Door attendants (popularly known as doormen) work for upscale hotels, fancy
apartment buildings and clubs. These establishments hire doormen for a number
of reasons.
One is security. Doormen have to keep an eye out for people who do not
belong, or who may cause trouble. Another is to handle deliveries. Doormen
may also have to handle money if they work for a nightclub.
But the main reason that establishments hire doormen is to project an image
of professional and personal service. The doorman is the first and last person
you will meet during your stay at a hotel or club.
"Basically, you are a greeter and a helper," says John Tomko. He has been
a doorman at a hotel in Pittsburgh since 1959. "You are trying to make people
feel comfortable and at ease."
So a doorman does much more than swing open doors. "Basically, the doorman
is an ambassador for the hotel," says Stacey Bradshaw. She is a human resources
coordinator for a five-star hotel.
Working hours vary significantly. Evening and night work is common. Dianne
Scott is a doorperson at a club in Austin, Texas. She says her day begins
at half past 9 at night, and does not end until well past 2 in the morning
when the last drinks are served. Weekend work is also common in this field.
And if you want to become a doorman, you must be able to endure every type
of weather. That's because you will spend a lot of time outdoors. And since
you spend so much time outdoors, you may be exposed to high amounts of urban
pollution.
You must be physically strong if you want to work as a doorman, says Bradshaw.
That's because you may have to lift and carry a heavy piece of luggage. And
that may not be the only heavy object you have to carry around.
If you work in a club or a bar, you may have to use physical force against
guests who act inappropriately. And most club and bar owners will probably
not hire you if they feel like you cannot handle yourself in a fight. That
means that this profession is not really accessible to people with physical
disabilities.
The physical nature of this job and its potential for violence also means
that there are not many women in the field.