Here are 6 Great Work Advice Tips for Facilities Managers (and you)

by Tiffany Bloodworth Rivers on March 16, 2015
dots-pattern
inner-blogshape

Eat well, exercise, and keep your resume tuned up. If you want to stay healthy in your career you will need to maintain your performance and career momentum as a facilities manager. Whether you’re looking for a tune up or a full upgrade to a new position, these work advice tips will help you find success.

Keeping your resume in shape is just one way FMs stay on top of your job-seeking game.

1. Seek Alignment

You love making sure that facilities use workspaces effectively and that you contribute to a productive workflow, but what are your other career goals?

As you plan your next move, think about what you want your career to look like. How does it balance with your home life? What vision guides your ideal organization? How do your goals for your career match up with the goals of the organization? Is there room to grow into this career in your current organization, or should you shift?

While a job may seem like a good fit, it’s important to check and see if your overall goals are truly aligned with those of the company. That will allow you to become your best self within your job.

2. Stay on Top of Your Field

Whether you’re planning to change jobs tomorrow or planning to stay where you are for years, you need to stay on top of your field. You don’t necessarily need to go back to school. Reading industry blogs and other publications will help you stay up to date with the issues in your field, and they’ll infuse your work with new ideas. You can also seek new credentials that will allow you to specialize or move up in your field.

Learn about your workplace tools. If you have new software, even if you don’t have to use it, become familiar with what it can do so that you can effectively work with your staff. Learn how to use software that makes your business more efficient, such as asset tracking software.

Learn from people as well. The facilities management industry has less turnover than many, and this means that there’s a lot of information retained in a few key staff. Seek out their mentorship, and learn from them.

3. Hone Your Resume

You never know what opportunities lie just around the corner or when you might be called to respond to them. Keep your resume in good condition. Your resume is much more than a list of jobs. Use it to quantify your career accomplishments and outline your leadership skills.

Customize your resume for each job you apply for, so that hiring managers see how your skills and experience are a unique fit for their organization.

You never know when you may need to rely on others: keep your networks strong.

4. Maintain Networks

As you’re working in your field, you’ll meet many interesting people who may be fruitful contacts now and in the future. Seek out opportunities to connect and collaborate with those in your network. You never know when a work contact may connect you with a future position.

5. Foster Competency In Your Staff

How do you build up your staff to achieve excellent results? As a manager, one of the most important skills you can cultivate is your ability to foster competency in your staff.

Seek mentorship and take classes in management, conflict resolution, and the other soft skills that are so important as a manager. Bring on staff you can trust, train them, and learn how to delegate.

6. Take Care of Yourself

Your work life should align with other priorities in your life. Maintain a sense of balance by choosing a working environment that works for you. Make it a point to gain clarity in your career expectations and determine when you’d like to make a shift.

Make sure that you take full advantage of your days off and have opportunities to enjoy natural light, exercise, fun and relaxation. When you take care of your basic needs, you’ll be able to work on the goals and strategies discussed above.

You strive for excellence in your work, but are you prepared for changes in your work world? By keeping yourself well-networked and well-prepared, you’ll be able to leap when opportunities arise and become a leader in your industry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany Bloodworth Rivers

Tiffany covers leadership and marketing topics and enjoys learning about how technology shapes our industry. Before iOFFICE, she worked in local news but don't hold that against her.

Capterra Ratings: ★★★★★ 4.5/5