what is a domestic helper?
As a domestic helper, you are an expert in household tasks. Depending on your employer, your responsibilities may be extensive or more straightforward. If you work as a housekeeper in a company, you take care of many different duties. These include shopping, storage, food preparation, and cleaning. Private households hire domestic helpers for all kinds of household chores such as laundry, ironing, and cooking. In hospitals, you maintain high hygiene standards and assist in patient care. If you are employed in a hotel, you also take on administrative tasks as a housekeeper. This might involve creating duty rosters and managing consumable supplies. Thanks to your meticulous work, everything runs smoothly in both companies and private homes. Interested in the role of a domestic helper? Then read on to find out what tasks await you in this profession.
domestic helper jobsworking as a domestic helper.
Your tasks as a domestic helper depend on where you work. In companies, they can be quite varied. If you work in a private household, your role is to lighten the load around the home. You might take on all household chores or just focus on cleaning. Wherever you're needed, you provide support and ensure everything stays tidy. Curious about the specific duties you can expect as a domestic helper? Then keep reading here.
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your area of responsibility
Your responsibilities as a domestic helper include:
- Preparing dishes: In canteens, cafeterias or restaurants, you assist with preparing meals. You set out all the ingredients. You organise the cooking utensils. You chop salads and vegetables. You also prepare simple dishes yourself.
- Washing and ironing: Whether in private households, hotels, or hospitals, there can often be large amounts of laundry to deal with. You collect and sort the textiles, load the washing machines and tumble dryers. Once the laundry is done, you operate the ironing machines. In some establishments, the laundry and ironing service is outsourced. In that case, you hand over the textiles to the collection service. You receive the ironed laundry back and store it away.
- Cleaning: Cleanliness and hygiene are essential in all businesses and private households. You wash the dishes. You clean the stove, oven, and grill. In hospitals, you disinfect the surfaces. You vacuum the carpets in office spaces. After your work, all areas are spotless.
- Support: If you work as a domestic helper in care homes, you assist patients and clients. You bring drinks, serve meals, and support the nursing staff.
- Manage: Your responsibilities as a housekeeper also include administrative tasks. You prepare menu plans, sometimes duty rosters, and oversee the management of consumable supplies. When stock runs low, you inform the purchasing department. In smaller establishments, you handle the shopping yourself.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your place of work, as a domestic helper you'll be working alongside different colleagues. In kitchens, you'll encounter chefs and waiting staff. Care workers are primarily your colleagues in hospitals and care homes. If you work in a large private household, you'll be part of a team that includes gardeners, chefs and cleaning staff. In almost all workplaces, tradespeople are also considered your colleagues.
types of domestic helpers.
Domestic helpers work in various areas. You can take on either comprehensive household tasks or just a part of them. Choose the area that suits you best. Here, you can see different types of domestic helpers:
- Domestic help in private households tailored to the family's needs. You assist by taking on all or part of the household chores, such as cooking and cleaning.
- Housekeeper in the hospitality industry, responsible for ensuring all comforts in hotels, club facilities, or on cruise ships. You assist with service and place small gestures of care on pillows. You contribute to making sure guests are well looked after.
- Domestic helper in hospitals, care homes, and residential facilities, making life easier for patients and clients. You take on all kinds of support tasks, such as preparing and serving meals. If carers need assistance, you lend a hand.
- Housekeeper in diplomatic missions such as consulates and embassies, responsible for looking after guests. You attend to visitors and provide service at receptions. Thanks to your care, guests feel welcomed.
- Domestic help with leading staffing agencies such as Randstad Switzerland. As part of the team, you'll find variety across different industries. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills further.
salary as a domestic helper.
In Switzerland, the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for domestic work sets the minimum wages. It applies across all cantons except Geneva. Your pay depends on whether you are a trained or untrained domestic helper. Your level of professional experience also plays a role. Additionally, your earnings are influenced by the employer and the canton you work in. The amount you work also affects your pay. If you are employed temporarily as a cleaner, you will earn a proportionate amount. As a trained full-time domestic helper, you can expect an entry-level salary of around CHF 36,000 per year. This equates to approximately CHF 3,000 per month. Find out more about your gross salary as a domestic helper here.
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how much do I earn as a domestic helper in a permanent position?
