Facility Manager: a career of the future?

The economic situation of the past years has made many people wonder what professions will have higher demand in the future. As expected, many try to head for a cutting-edge job or the one that can offer the highest security for the future, but the labor market changes at the speed of light and it is difficult to predict future tendencies. Professionals that were considered as top ones in Spain now live uncertain days with unemployment or leaving the country as their only options. Some studies show that professions with the highest demand will be those that don’t exist yet. One of these studies is the one carried out by Fast Future, a British think tank, which predicts 110 new professions by 2030.

And what happens with Facility Management? Can anyone say that there will be no buildings in the future?

Due to the current economic situation, companies and organizations lay out new plans: their business lines, their investments and even their goals and targets, because they need to maximize resources. Teleworking, virtual offices and mobile technologies, which you’re probably using to read this article, facilitate working outside company premises. However, it is more difficult to picture companies with no headquarters, no industrial units to produce, no hospitals to take care of the ill or no schools where children can learn.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the sectors that will have higher demand will be those with strong technological content and those related to ‘green economy’. Oddly enough, all of this matches the prospective future of Facility Management showed on the report “Future Outlook for Facility Management” published by IFMA in 2011. This report shows the vision of the discipline for the next few years and identifies Sustainability as the most important trend followed by Technology as the next most important.

As a result, companies will demand specialized profiles to help them achieve their corporative goals based on sustainability and their triple bottom line, in order to create an environment that encourages productivity. Likewise, building systems are more and more complex every day and the continuous technology progresses attached to those systems will make organizations look for specialized Facility Managers.

The good news for FM and those looking for a career in the field is that it is rising.

According to IFMA and its report “Profiles 2011 Salary and Demographics Report“, the average salary for a Facility Manager in the U.S. was US$ 99.578, higher than the US$ 91.766 that a similar report showed in 2007. Graduates with limited experience in Facility management earn an average salary of US$ 65.000, as opposed to the US$ 56.000 of 2004.

In Spain, slowly but surely, companies have started to expand their “General Services” Departments and orient them towards Facility Management. Currently many professionals with technical background and experience in property management, service management, construction, maintenance, energy management, etc. see FM as a career opportunity.

Additionally, recruitment companies publish more and more offers with the words “Company X is looking for a Facility Manager who speaks English”. This demand of FMers comes from the need to improve service management and to achieve savings in order to increase productivity, improve their public image and get better market position.

For all this, we can say that Facility Management is a career that offers great opportunities and professional development for those searching for a career change choosing one to start after leaving college.

 

Photo by Simon Cunningham http://bit.ly/1wgiTzM

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Participate in the Observatorio FM

You can choose between these 3 options to participate:





How to participate?

Collaborating with the Observatorio FM is a personal and voluntary decision, and there is no contractual obligation or economic retribution for it.

Any interested person can apply to participate as a leader of a new project, or apply as a collaborator in an existing one.

A technical committee will evaluate the subject matter of the proposed projects and the applications of the participants, deciding which ones are carried out and by whom.

Each person decides how much they want to dedicate, depending on their availability or type of project. The aim is for it to be an altruistic activity and not an additional workload.

What does it consist of?

To promote and publish studies that help professionals in the sector and to help others understand our profession and discipline.

The results and deliverables are shared openly, always acknowledging the contributions of all authors and contributors.

The Observatorio FM’s activity will respect the objectivity, ethics, rigour and good practices that govern our Research area.

Contributors have access to the best collaborative tools, sectoral information and contacts, as well as the assistance of expert consultants and researchers at international level.

Research

FM Observatory

FM Observatory is a platform which develops and disseminates Facility Management information. It’s accessible to all those who’d genuinely like to participate. Ethical use and objectivity are essential, and all results must be shared. You decide how long you devote to it and what you want to achieve.

You can participate as:

  • Leader: define the topic and coordinate the activity
  • Collaborator: help with development

We will provide:

  • Current situation and trends regarding the subject
  • Access to experts and advisers
  • Collaborative tools
  • Design assistance and dissemination platform

All contributions will be given credit in completed projects.

Research

Projects

We are part of the European research group and we work in international teams to develop different types of initiatives:

  • Public financing
  • International bids

We also work for service providers who require support with decisions linked to:

  • Positioning
  • Product launches
  • Finding partners
Research

Standardisation

As accredited experts in the drafting processes of European and International standards on Asset and Facility Management, we are the perfect partner to assist you with:

  • Standards alignment
  • Assistance with certification
  • Specialised training

FMHOUSE is the only Spanish-speaking consulting firm that participates in these processes.

Research

Publications

At FMHOUSE we think that progress made in Facility Management should be shared, so we strive to produce and publish the following material:

  • National and international trends
  • Industry analyses
  • Market studies

The “FM Observatory” is open, should you like to contribute with a publication.

Consultancy

Workplace

Our view of spaces or workplaces from a Facility Management perspective leads to a better understanding of such a need as a service, as it is essential to apply the same logic and methodology.

Generally we offer:

  • Assessment and optimisation
  • Design strategies
  • Solutions and scenarios
  • Wellbeing and productivity

We apply our knowledge and experience to offices, learning spaces, shopping centres and the industrial environment.

Consultancy

Benchmarking

In order to make the right decisions, clear accurate market data as well as facts about the organisation itself is essential. In the Facility Management environment, this is even more critical due to the impact it has on business.

Examples of benchmarks:

  • Operating costs
  • Resource use/allocation
  • Audits and compliance assessment

These services are requested mainly by end users, but also by service providers.

Consultancy

Customer Experience

Facility Management’s overarching goal is customer satisfaction, whether they are internal or external. Understanding their feelings and needs is the key to offering a good service.

Our support is based on:

  • Satisfaction assessment
  • Customer perception
  • People-oriented models
  • Change management

We strive to understand and get to know our clients’ customers, in all sectors and types of businesses.

Consultancy

Digital Transformation

The Facility Management world is experiencing a major transition to digital environments. We help our clients understand how it impacts them and assist them throughout the change.

Our areas of support are:

  • Process digitization
  • Viability and integration
  • Digital culture
  • Technological response

We operate as independent advisers, not as brand vendors.

We advise end-users and service providers.

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Consultancy

Service Design

All kinds of companies need to define or improve the way in which it structures supporting activities provided by Facility Management.

Our main products are:

  • Status diagnostics
  • Service dimensioning
  • Grouping and models
  • Help with tenders
  • Assistance with implementation

Our proposals are structured according to individual requirements.

We help end customers and also service providers.

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