If you’re still studying right now, then it’s still a good idea to think about how to become the best possible facilities manager you can (if you’re considering a career like this in the future). The more you can understand today, the more you can move forward into the job market tomorrow and get the work you want.

So, what should you be doing to impress employers?

Master Core Technical Knowledge

You’ll want to start by mastering the core, technical knowledge involved. If you can understand this, then you’ll put yourself ahead of more than 90% of applicants, sometimes even those with degrees.

Make sure you learn the following:

• Fire safety requirements by building type
• Elevator safety and operations
• The needs of the building envelope
• HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems

You don’t necessarily need to understand every single detail of these. But lack of knowledge shouldn’t be an obstacle for you doing your job.

Get Certified

Next, try to get some sort of qualification that shows dedication to the facilities management route. Employers should consider you a safe bet and someone who can work regularly and diligently.

There are plenty of these around. Options include BOMI RPA or SMA/SMT, LEED AP O+M, IFMA CFM and others.

You’ll want to go through and check all these options to see which is right for you.

Learn the Operational Side

It’s also a good idea to learn the operational side of becoming a facilities manager. You want to have a good grasp of what the day-to-day activities look like.

For example, it’s a good idea to learn some basic trade skills, like being able to replace filters and reset breakers. You should also know how to do things like order office cleaning supplies and adjust VAV boxes. It’s small things like these that will impress potential hiring managers and convince them that you’re the person for the job.

If you can get to grips with CMMS systems ahead of time, that’s even better. These pieces of software often have free trials, so you can learn and experiment with them before you take on any full-time work.

Train Your Soft Skills

Another option is to train your soft skills. Again, many employers will be looking for these because they’re so rare in today’s talent pool. Not only do you need to have the technical knowledge to go out and become a facilities manager, but you also need the ability to de-escalate difficult situations and manage vendors with skill.

One way to demonstrate you can do this is to write a list of mock emails that you could show a hiring manager if they ask you about your soft skills. You can show how you would deal with a challenging situation and really get the best out of it.

Focus On Sustainability And Energy

Lastly, it can work in your favor to focus on topics like sustainability and energy. Many businesses now want facilities managers who can cut their costs and find new ways to save under their existing workflows.

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