Facilities Managers  Finding And Keeping A Job In Facilities Management Looking for any job in facilities management? Looking for a better job? Or, just looking to hang on to the job you have? You'll find something of value here. We'll assume you've taken care of your basics — like having a resume' that's off-set printed, on good paper, and is PERFECT. But if you ask those who review job applicants, you'll find a surprising number of resume's cross their desks that don't fit that description. Typos, bad grammar, misspelled words, and garbled thoughts abound. It's like telling your prospective employer that you don't care very much about critical details. Consider what a job of facilities manager means in today's market. Needs vary from one building to the next, but most jobs need a broad base of CORE skills. Check out this list and see if you need to work on any area. Today's facilities manager: Understands the company's core business function and corporate mission statement. If you don't know your company's, you'd better find out. If you're applying to another company, ask a contact person you know or someone in Human Resources. This is basic homework that can tell them you care enough to find out (and might tell you whether or not you want to pursue a position with them.) Knowing this helps you take care of #2. Manages to the company's bottom line, and is cost conscious in each decision. "Cost conscious" means considering big picture items though — saving pennies isn't good if it costs you dollars in lost customers. Has excellent customer service skills and responsiveness. It's a balancing act to serve customers and protect the bottom line. It will help if the facilities manager: Has a mix of professional training and both practical and field experience, as well as project management skills. These things help you manage priorities and make good decisions. You'll also need to: Be a flexible self-starter, and proactive enough to meet changing technology and customer requirements. Keep learning — in tangible ways. Making a real commitment to the industry, through courses, continuing education, degrees, or professional designations, can set you apart from the crowd. It will also keep you abreast of industry trends, so you can see what's coming tomorrow, and anticipate what's coming next week. Finally, strike the right balance of general and specific information. You can't learn everything, so seek detailed knowledge in one or two foundation areas. Keep absolutely current in them. Maintain a good working knowledge of all areas of the building. Learn the key points, the bottlenecks, and the right questions to ask. Most important, learn who the RIGHT PEOPLE are to ask those questions. They might be department heads, MIS folks, professional acquaintances or vendors, but build your own personal "information network" and you'll be a valuable force in any company.