Dear Prospective Student,
The point you are at in your life right
now, I, and others before me, have been there as well. I
wondered: "Is private service training necessary to obtain a
job? How would I ever be able to take eight weeks off of
work or would I have to quit my job to attend training? If
I quit my job, how would I pay for my current bills? Which
training institute would be best for me and how do I even
know if the institute is really that good? How long before
I really obtain the job of my dreams?" All these questions
and more ran through my head.
Do any of these questions sound familiar
to you? Most likely if you are considering private service
training you have thought about these topics. There is one
question I didn’t have to ask myself repeatedly and that
was, "Do I really want to venture into private service?"
I knew without a shadow of a doubt this is where I am meant
to be. All I had to do was make a few life altering
decisions—obtain training or not, and if so, where?
If you know that private service is for
you, congratulations for making it this far. Knowing you
are right for this career path, not just believing or
wanting to see if it will work out, is a major key player in
your success in private service. For many years I knew it
was right for me, yet did nothing about it. During the past
four years, I knew I had to follow what I truly enjoyed
doing. So, during that time I gained private home
experience, talked with others who work full-time in private
service, researched the training institutes very thoroughly,
and fantasized about my ideal job.
Before you decide to attend any training
institute, research all of the establishments you are
interested in and make a decision you are comfortable with,
one that will reflect who you choose to be once your
training is complete. Many factors come into play, i.e.,
course content, price, location, length of course,
reputation of the training institute, and knowledge of the
instructors. For me, The International Butler Academy
(TIBA) stood out above the rest and came highly recommended
by those I talked with.
The course at TIBA is intense,
exhausting, demanding, thorough, and encourages you to reach
new levels within yourself and as a group. There is
homework almost daily and I recommend you bring you own
laptop computer. I didn’t have a laptop, so I leased one
and it was well worth it. Without it, I don’t know how I
would have completed my homework. The training at TIBA
utilizes different modalities, not just a classroom
setting. We worked on team building through physical
activities, leadership by being head or under butler for the
week, cooking skills by assisting the chef for one week
each, and practical experience by taking field trips to
locations such as luxury car dealers, elite jewelry stores,
a private home, and many more locations.
All the costs to attend TIBA are upfront
and this helps immensely so you are able to concentrate on
your studies and not worry about money, exchange rates, and
when the banks are open. Any additional charges are your
personal expenses.
While I could have attended any training
school, I knew that having an international perspective
would allow me to gain valuable insight and additionally
prepare me for my career. In the course I was part of,
there were eight students: one Australian, one Dutch, one
English, one Russian, one Swiss, and three Americans. It
was not always easy and translation difficulties created
some interesting situations, but the important outcome is
that we worked together as a group and helped one another
with our growth areas. We all have strong points and don’t
like to be challenged in our weak spots. However, TIBA
challenges you to acknowledge and improve your growth areas,
not just individually, but also as a group, because when you
work in private service, you need to work together to get
jobs done, whether it is filling in for others or learning a
new task that you have not yet mastered. Being part of a
household and working for and with others is what TIBA does
a wonderful job training their students to do.
During the eight weeks at TIBA, I was the
most sleep deprived I have ever been because I would be up
late doing homework and up early to start the next day for
class. In hindsight, I can honestly say I would do it all
over again because it enhanced service qualities in me that
are inherent and vital for my career path. Confidence in my
new skills and refined abilities increased dramatically and
I graduated knowing I had made the right choice. Another
added benefit is having an international network of others
in private service that can prove to be invaluable at
times. Never underestimate the power of knowing another
culture or having contacts in other countries.
Wherever you are in your decision
process, know that choosing TIBA will be a benefit to your
career. The eight weeks during the course may seem eternal
at times, but these weeks are a vital step in your training
that assists you in creating a career that you know is right
for you. It’s intimidating at first, but well worth the
time, money, and effort. Best of luck to you.
Yours sincerely,
Karen Adrian
USA |
