What does a Porter do?
As Porters are typically based at the reception or Porter’s desk, they are often the first staff to receive guests when they arrive. They make guests feel welcome by carrying their luggage and showing them around their rooms. This may include informing them of things like available TV channels, how the aircon works and what numbers to dial for reception and room service.
To help orient them, Porters may also walk guests around the premises and show them the facilities like the breakfast area, restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre. They also ensure that guests have a pleasant stay by assisting them in various ways, such as arranging for taxis or delivering newspapers.
Porter skills and qualifications
As Porters interact with guests throughout their working day, they should have excellent interpersonal skills and ideally enjoy the company of people. They should also have great customer service skills and must always put the needs of their guests first. A successful Porter candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Physical strength and endurance for carrying luggage, moving large items and working long shifts
- Good listening skills to adequately gauge and anticipate the needs of guests
- Excellent verbal skills to effectively communicate with coworkers colleagues and guests
- Basic maintenance skills to assist with maintenance tasks as needed
- Honesty and reliability, especially when handling the possessions and vehicles of guests
- Basic computer skills to help out with reception duties
Porter experience requirements
The amount of experience a Porter needs varies from position to position. Whereas some roles require Porters to have previous experience in a similar position, other companies may accept candidates with just general experience in a customer-facing role. In some cases, Porters may receive on-the-job training and for this reason they do not need any previous job experience.
Porter education and training requirements
There are no fixed education and training requirements for this position. As the job requires a certain level of numeracy and literacy skills, candidates need the basic GCSEs, including maths and English. Depending on the position, Porters may also need a driver’s licence. Candidates can obtain useful skills and knowledge by completing a college course, such as a Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to the Hospitality Industry. Another way to build the necessary skills for the profession is through a hospitality team member intermediate apprenticeship.
Porter salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Porter in the UK is £9.23 per hour. Salaries differ according to variables like location and employer.
Job description samples for similar positions
If this job description doesn’t adequately describe the job opening you have, here are a few related job description samples to consider:
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
