现代管家职业揭秘

Nasca

hen Allan Miller started as a butler 25 years ago， he had no idea what he was getting into. Now， when he talks to students about his career， they have no idea his job even exists.

Yet thousands of butlers work at private homes， resorts， and in consulting roles that look only a little like those portrayed in the television show Downton Abbey. Instead of polishing silver or greeting guests， the butler may oversee installation of a new heating system， pay all the household bills or orchestrate parties and events.

Or if a butler works in a hotel， he or she may fetch a favorite brand of beer or a pair of cufflinks， pack suitcases， help with wedding proposals and serve room service food. Butlers also cater to well-heeled guests at Ritz-Carlton and many other luxury hotels.

“Youre going to learn from the people you work for， learn about goal setting， time management and money management，” Miller says. “The job is much more intense in terms of multitasking and smart technologies.”

Successful butlers can earn handsome salaries， plus as much as a months paid vacation. Top household managers can earn up to $300，000 a year， says Susan， a principal with Feigon Hamilton.

Today women are working in the field， as are younger men. And many luxury hotels have added butlers to their ranks in recent years. More and more butlers will work in hotels and for companies.

Lisandro worked in hotel security before becoming a butler at a hotel in Puerto Vallarta， Mexico. He had to learn English and spent two weeks at a hotel training school in Mexico City. At first， ironing garments for guests was a little bit kind of hard for him. After seven years as a butler， he has mastered that skill， as well as creating a rose petal-covered bed for honeymooners. “We are ahead of our guests needs. We like to be there before they ask.”

伦·米勒25年前刚入行那阵子，完全不知道当管家应该做些什么。如今，当他在学生们面前畅谈自己的职业生涯时，学生们甚至不知道，管家这个职业依然存在。

尽管如此，全世界依然有成千上万的人在当管家。他们有的打理私人住宅，有的坐镇度假酒店，其职责与电视剧《唐顿庄园》中刻画的管家大相径庭。他们需要做的，可能是监督工人安装新的供暖系统，或者负责所有的家庭开支，张罗大大小小的宴会活动，而不是擦拭银器、接待客人这类传统的活儿。

如果是在酒店做管家，就得随时满足客人的需求，比如为客人订购他们喜欢的某个品牌的啤酒、配一对袖扣、收拾行李箱、为客人张罗求婚仪式、服侍客人在客房用餐。还有的管家专为丽思卡尔顿酒店等众多豪华酒店的富豪贵客服务。

“你会从你服侍的人身上学到很多东西。比如：如何设定目标？如何管理时间？如何理财？”米勒说，“这份工作强度很大，你需要同时处理很多任务，并掌握智能家居技术。”

成功的管家不仅收入可观，还能享受一个月的带薪假期。据家政猎头公司Feigon Hamilton的创始人苏珊说，顶级家政管家的年薪可达到30万美元。

现在，越来越多的女性和年轻男性也开始加入到管家这个行列。近年以来，很多豪华酒店也开始纷纷招募管家，日后将有越来越多的管家在酒店和公司就职。

利桑德罗以前是一名酒店保安，现在在墨西哥巴亚尔塔港的一所酒店担任管家。为了当好管家，他不得不学好英语，还在墨西哥城的一所酒店培训学校培训了两周。一开始，为客人熨衣服这种事情对他来说“有点小难”。当了七年管家之后，他不仅掌握了这项技能，还能为度蜜月的新婚夫妇布置铺满玫瑰花瓣的婚床。“我们能想客人所想，提前为他们考虑好所有的事情。客人还没开口，我们就已经准备好为他们服务了。”endprint