What will you do?
The job is also known as janitor or concierge. You supervise the building and its property, control the access of people and goods and check that the rules are respected. You inspect the safety devices, report defects and damage and handle complaints from residents or users.
- Supervise buildings and property
- Control the access of people and goods
- Check the safety devices
- Report defects and damage
- Provide information and handle complaints
- Clean rooms and equipment
Skills to develop
- Sense of responsibility and reliability
- Friendly and clear communication with residents and visitors
- Handy with small maintenance and odd jobs
- Working independently and setting priorities
Your foundation for this occupation
A caretaker knows the building and supports residents, visitors or users. Ask about building type, hours and on-call arrangements. Reception, observations, reports and small practical tasks may be combined. Define limits: caretaking does not automatically include technical repairs or professional security work.
From preparation to your first day
Develop the practical skills
Practise a building round with a checklist covering shared-space access, visible defects and follow-up needs. Learn key and visitor procedures and record location, time and observations. Do not pass personal information or access devices to someone merely because they look familiar.
Check your work
Track reports until ownership is clear. Give technical teams concrete information on leaks or faults and follow agreed initial actions. Explain disruption calmly without inventing repair times. Leave a useful handover for replacement colleagues.
How can you grow?
Progression includes building coordination and broader facilities work. Building knowledge, reliable records and communication with varied users are strengths. Check whether additional technical tasks require separate training and authority.
Frequently asked questions
Is a caretaker always available on site?
It depends on the contract. Some roles have fixed hours, others defined on-call cover. Clarify availability, replacement and night reports beforehand; living nearby does not imply unlimited availability.