Hospital Housekeeping

In these difficult financial times, one of the easiest jobs to get is working in a hospital in the housekeeping department.  The money’s good for someone with no experience and the most important qualification is that a person will work hard at a task that can be unpleasant at times. 

I say unpleasant at times because if you work at a school you’re around children who can be a lot of fun, at least the Grandpa in me thinks so.  Office cleaning is done at night so you have no people deal with.  At a hospital though, you’re around sick people.  And we all know what sick people can be like.  They can be cranky, scared and are in the embarrassing position of being in a hospital gown.  They also create messes that are not always for those with delicate stomachs.

One huge requirement for this job is kindness; and not just kind in the regular mode of things, but being kind with empathy for people who are feeling poorly.  And it must be day in and day out.

Another is to be on the spot and ready to do what is needed when the need arises.  And you may be hard pressed a lot with time because hospitals have to be extra clean, plus if you clean operating rooms, they must be cleaned and ready to go so doctors and nurses can save lives.   Speaking of time too, hospitals are open; of course, 24 hours a day, so this is one reason why there’s a greater need for housekeepers.  This means you may work a lot of different shifts.

To obtain this job, first off, you need to have a clean history, especially involving drugs.  Know too that you will be tested for drugs to get hired and perhaps even have random periodic drug tests if you get the job.

Now there are several good ways to go about your job search.  One is to post a resume on a reputable work recruiting site.  You simply post it under the position you are looking for, in this case you post under hospital housekeeping.

Your resume should be tailored to what a hospital wants in a cleaning person. If you worked in a convenience store for instance, you can list the cleaning aspects of the job and the fact that you worked day and night shifts.  If  you worked in a factory, stress attention to detail along with your cleanup operations.  Disposal of biological waste is part of this job, so an eye for detail is needed here as this must be handled right every time. 

The simplest way to apply for a job is to walk in and fill out an application unless they hire by on-line applications.  When you go to apply, dress appropriately.  I write this because as a former manager, I have seen people apply for jobs in cut off blue jeans. 

You will need a GED or high school diploma for this job.  You will be required to take classes on the job periodically to keep abreast of OSHA rules and the latest healthcare developments in your field that apply to you so this is why this is needed. 

With all the baby boomers ready to hit retirement, this field is growing.  Look for jobs in nursing homes, hospices and hospitals.  The work can be unpleasant at times and there are employees who will not look at the rewards of helping people and will not put up with the job’s hard parts.  Good, more room for you to advance.