Facility Management
Facility Management is a role that involves overseeing and maintaining workplace buildings and their services. Think of it as taking care of everything that makes an office or building run smoothly - from making sure the lights work and the temperature is comfortable, to managing security systems and organizing repairs. It's like being the conductor of an orchestra, but instead of musicians, you're coordinating various services and contractors to keep a building functioning well for its occupants. Similar terms include "Property Management" or "Building Operations Management," though Facility Management typically focuses more on the workplace environment and its impact on employees.
Examples in Resumes
Managed daily operations of a 50,000 sq ft office space using Facility Management best practices
Reduced building operational costs by 25% through effective Facilities Management strategies
Led a team of 10 staff members in Facility Management and building maintenance
Implemented new FM systems to improve workspace efficiency
Typical job title: "Facility Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Facility Managers
Professional Associations
Online Communities
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop and manage a facility's annual budget?
Expected Answer: A senior facility manager should discuss experience with creating comprehensive budgets, including operational costs, maintenance, utilities, and contractor services. They should mention cost-saving strategies, forecasting, and budget tracking methods.
Q: How do you handle major facility emergencies or crisis situations?
Expected Answer: Should explain their experience with emergency response plans, coordination with various departments and external services, communication protocols, and post-incident analysis and improvements.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you manage multiple maintenance contractors?
Expected Answer: Should discuss vendor selection, contract management, scheduling, quality control, and maintaining good working relationships with service providers.
Q: What strategies do you use to ensure workplace safety and compliance?
Expected Answer: Should explain regular safety inspections, compliance checking, training programs, and maintaining required documentation and certificates.
Junior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle basic maintenance requests from employees?
Expected Answer: Should explain the process of receiving, prioritizing, and tracking maintenance requests, basic troubleshooting, and when to escalate issues to senior staff or contractors.
Q: What's your experience with facility management software?
Expected Answer: Should be able to discuss basic understanding of work order systems, maintenance scheduling, and record keeping using common facility management software.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic building maintenance coordination
- Work order management
- Vendor coordination
- Safety procedures
Mid (2-5 years)
- Budget management
- Team supervision
- Project management
- Contract administration
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning
- Large-scale project management
- Team leadership
- Emergency response management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with building systems or maintenance procedures
- Poor communication or interpersonal skills
- Lack of basic budget management experience
- No knowledge of safety regulations and compliance requirements
