Should You Consider a Career in Facilities Management CareerMetis.com

Should You Consider a Career in Facilities Management Source: FreepikDo you enjoy taking up challenges and wish to make a ‘real’ impact on how businesses conduct their day-to-day tasks? If yes, a career in facilities management could be what you’re looking for.With ever-increasing competition in today’s age, businesses now focus on maximizing their resource utilization and continually redefining their workspaces and processes to stay ahead of the game. This has forged new paths of popularity for facilities management as a career.Facilities management is an interdisciplinary profession that assures performance, safety and operational efficiency of your facility â€" your place of work and everything inside it. It deals with monitoring and maintaining any equipment, technology or physical installations â€" such as HVAC, elevator systems in the workplace so businesses can seamlessly carry out their vital activities.evalAll that could sound a little bland to some, but there are many reasons why a career in facilities management makes sense.There is a High Demand for Facilities Management in Today’s MarketevalAccording to MarketWatch, facilities management is predicted to be one of the fastest growing industries, reaching a market value of $64.5 billion by 2023.It has a surging demand in the following industries:Leisure: Effective facilities management leads to higher customer satisfaction by ensuring there is never a burnt out light or a malfunctioning refrigerator in a hotel room.Education: High standards in professional education call not only for a good curriculum but also building regular maintenance and a hazard-free environment for children.Government: With adequate facilities service management, governments focus on better delivery of services to their citizens.Construction: The continuity of a real estate business relies on proper maintenance of buildings and any attached fixtures.Healthcare: New advancements in medical technology require innovation in support services so that healthcare institutions are always up and running.Logistics: A streamlined facilities management system allows carriers and logistics professionals to stay true to their core competencies â€" efficiency, customer satisfaction, and speed.Retail: Pressed by tight budgets and changing customer demand, retail needs flexible facilities management to make its operations more efficient.Facilities Management Covers a Broad Range of ServicesSource: FreepikFacilities Management falls under the following categories:Hardware Inspection and Maintenance involves monitoring physical installations such as HVAC, smoke detectors or an elevator system within a building.Environment, Health, and Safetyoversees the design and maintenance of work systems in accordance with federal health and safety regulations.Security Network entails tracking alarm systems, maintaining security camera operation and repairing identity verification systems.Fire Safety includes designing escape pathways in case of a fire and installing and managin g fire extinguishers and fire exits, etc.Operational management requires repair of office resources such as fixing a jammed printer or ensuring a stable internet connection.Cleaning and Janitorial servicesincludes maintaining an efficient waste disposalSpace Management and Staffing deals with assigning rooms to different departments and scheduling activities.You Will be Able to Enjoy a Diverse Set of DutiesThe job of a facilities manager is challenging but only because it comes with a different set of responsibilities. This makes facilities management exciting and differentiates it from other mundane office jobs.So what exactly will you be doing as a facilities manager? Although your primary goal will be to increase workplace efficiency and minimize waste for your company, you will make that possible by carrying out the following tasks. Be prepared to:Monitor evolving regulations within the industry and ensure your business complies with them.Delegate daily inspections of relevant e quipment to technicians or mechanics, and ensure that these inspections run smoothly on a regular basis.Cater to any technical emergencies that arise and conduct corrective maintenance.Design and implement an equipment maintenance plan for each piece of equipment.Manage contracts with suppliers to make sure the purchased equipment meets quality standards, and promptly fix any discrepancies that are singled out.Develop a plan for integrating work systems to make sure the business can progress.Your Personality Might be a Great Fit for this CareerSource: FreepikAn interesting thing to note is that some individuals might be a natural fit for this career. With the right skills up your sleeves, you can excel in this industry and enjoy continued success.evalA career in facilities management requires effective communication skills. You need to communicate and delegate tasks to your team so that there are no ambiguities during work tasks. A facilities manager should also be able to think qui ck to respond quickly to emergencies.Furthermore, people who value quality over quantity are well-equipped to be facilities managers. This attribute enables them to create a workspace that encourages employees to produce their best work. You don’t just need to get the job done â€" you also need to ensure that everything at work is top-notch!Project management skills also come in handy! You need to know how the performance of one job impacts the performance of another. People skills are also crucial so you can effectively pair your team and gear it towards achieving a common goal â€" increasing efficiency.With the business space continually evolving, a facilities manager also needs to be tech-savvy. They should be looking for new ways to automate processes like using a computer-aided facilities management software Acquiring the Formal Training Isn’t Hard or ExpensiveevalFor hiring in facilities management, employers generally look for people with a degree or certification in one of the following fields: engineering, hospitality management, facilities management or construction project management, etc.But gaining a formal certification isn’t hard! While many universities offer training courses for facilities management, you can get the right education from the comfort of your home. Simply look for courses on facilities management online. This course on facilities management by Columbia University would be a good start!Since the job entails a lot of on-the-job work, candidates with some level of work experience are generally preferred over fresh graduates so don’t be too picky about your first job. They will still teach you many tricks of the trade so you can always find something better in the future.For executive positions, a Master’s degree is a must.It Pays Well Too!Source: FreepikYou can expect a diverse range of pay scales in the field of facilities management depending on your qualification, tenure, and role.A facilities manager generally earns a median salary of $94,792 per year, whereas an executive can even earn up to $116,583 a year. Facilities technicians get a pretty good deal too by earning $42,000 a year; similar to what an average American citizen earns annually.Most Companies Require a Facilities Management TeamEssentially, any business with a physical workspace needs a facility management team to maximize the use of its workspace and any equipment associated with it. This can range from renowned educational institutes, healthcare organizations and government offices to construction and retail giants.In case these employers are stocked with in-house facility management teams, you can try your luck at agencies or consultancies that provide facilities strategy planning to a host of industries.Working for an agency diversifies your job portfolio as you get exposed to many industries.The Facilities Management Industry has a Promising FutureevalFacilities management industry has been booming in popularity over the last decade as prominent corporate leaders seek cost-effective fixes to everyday issues. The diverse range of career paths and incomes, exposure to different industries, and the bright prospects with evolving cloud-based facilities management technologies make a career in this field a smart choice!