As a domestic helper, you can earn between 22,800 and 78,000 CHF per year. That’s roughly between 1,900 and 6,500 CHF per month. Many domestic helpers work on a temporary basis. In such cases, you receive a proportional gross salary, depending on your hours worked. Your training and work experience influence your pay. For example, an untrained domestic helper with no experience might earn an hourly rate of 19.50 CHF. Conversely, a qualified housekeeper with an EFZ qualification can earn around 23.55 CHF per hour. Additionally, it depends on where and for whom you work. Private households pay between 27,600 and 55,200 CHF annually, based on a 45-hour working week. Bonuses for holidays, public holidays, and weekends can increase your gross salary. In the hospitality sector, hotels, holiday resorts, and cruise ships often provide accommodation and meals. In return, your employer can deduct up to 33 CHF per day from your wages. If you work in hospitals or for companies, the canton you work in plays a significant role. For instance, companies in the canton of Schwyz pay an average hourly rate of 32.15 CHF, while in Zurich and Zug, it’s around 31.80 CHF. In the canton of Neuchâtel, you might earn approximately 25.60 CHF per hour.
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in which industry do I earn the most as a domestic helper?
Your minimum wage as a domestic helper is regulated through the NAV. Whether you work in private households, hospitals, or the hospitality sector, your pay should not fall below this. However, you do have the opportunity to increase your gross salary. This can be achieved by taking on a larger workload. The more you work, the higher your pay will be. The specific industry is rather of secondary importance.
training and further education as a domestic helper.
If you want to become a professional domestic helper, you need to undertake an apprenticeship. You can choose between a two-year or a three-year basic training programme. You will qualify as either a Household Practitioner with an EBA qualification or a Household Specialist with an EFZ qualification. During your apprenticeship, you will learn all the essential skills such as customer reception, room cleaning, and meal preparation and distribution. You will gain practical experience in care homes, hospitals, or hotels. With a completed apprenticeship and work experience, many opportunities will open up for you. Technical colleges and professional associations offer further training courses, laying the foundation for your future career.
positions as a domestic helper.
Finding domestic help offers interesting positions in many businesses. Private households are on the lookout for the gem who can assist with all household chores. Hotels and holiday resorts are grateful for housekeepers who can provide perfect care for their guests. Care homes, hospitals, and rehabilitation clinics often desperately seek compassionate domestic assistants to professionally support patients and clients. Even in companies, dedicated professionals like you are in demand. Are you looking for an attractive role as a domestic helper? Take a look at our job listings on this page.
positions for career changers as domestic helpers.
Self-taught entrants have excellent chances of securing a position as a domestic helper. You do not need to complete an apprenticeship for this role. However, having a recognised basic qualification can be advantageous, as it often leads to a higher salary. Another benefit is work experience. If you have several years of practical experience in cleaning tasks, you can apply for a job as a domestic helper. You still have the opportunity to enhance your skills through further training. Through Randstad, you can find a suitable job even as a career changer.
career opportunities and development potential as a domestic helper.
After completing your apprenticeship as a Domestic Services Specialist, many career paths open up for you. Further training offers the opportunity to move into different roles. How would you feel about becoming a Household Manager or a Maintenance Specialist? Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a Hospital Expert. The Higher Technical Examination with a diploma makes this possible. With the right ambition and prerequisites, you can also pursue a university of applied sciences degree. As a Bachelor of Science in Facility Management, you can progress from a skilled worker to a managerial position.
skills as a domestic helper.
Domestic helpers keep the home running smoothly. They also ensure that guests, patients, and clients feel comfortable. Having a good eye for what matters most is a real asset in your work. Other useful skills include:
- Carefulness: Whether you're preparing meals or keeping your surroundings tidy, carefulness is of the utmost importance. You pay attention to details. For instance, if you work in a care home, you prepare food in bite-sized portions. You don’t just throw laundry into a pile; you sort it properly, also paying attention to care labels. You use cleaning products according to the instructions. This way, you prevent poor work results or even health issues.
- Interpersonal skills: As a domestic helper, you usually work as part of a team. To achieve good results, ensure guest, colleague, or patient satisfaction, you need strong interpersonal skills. You listen and understand what others expect from you. You show respect to colleagues and guests by completing your tasks on time and reliably. If conflicts arise within the team, you help to find a solution. Thanks to your empathetic nature, you are appreciated by everyone.
