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Want a stronger resume? Use our extensive library of professional resume examples as practical starting guides. You’ll also find ready-made content with our helpful Resume Builder – simple click, customize, and download.

Looking for cover letter ideas? See our sample Janitor Cover Letter.

Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.

Additional Janitorial Resume Samples

CleanerCar Wash ManagerFloor SupervisorSanitation WorkerDirector Of HousekeepingHospital Housekeeper

See more janitorial resume samples.

How to Format a Janitor Resume

There are three resume format types you may want to apply to your janitor resume: chronological, combination and functional. The truth is most job seekers would benefit from using a chronological format. This format is the classic layout that emphasizes work history by listing your previous roles beginning with the most recent one.

Candidates who lack professional experience may want to try the other two resume formats. Functional formats focus on skills and qualifications, devoting very little space, if any, to work history. Combination resumes take a little from each format, giving work history and skills equal footing.

The candidates below offer an insightful comparison. Candidate A is a long-time janitor who wants to highlight her professional experience with a chronological resume. Candidate B is two years into her career, and with less professional experience to tout, she’s using a combination resume to lay out her selling points.

Chronological Resume

Candidate A

  • 9 years of experience
  • 2 years at this job
  • HS High School Diploma

Work History

Janitor, Webster’s Arena
11/2020–Current, Cleveland, OH

  • Cleaned floors, hallways, offices and bleachers of a 17,000-square-foot arena, receiving commendations from the manager on three occasions.
  • Oversaw a 10-person cleaning crew on special occasions, receiving a perfect satisfaction rating in a follow-up survey.
  • Learned special COVID-19 sanitization protocol, teaching five peers how to disinfect a zone properly.

Combination Resume

Candidate B

  • 2 years of experience
  • 2 years at this job
  • HS High School Diploma

Professional Skills

Cleaning

  • Cleaned hallways, classrooms, bathrooms and offices across two floors of a 10,000-square-foot building.
  • Maintained cleanliness of building and floors by sweeping, mopping and vacuuming.

Communication

  • Helped draft weekly schedules for a five-person cleaning crew, accommodating the unique needs of members.
  • Taught safety guidelines to new staff, administering a hands-on test with a 100% success rate.
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Janitor Duties and Responsibilities

The true scope of a Janitor’s job will depend upon the needs of the organization they work for, but there are a few primary responsibilities that can be applied to nearly all Janitor positions. A review of current job listings identified the following core responsibilities.

Provide Daily Cleaning and Maintenance Services The main duty of a Janitor is providing regular upkeep of a property. This may include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning and resupplying bathrooms, emptying trash bins and light lawn maintenance. They must also clean any spills or other hazards that occur to prevent injuries to people or property. Some janitors are also tasked with securing buildings in the evenings or opening them in the mornings.

Perform Periodic Cleaning and Repairs In addition to their daily cleaning duties, Janitors are called upon to periodically perform heavy cleaning tasks. Shampooing carpets, waxing floors, trimming shrubbery or trees and other specified tasks are common duties of the Janitor. Some Janitors do seasonal inspections of a facility’s systems, such as heating and cooling units, smoke detectors, and fireplaces just to name a few. Many Janitors also perform small repairs, such as fixing leaky pipes, troubleshooting issues with thermostats or replacing light fixtures.

Maintain Supply Inventory Janitors keep an eye on their cleaning supplies and equipment and reorder necessary inventory when needed. Some Janitors may directly order from suppliers, while others may put in order requests with someone in their company. Janitors also are expected to keep their tools and equipment in good working order and maintain a clean and orderly supply area.

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Janitor Skills

Janitors must be reliable problem solvers. They should have good time management skills as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision. Janitors, who often interact with staff and the public in the course of their duties, also should possess good communication skills. In addition to these traits, employers look for applicants with the following skills. Core skills: Based on job listings we looked at, employers want Janitors with these core skills. If you want to work as a Janitor, focus on the following.

  • Knowledge of cleaning procedures and practices
  • Prior experience working with cleaning chemicals
  • Knowledge of safety practices
  • Ability to meet physical requirements, such as lifting, bending and standing for duration of shift

Advanced skills: While most employers did not require the following skills, multiple job listings included them as preferred. Add these to your skillset and broaden your career options.

