Skills You Need for a Career in Facilities Management

Facilities management is a field that requires the wearing of many hats. Those with careers in this position need to perform a range of tasks which call for various ranges of expertise. From managing people to finances, those in facilities management need to do it all.

There is a wide range of skills that facilities managers need in order to be effective. Some skills are inherent and some must be learned, but all can be sharpened.

So if you’re seeking a new role in facilities management, make sure these skills are on your resume and in your repertoire.

Financial Literacy and Analysis

Someone in facilities management does not necessarily have to be a CPA, but they will need to deal with financial planning and budgeting. Without knowledge and understanding of these processes, a facilities manager can find themselves in a tough situation.

Additionally, someone in this field needs the analytical prowess to optimize these processes and ensure that everything is on track. If they have no insight as to what numbers in a financial report mean, they cannot ensure that the business or project they are working on is headed for success.

Problem Solving Abilities

Any manager will be confronted with a series of problems on any given day, and someone in facilities management is no exception.

Facilities management can present urgent tasks with high levels of importance. Managers need to be able to come up with a solution quickly and calmly. Being adaptable and quick thinking can help a facilities manager to get things up and running as quickly as possible.

Tech Savvy

Some of the challenges that come up in facilities management are technical. Jobs are becoming increasingly automated, and more people rely on technology than ever before. So facilities managers should be able to tackle these technical problems with some prowess.

Whether it’s a little bit of IT training or gaining an understanding of automation, the wise facilities manager will keep on top of technology trends and use them to keep their business running to the optimal level.

Industry Knowledge

No matter what kind of structure someone in facilities management is overseeing, they need to stay on top of industry trends. If any innovations – technical or otherwise – are unearthed, they should keep in the know about them.

General business trends can have an impact on their work, so being aware of these developments is essential. These are the facilities managers that can have a large impact on their business as a whole, and are therefore invaluable in their role.

Interpersonal Skills

Whether they’re talking to vendors or colleagues, someone in facilities management deals with a lot of people on a daily basis. Your communication skills are absolutely crucial here. If anything is lost in translation, it could domino into a bigger problem down the line. Being clear and succinct is a great asset.

The leadership skills of a facilities manager are also constantly on display. They need to empower their team and encourage them to perform to the best of their ability.

If you possess these skills and are looking for a new opportunity in facilities management, take a look at Michael Page's job listings. If you choose to apply, one of our expert recruitment consultants will be in touch with relevant opportunities.