- Flexibility: Your role as a domestic helper is to support a smooth running of the household. You prepare everything in the kitchen and ensure that tools and supplies are in their proper place. Sometimes ingredients are missing or staff are unavailable, and in such cases, you respond flexibly. You make sure that materials are available at short notice. If that's not possible, you find alternatives. If a team member is absent, you stay longer.
benefits of working as a domestic helper with randstad.
There are many good reasons to work as a domestic helper at Randstad:
✓ exciting jobs at well-known companies
✓ a reliable point of contact whenever you need one; personalised advice matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ further education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myrandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s the opportunity to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many well-known companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad.
your training budget as a domestic helper at randstad.
If you work as a domestic helper for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTraining programme from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will be reimbursed for the course fees later, provided you pass the course exam. Your consultant at Randstad is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can gain additional language skills or job-specific knowledge, all during your working hours as a domestic helper.
tips for applying as a domestic helper at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as a housekeeper? It’s not just qualifications and references that determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalised documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to optimise your chances:
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1. find a position as a domestic helper
Search through Randstad job vacancies. If you can't find a position that’s exactly right for you, you’re still welcome to get in touch with us personally, without any obligation, or to create a Randstad profile.
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2. applying as a domestic helper
The job advert continues straight away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete:
✓ CV with photo
✓ work references & diplomasYou don't have a CV yet, or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a Free Online Template.
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3. preparing for a job interview as a domestic helper
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as a domestic helper. Here are some tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the profession of domestic helper.
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what does a domestic helper do?
As a domestic helper, you ensure that household routines run smoothly. This includes a wide range of tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and ironing. You also welcome and look after guests. Additionally, you care for patients and clients. Curious about what the job involves? Find out more about your responsibilities as a domestic helper here.
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how much do I earn as a domestic helper?
Your gross annual salary as a domestic helper ranges from 22,800 to 78,000 CHF. That works out to between 1,900 and 6,500 CHF per month. The actual amount that ends up in your account each month depends on several factors. As a trained domestic helper, you will earn more than unskilled workers. Your level of experience, the region, and your employer also play a significant role. Find out more here about how much you can earn as a domestic helper.
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is household help a good profession?
If you're looking for varied tasks and enjoy helping others, working as a domestic helper is a good profession. You can choose how extensive your duties are, giving you flexibility. Every day, you'll be working with people. Plus, this career offers good prospects for advancement. Through further training, you can develop from a skilled worker into a managerial role. This often has a positive impact on your salary. Want to know what to expect as a domestic helper? Keep reading right here.
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is household help difficult?
As a domestic helper, you carry out tasks that you’re already familiar with from your private life. Therefore, the job isn’t difficult. Even if you don’t have formal qualifications, you can find a position. However, completing training will increase your pay. Plus, it helps you to carry out household chores professionally. Are you interested in becoming a domestic helper? Find out here what makes this profession exciting.
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do you need experience to become a domestic helper?
Work experience helps you as a domestic helper to find an attractive position. Additionally, with several years of experience, you can increase your gross salary. Gaining practical experience gives you routine and allows you to complete your tasks more efficiently. Several years of professional experience are a prerequisite for further training. This opens the door to a management career. Career changers with relevant experience also have good prospects in the role of a domestic helper. Through Randstad, you can find positions for experienced professionals and those switching careers. Are you wondering whether working as a domestic helper is right for you? Find out here what skills you need.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become a domestic helper?
With a basic qualification as a Household Management Specialist and an EBZ diploma, you have excellent prospects for the profession. If you're hands-on, empathetic, and reliable, you already have an advantage over many applicants. Flexibility is also important. Your tasks are varied and will constantly present new challenges. Motivated career changers with the right skills also stand a good chance. Discover our current job vacancies for domestic helpers here.
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how do I apply for a vacancy as a domestic helper?
We make applying for a domestic helper position easy with Randstad. First, create a Randstad profile and browse our job board for available roles. Found an interesting opportunity? Then send us your application straight away. Make sure to include your CV and references. Need help with your application? Check out our application tips. Soon, you'll be submitting a compelling application.
