantities, such as the percentage of satisfied customers or the number of areas cleaned in every shift.
- Include any applicable certificates or completion of specialized cleaning courses.
- Use action verbs, such as cleaned, arranged, or maintained, to start bullet points and showcase your expertise.
- Reiterate your dedication to following all established safety measures.
- Use resume keywords so that your resume stands out to hiring managers using applicant tracking systems.
- Check out this cleaner resume sample when creating your own.
Use resume keywords like these to enhance your application:
- hotel management
- hospitality management
- rooms division
- housekeeping
- pre-opening
- front office
- laundry
- guest service management
- food and beverage
- banquet operations
Here are a few examples of skills to include in your resume for cleaning jobs:
- time management
- organization
- teamwork
- communication
- problem-solving
- customer service
Crafting an attention-grabbing resume is easy with the Monster Professional Resume Writing Service. Our experts will generate an optimized resume for you.
Craft an Impressive Cover Letter
While hiring managers may not always require cover letters for cleaner jobs, they can be a great added touch. Cover letters show professionalism and give you another opportunity to showcase your cleaning skills. Here are a few tips for creating an impressive cover letter:
- Address the hiring manager by name to show that you took the time to research the company.
- Highlight specific cleaning skills that relate to the job.
- Showcase your passion for the cleaning industry.
- Study the employer's values and incorporate them into the letter.
- Follow a professional cover letter format.
Submit the Application
Monster streamlines the application process for cleaning jobs when you sign up for free with your email address. Use our platform to narrow your job search according to different factors, like location, experience, and other criteria. Save time and effort by applying to several positions at once using our integrated document uploader.
Be sure to double-check your application for errors before submitting it via Monster:
- Reread the instructions.
- Proofread with a spelling and grammar checker.
- Ask a friend for a second opinion.
- Include all requested documents.
- Verify your contact information.
How to Follow Up on Your Application
Employers can take a few days to several weeks to fill cleaner jobs. While you're awaiting a response to your application, you can send a follow-up message to ensure the hiring manager is keeping you in mind. When sending the message, add "application follow-up" to the email's subject line to attract the hiring manager’s attention.
Interview Advice for Cleaner Jobs
In most cases, a screening interview and a practical assessment or work trial are the next steps in the hiring process for cleaning positions. During the interview, talk about your availability, cleaning abilities, and experience.
Be ready to answer questions about how you clean various surfaces, how you properly handle cleaning chemicals, and how you manage your time. The prospective employer may also ask about your adaptability and capacity to operate alone and with a team.
Before the Interview
As you prepare for your cleaner job interview, research the organization, and familiarize yourself again with the job criteria. Gather some practice answers for typical cleaning, safety, and customer service-related interview questions.
Be prepared to talk about different cleaning methods, such as:
- surface cleaning
- disinfection
- vacuuming
- mopping
- dusting
- window cleaning
- bathroom and kitchen cleaning
- trash removal
- upholstery cleaning
- floor polishing
During the Interview
An interview for a cleaning position will likely consist of two parts: one to test your cleaning talents and another to evaluate your work ethic and problem-solving capabilities.
Competency-based interviews for cleaner jobs usually center on questions that ask you to demonstrate your mastery of job-related topics, such as cleaning and safety protocols. Behavioral interviews look at your past actions and experiences to predict how you will most likely act in the future.
Here are a few questions to expect during your interview:
- When cleaning a large space, how do you decide which duties to accomplish first?
- For various surfaces, such as wood, glass, and tile, what methods do you use for cleaning?
- When working with cleaning chemicals, what safety precautions do you take?
- When cleaning, how do you deal with tough stains or other challenges?
- Can you describe the specific cleaning tools and machines you've used?
- What is the best way to discuss cleaning needs with customers or supervisors?
After the Interview
You should hear back from the company about their hiring decision anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks after your cleaning job interview. They may contact you to make a job offer or provide some feedback. If you haven't received a response within the anticipated period, be patient, and follow up courteously.
Responding to a Job Offer
To make sure the terms of a cleaning job offer are satisfactory, review it carefully. This will help to minimize on-the-job surprises if you accept the offer.
When evaluating an offer for a cleaning job, consider these factors:
- salary and compensation
- work hours and schedule
- company reputation and culture
- benefits package
- safety and training
- professional growth opportunities
- location and commute
Career Paths
As a cleaner, you can easily work your way up the ladder to a role that involves supervising cleaning crews and other activities. Specialist jobs are available for those who specialize in floor care, carpet cleaning, or janitorial services, among other things.
Opportunities abound in hospitality jobs, such as those in resorts or hotels. Other possibilities include managerial-level cleaning positions like janitorial supervisor.
Another path would be a job in facilities management, where you would be responsible for the day-to-day operation of a building. With enough experience and business training, some cleaners could go on to launch their own cleaning companies, catering to both commercial and residential clients.
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