The Six Skills That Will Set You Apart in Facilities Management

A new five-year study has found that six key transferable skills will matter just as much as qualifications when it comes to getting and keeping a job over the next decade.

The research, carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research, looked at the skills employers actually value and how those needs are likely to shift as technology changes the workplace. The findings are relevant across all sectors, but they’re particularly worth paying attention to if you work in facilities management.

Why? Because FM is a sector where technology is already making a difference. Smart building systems, automation, AI-powered analytics and better data are all improving efficiency. But as we’ve said before, technology cannot replace the experience, judgement and people skills needed to keep buildings running safely and effectively.

These six skills are exactly what set great FM professionals apart. Let’s look at each one and how it applies to the sector.

1. Organisation, planning and prioritisation

If you’ve worked in facilities management for any length of time, you’ll know that no two days are the same. You might start the morning with a clear plan, only for a reactive issue to throw everything sideways by 10am.

FM professionals juggle competing demands constantly. Planned maintenance schedules, compliance deadlines, contractor visits, stakeholder requests, budget reviews. Everything needs attention, and often everything feels urgent.

The ability to organise your workload, plan ahead and prioritise effectively is not a nice-to-have. It’s essential. And as you move into more senior roles, this skill becomes even more important. You’re not just managing your own tasks. You’re coordinating teams, projects and multiple sites.

Think about a building refurbishment project, for example. You need to manage contractors, keep the building operational, communicate with occupants, stick to a budget and hit deadlines. That takes serious organisational skill.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Make sure your CV shows evidence of managing multiple priorities. Even if you’re earlier in your career, think about examples from other jobs or outside work where you’ve had to plan and prioritise under pressure.

2. Problem-solving and decision-making

Facilities management is full of problems that need solving. Some are small. Some are significant. And many of them need to be dealt with quickly.

A building system fails during a critical event. A contractor doesn’t turn up. A compliance issue is flagged unexpectedly. A budget gets cut mid-project. These situations happen, and employers need people who can think on their feet.

The NFER research highlighted that problem-solving isn’t just about following a set process. It’s about adapting your approach to each situation. In FM, that’s absolutely true. The way you handle a heating failure in a hospital is very different to how you’d handle the same issue in an office block.

Good problem-solvers don’t panic. They assess the situation, consider the options and make a decision, even when they don’t have all the information they’d like.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Think about problems you’ve solved in previous jobs or in your personal life. How did you approach them? What was the outcome? These examples are gold dust in interviews.

3. Communication

Facilities management sits at the heart of an organisation. FM teams interact with everyone, from board members to building users to cleaning staff to external contractors. That means communication skills matter enormously.

Good communication in FM isn’t just about being friendly or approachable, although that helps. It’s about being able to translate technical issues into plain language for non-technical stakeholders. It’s about de-escalating conflict when a tenant is frustrated or a contractor has let you down. It’s about writing clear reports, keeping accurate records and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

One of the employers quoted in the BBC article made an interesting point. They said that personality doesn’t always come across on paper, which is why interviews and face-to-face interaction are so important. That’s certainly true in FM, where so much of the job involves building relationships and working with people.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Don’t underestimate the value of strong written communication. Compliance documentation, reports and even emails all reflect on your professionalism. And in interviews, be ready to talk about how you’ve handled difficult conversations or communicated complex information to different audiences.

4. Collaboration and teamwork

No FM professional works in isolation. Even if you’re the sole facilities manager for a building, you’re still collaborating with other departments, external suppliers and contractors.

FM teams regularly work alongside HR, IT, finance, health and safety, and operations. A workplace refurbishment project might involve architects, fit-out contractors, IT teams and senior leadership. Day-to-day operations depend on good relationships with cleaning, security, catering and maintenance providers.

One of the employers in the NFER research, Barbour, summed it up well. They said that each department is interlinked with one another, so working as one team is really important. That’s exactly how FM works. You’re the person connecting all the moving parts.

Collaboration also means being able to give and receive feedback, support colleagues when things get busy and contribute to a positive team culture.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Think about examples of collaboration from your experience. It doesn’t have to be FM-specific. Have you worked on group projects? Coordinated with different teams? Managed a supplier relationship? These experiences all demonstrate the skill.

5. Creative thinking

Facilities management might not be the first sector that comes to mind when you think about creativity. But creative thinking is actually a huge part of the job.

FM professionals are constantly finding ways to do more with less. Budgets are tight. Resources are limited. Sustainability targets are ambitious. The ability to think differently and come up with creative solutions is incredibly valuable.

That might mean finding energy savings that nobody else had spotted. It might mean repurposing underused space to meet a new business need. It might mean improving a process that’s been done the same way for years.

Creative thinking also comes into play when things go wrong. The NFER research mentioned that employers want people who can adapt when something doesn’t go to plan. In FM, that happens regularly. A creative thinker will find a way through.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Be ready for interview questions like “Tell me about a time something didn’t go to plan. How did you get it back on track?” These questions are designed to test your creative problem-solving.

6. Information literacy and data evaluation

This one might sound a bit technical, but it’s increasingly important in facilities management.

FM is becoming more data-driven. CAFM systems, building management systems, energy monitoring, compliance tracking. There’s more information available than ever before. But raw data on its own doesn’t tell you anything. You need people who can interpret it, spot trends and decide what action to take.

The NFER research made a great point about this. They said that raw data doesn’t tell a story. We need to think about why it’s important and what it means. That’s exactly the skill FM employers are looking for.

It’s not just about being able to use software, although that’s helpful. It’s about being able to look at the numbers and understand what they’re telling you. Is energy consumption higher than it should be? Is a piece of equipment showing early signs of failure? Are contractor response times slipping?

This is one area where human judgement really matters. AI can crunch the numbers, but it takes a skilled FM professional to interpret them and make decisions.

If you’re applying for FM roles: Highlight any experience with FM software, data analysis or reporting. Even if you’re not a technical expert, showing that you’re comfortable working with data and using it to inform decisions will set you apart.

Why these skills matter now more than ever

The workplace is changing. AI and automation are already transforming how FM teams operate, and that trend will only continue. Some lower-level tasks may eventually be automated. But the research suggests that higher-skilled roles, the ones that require these six transferable skills, are likely to grow.

The NFER study made an important observation. It said that during the course of your working life, you might have to make some fairly dramatic changes. That’s probably true for most of us. The people who thrive will be the ones who can adapt, learn new skills and apply their existing strengths in new contexts.

In facilities management, the pressure is already real. We recently shared a stat showing that 78% of Facilities Managers say their workload is higher than it was a year ago. More compliance requirements. More sustainability targets. More reporting demands. The right skills help you manage that pressure and stand out to employers.

What this means for you

Whether you’re already working in FM or looking to move into the sector, the message is clear. Qualifications matter, but they’re not the whole picture. These six skills are what will help you get your next role, progress in your career and adapt to whatever changes come along.

The good news is that you don’t need FM-specific experience in all of these areas. Transferable skills count. If you’ve developed these skills in other jobs, in education or in your personal life, they’re relevant.

Think about how you can demonstrate each one. Update your CV to reflect your strengths. Prepare examples for interviews. And if you’re not sure where you stand, that’s something a good recruiter can help you with.

Looking for your next FM role?

At Catch 22, we’ve been connecting talented people with facilities management roles for over 40 years. We know what employers are looking for, and we can help you showcase the skills that will set you apart.

Whether you’re an experienced FM professional or looking to break into the sector, we’d love to hear from you. Browse our current vacancies or get in touch for a chat.

And if you’re building your FM team, we can help you find people with the right skills, not just the right qualifications.