In order to work as a hotel steward in the United States, you do not need any specific educational qualifications. Many employers prefer applicants to have completed high school, but this is not always the case. A college diploma is rarely required, but it may be beneficial if you want to work in management someday.
Hotel stewards are primarily in charge of maintaining and operating a variety of equipment. Normally, this is limited to kitchen areas, but some employers may ask you to work in other areas of the hotel as well. You should be able to clean all areas of a kitchen, including sinks, dishwashing machines, and food preparation areas, if you want to work as a hotel steward.
Some jobs may require you to act as an inspector, which means you’ll likely have some supervisory responsibilities as well. You may be required to inspect previously cleaned tools, equipment, or areas to ensure that they were properly sanitized. If they weren’t, you might be the one who has to clean those items again. In some cases, you may simply have to delegate the improperly cleaned items to another employee. Your supervisory responsibilities will differ depending on your employer.
You should be in good physical condition to stand on your feet for long periods of time if you want to succeed in this type of job. To become a hotel steward, you must also be willing to engage in fairly strenuous activities throughout each work day. You may be required to lift or carry heavy objects in some positions.
To do well in this type of job, you may need to be familiar with a variety of different safety and security procedures. If you want to work as a hotel steward, you may need to attend regular safety training classes or obtain various certifications. You may also be required to document and report injuries or accidents to your supervisors, so being able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing should be advantageous. Some employers may request that you notify them of any unsanitary or hazardous conditions that you encounter while on the job. If this applies to you in a specific job, you may be asked to present your findings to your superiors in the form of a written report.