An annual salary of 70,000 euros, staff accommodation with all expenses included… This job offer is enough to make you dream. But given such success, applications are already closed! Find out what the mission was behind this position.
A family recently published an advert which literally panicked the British press and candidates around the world. And for good reason: the employer offers an annual salary of 60,000 pounds sterling (or around 70,000 euros). In addition to this generous remuneration, the successful candidate will be accommodated in a cottage located on the estate, with all bills covered. The icing on the cake is that your partner and your own animals are welcome.
Faced with such advantages and the media coverage of the offer, the prestigious recruitment agency Achieve Hospitality was overwhelmed. On its site, it specifies that it has received a countless number of applications and is no longer accepting new ones, before completely deleting the ad. So unfortunately it is too late to apply, but what exactly did this coveted position entail? The role, based on a large private estate in Surrey (a region in the south-east of England), requires full-time attendance, Sunday to Thursday 9am to 6pm, with some “flexibility when family is present”. While we generally expect roles as a classic butler or housekeeper for this type of salary, the reality is much more surprising.
Indeed, the main mission of the future employee will be… to take care of the family dog! While most owners hire a dog-sitter temporarily during an absence, or put their dog in daycare, few employ a full-time person for their pet. On the agenda: managing the dog’s morning and evening routines, feeding, cleaning and brushing him, ensuring his general well-being, and reporting on his behavior and health. The employee will also be required to report any concerns, complete the dog’s diary with a daily report, and coordinate appointments with veterinarians, groomers and trainers.
However, this incredible salary does not only concern the well-being of the animal. Other missions, unrelated to the dog, are added to the contract. In particular, it will be necessary to guard the property, ensure that the estate is well maintained, receive packages and manage the people required to intervene on site. The announcement specifies that it will also be necessary to “support the maintenance staff to ensure that the property is always welcoming and well presented”. Finally, on occasion, the candidate will have to carry out tasks such as shopping, helping with organization, reheating dishes prepared by chefs or even carrying out “small administrative tasks”.
