Career Advice for a Facilities Manager

In the role of Facilities Manager, you will be responsible for the working environment, communication, and services of the facility.

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How to Become a Facilities Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Facilities Manager

Should you wish to work as a Facilities Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Facilities Manager

  • A Degree in Civil Engineering, Building Services Management, or Facilities Management.
  • At least one A Level.
  • Four GCSEs.

Key Responsibilities for a Facilities Manager

  • Ensuring the facilities are always clean, safe, and presentable.
  • Maintaining a constant security presence.
  • Managing the building’s ground and maintenance works.
  • Managing car parking facilities.
  • Arranging electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning maintenance and repairs.
  • Maintaining an operative communications system.

What to expect as a Facilities Manager

When you become a Facilities Manager, you will work in an office, conference centre, or sports arena. You will need to leverage a wide set of skills and knowledge covering waste disposal, health and safety, budgeting, contracts, maintenance, and IT systems. Customer service, administration, finance, and communication skills will be essential in finding success as a Facilities Manager.

Recommended Facilities Manager Jobs

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How to get Facilities Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Facilities Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Facilities Manager application. If you have not held a Facilities Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Facilities Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Facilities Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Facilities Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Facilities Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Facilities Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Facilities Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Facilities Manager experience.

How to get Facilities Manager Experience

What does it take to be a Facilities Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Facilities Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Facilities Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Facilities Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Facilities Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Facilities Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Facilities Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Facilities Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.