Make it shine.

How to make your application for the role of Cleaner stand out.

Dear Applicant


Thanks for your interest in Sunflower Shine.  Here is how to apply for a role and put your best foot forward! Email Mary@SunflowerShine.co.uk to request an applicationpack
or find us on Indeed, Linked In or Facebook.

 Read the job description and requirements.  Most of our rejections are because candidates do not fulfil the basic requirement of needing to be a car driver for these mobile positions.
We expect starting availability for at least 12 hours a week ideally  between 9am and 2.30 pm on weekdays.

  1. Be a communicator! Do not make us guess why you applied.  Cover letters win sparkle points!

  2. We are sympathetic to career gaps when there is a good reason for them. If your CV is out of date this suggests you have been out of work for some time with no reason given. Please do not make us run after you to ask why.  If you spent time as a care giver for a relative or volunteering or on the trip of a lifetime let us know. We don’t like wondering what you are hiding when there is a simple explanation. Trust is everything but it needs to be built from openness and honesty.

  3. Our core value is integrity and we expect yours to be too. We will take up three references so make sure you choose people who know your character and reliability as well as professionalism. Two work or volunteering referees and one person who has known you for at least 3 years outside of work. Family friends are great for this - but not relatives or inlaws.

  4. We invest in our team. We provide uniform, full insurance cover for you, training, National Insurance and SSP (if you qualify for it and support to access in in work benefits if you do not and are eligible) where a fit note is provided from your GP. We do what legislation requires and pay above minimum wage. In return we expect real respect for the whole team and our clients.

  5. If there is no cleaning experience in your CV we wonder why you are applying and whether you will stay if we appoint you.  So address that.  Too many CVs tell us what a great candidate someone is but for a totally different career path. If you have no interest in cleaning or customer service its likely to be a no from us, so make sure your CV shows you have an interest in the job we are hiring for!

  6. Don’t tell us you are “The Best” or “Perfect” or “The next Elon Musk” such people do not have the humility to make good cleaners.  You might have a bright future and end up being CEO but it starts with cleaning the loos in three to six bathrooms in a day. There are no clicked fingers Instagram transformations - but Hogwarts applications will be fast tracked if you can do that!

  7. At interview please DO share your cleaning tips and favourite products. Show us you know your stuff in customer care and cleaning and we will be very interested, but also understand clients are not all the same. They will have a variety of surfaces, pets, preferences and allergies and expectations which may mean you do not get to use your home cleaning approach.

    FAQs (All have been asked during recruitment process over last 3 months)

    Does Sunflower Shine offer Flexible Working?
    We are flexible and can accommodate some changes to your schedule eg to support a child at sports day or take a family member to a hospital appointment. We can often swap days so you don’t miss out on income. But there is a limit -  if this becomes recurrent and impacts regularly on others in the team without the favour being returned we will call halt.

    Is the Work Cash in Hand?
    Don’t expect cash in hand payments or to be taken on as self employed. We want to be direct employers because it ensures that proper insurance cover is provided to benefit both staff and clients, that staff have protections in law and clients know we have vetted the team and everyone is who they say they are. Tips are discretionary and not expected direct from clients, though welcomed for superlative work. These must never be solicited which would be a dismissal offense.

    As long as the work gets done, does it matter who does it?
    Yes! Trust and integrity are at the heart of our approach. You cannot send a friend or family member in your place or bring your child (or your pet!) to work.

    This is because we vet only you and your colleagues and only you and they are covered by our insurance, so only you or they can do the work or be present while it is done. This is for everyone’s safety as well as the reputation of the company. While our staff are vetted our clients are not and it may not be safe or appropriate to bring children with you. Bringing another person who is not part of our team with you to work, whether adult, child or pet would be a dismissal offense. (Yes pets are people too!)

    Is Sunflower Shine Family Friendly?

    Yes. We are happy to offer flexible working as long as you commit to being available for a minimum of 12 hours a week. Unfortunately we cannot support term time only work (although we do closedown over Christmas). Consider this option instead: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs . Only registered providers can be used if you access government funding. Here is a directory of approved providers: Infolink Suffolk If you are working 16 hours or more a week for us you may be eligible for tax free childcare scheme. Tax-free-childcare.

    Do you have a high turnover of staff as you keep advertising?
    We are growing and need to double our team over the next 6 months to cover future commitments. It takes time to find the right people.

    Still keen to clean? Get in touch with your CV to Mary@sunflowershine.co.uk