  • Experience with hand and power tools
  • Ability to use equipment such as sanders and carpet shampooers
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Janitor Resources

There are more resources available on the Web for those interested in becoming Janitors. We scoured the Internet and found these links full of learning opportunities. On the Web

Janitors’ Closet – This site is run by Bob Croft, who runs a cleaning business in Phoenix, Ariz. It is full of Croft’s thoughts and commentary on the cleaning business. The Cleaning Blog – This blog is maintained by Millennium Commercial Cleaning Services and focuses on environmental, or green, cleaning practices.

Living in a Custodial World – A blog dedicated to educating school staff on the topics and duties related to the custodial staff. Janitor Books

The Professional Cleaner’s Personal Handbook – A comprehensive training manual for those who clean for a living.

Janitorial Service Training Guide: The Universal Way to Clean – A training guide covering the theories and practices of professional cleaning. Industry Groups

International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association – Founded in 2004, IJCSA has members from the janitorial services, housekeepers, house cleaning services, and janitorial suppliers. They provide certification courses, resources and networking opportunities.

International Sanitary Supply Association – The ISSA began in 1923 and offers its worldwide members benefits such as resources, research, networking and conferences.

Janitorial Cover Letter Examples

Cleaner ExamplesCustodian ExamplesHousekeeper ExamplesHandyman ExamplesHousekeeping Manager ExamplesCleaning Supervisor Examples

See more janitorial cover letter samples.

Janitor Resume FAQ.

How do you make “janitor” sound good on a resume?

Whether you call yourself a janitor or custodian, you want to put your best face forward on your resume. One way to set yourself apart is to be specific about your accomplishments. Explaining that you’ve “swept and mopped” is good, but saying you “swept and mopped a 2,000-square-foot factory floor” is even better.

Here are two more examples of janitorial job candidates who used specific details and quantifiable accomplishments to improve their resumes:

  • Performed light cleaning, including mopping, dusting and vacuuming, in school hallways and rooms, receiving perfect cleanliness scores from the staff.
  • Oversaw the janitorial program of a 17,000-square-foot arena, managing the schedules and evaluations of a 10-person cleaning crew.

What skills should I put on my resume if I want to be a janitor?

Janitors use a vast variety of skills in the course of their day-to-day jobs, many of which you’ll find in other professions. Here’s a list of the top janitorial skills based on the best resumes in our database:

  • Cleaning, including washing, sweeping and vacuuming
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer service
  • Verbal communication
  • Friendliness
  • Dependability
  • Sanitization
  • Time management
  • Maintenance

What should a janitor put on a resume?

Janitorial resumes should include the five primary resume sections, which are:

  • Contact info, including name, email address and phone number.
  • Work experience, beginning with your most recent role. Make sure to include bullet points emphasizing your accomplishments.
  • Professional summary, encapsulating your career arc, including achievements and skills, in just three or four sentences.
  • Skills section, including any relevant skills not already covered in the summary or experience.
  • Education, Listing any education you’ve completed, whether you have a college degree, high school diploma or GED. An alternative option is to add a certifications section if you’ve been professionally certified for your cleaning abilities.

Finally, you should consider adding more sections — volunteer work, foreign languages or awards — if you have more relevant information.

How do I list janitor job duties on a resume?

List janitorial job duties in the work history section. Each previous role should have a few bullet points that highlight your most relevant experience.

That being said, instead of seeing these as your “job duties,” show how you made an impact. Use quantifiable metrics, like the size of a building, reviews from colleagues or customer evaluations, to underline the magnitude of your contributions.

Gabriela Barcenas

Gabriela Barcenas

CPRW, Career Writer

Gabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches and has worked in the career industry for more than seven years providing comprehensive guidance on resume writing and job search strategies for individuals across diverse career paths. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and creative writing and is passionate about helping job seekers present their professional story effectively through well-crafted resumes and cover letters that demonstrate their value, skills, and experience to potential employers. Some of her work has been featured on JobHero's resume examples career center.

Read more articles by Gabriela Barcenas
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