First impressions are always important. Whether it is classmates, teachers, or neighbours, we want people to think good things when they first meet us. For condominiums, apartment buildings, business offices, and hotels, the person customers usually meet first is the concierge. This is the man or woman at the front desk who greets everyone, answers their questions, and helps them with their needs. These buildings are large businesses with many employees, but it is the concierge that help make all of that happen.

Concierge help visitors, workers, and residents in many different ways. They have to take messages, hold onto mail packages, and help people find the room or person they are looking for in the building. This job requires being very organized, patient, and dedicated to helping many other people in many different ways. It can be very stressful having to handle different people’s requests at the same time. Not everyone will be friendly or in a good mood, and concierge have to be ready to help angry residents or visitors in a professional way. Depending on the building, you may have to work shifts at different times of the day, including overnight.

The annual salary for concierge can start at around $24,400, and go up to over $44,800. Those in hotels can expect to make around minimum wage and up to $20.00 per hour, while those in condominiums or business buildings often make more than minimum wage and up to $25.00 per hour. The field has many job opportunities, as well as many people looking for work, as it does not take a lot of schooling or experience to get a concierge job. Luckily, there will be more jobs than people. From 2015 to 2024 there will be 6,800 positions and 6,500 people looking for jobs in hotels. For condominium and business buildings, there will be 68,000 new jobs and 59,400 people looking for them.

A minimum of a high school diploma is needed to get a concierge job. More expensive buildings with greater responsibilities for their staff will expect you to have experience at other places. You can get certificates in guest services that can help you with getting work as well. With years of experience, you can become a senior-level concierge with more responsibilities and higher pay. Many people work as concierge part-time while going to university or college, or work full-time while looking for jobs in their preferred career field.

Concierge are very important for an apartment, concierge, hotel, or big office. They are the person residents, workers, and visitors first talk to when they step inside, and the last one they see before leaving. They act as the face of the building, and the impression people have of the place often has to do with how the concierge treated them. If you are interested in this career, you can start working at smaller buildings right after finishing high school. Before that, you can find volunteer or part-time jobs that have you working at a front desk or directly helping people in different ways. By doing so, you are starting on a career path filled with first and lasting impressions.

Sources:

Job Bank. “Hotel Front Desk Clerks.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=6525&source=allnoc

Job Bank. “Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents.” https://ns.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do;jsessionid=3694E72CAA70DE4002A5ED70A9E3F643.jobsearch75?action=final&noc=6733&region=9219&s=0&source=6

PayScale. “Concierge Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Concierge/Hourly_Rate