Long-term success in the field of facility management requires a specific skill set with a strong foundation in organizational and communication skills. Those looking for a facility manager vacancy should expect to handle a wide range of problems and systems as well as developing and maintaining an up-to-date awareness of safety and health standards that are required by law to run a commercial building. You will also need to be able to delegate tasks effectively and organize work and people in a structured environment. Skills in technical management and administration are useful as together they can help prepare you with a broader sense of what your work will require and involve.
Starting jobs in larger and commercial facilities can lead to promotions in a facility management position. In addition to the right qualifications, demonstrating your abilities first hand to potential employers is extremely important in achieving the position you want. For those who don't have qualifications, there are many community courses available that can be taken while working, and provide solid managerial and administrative certificates. These can not only give you an edge in any application process you undertake, but can broaden and deepen your own understanding and approach.
Electrical jobs and other kinds of associated technical background can lead to a career in facility management. Facility manager's jobs are required to keep both normal power systems and emergency power systems running properly and maintained. A background of environmental maintenance can also help as the job involves the maintenance of systems and often involves conservation of resources. These larger tasks must be balanced with the organizing of smaller tasks to do with office space and interior management, which can come under the jurisdiction of the facility manager's job. Those currently working in jobs such as administration, cleaning, and technical maintenance can all aim to rise to a facility management position.
If you want to work your way up to a facility management position, it is important to take every opportunity to show you initiative and demonstrate skill beyond your current position. Do tasks that are more difficult or those that do not usually pertain to your current position. Further enrich your resume by developing your educational understanding of the field of facility management. By doing this, you will be creating a solid history of applicable work that your employer will be able to refer to when promotions and better opportunities become available. It is important to establish this kind of consistency when aiming for a long-term career goal; this is definitely something that employers notice and look for in employees. If you feel that you haven't been given enough opportunity after a while, or that you've been in the same position for too long, start applying for better positions, or else positions with greater opportunities for advancement.
Keeping up-to-date with job opening and changes in the field of facility management can be helpful in achieving your goals. There are many websites dedicated to facility management in America and the United Kingdom, which provide information on various positions, businesses, and job openings which can be invaluable to your career development and promotion. Other helpful resources include online job searches and job advertisements in the newspaper. Online job searches tend to be a little more useful as they are more easily kept up-to-date, and can be more specialized than newspapers. Writing a letter with your resume to potential employers can also be a way of taking advantage of unknown opportunities or creating your own opportunity.
Facility management involves the combination of a variety of disciplines to maintain a cohesive environment. Skills required by facility managers are those that, when applied, harmoniously integrate people and technology with the working space and environment. These skills can be demonstrated and developed in many starting positions, which then leads to opportunities in facility management positions. This requires you to take the initiative and to play an active role in achieving your career goals, whether it is a promotion through writing to employers, or simply furthering your education and professional skills.
