Facilities Management

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 10:04am #1

Just wanted to let people know that have a background in construction, because the state agencies seem to forget this is a career, there are huge oppertunities in the market for full time employment as a facilities manager. On any given day I see up to 175 jobs advertised. These roles would ideally suit people with a trade background like Project Managers, Electricians, Engineers, Surveyors, Site Managers, etc. and offer oppertunities worldwide.

tatli_lokma · 30-05-2013 11:38am

rossie08 wrote: »

On any given day I see up to 175 jobs advertised.

I see hundreds of jobs in admin - doesn't mean there are actually hundreds of jobs. Most of them are recruitment agencies fishing for CV's. Anyone I know who is ex-construction is looking for something in facilities/estate management and are finding it very very hard. A level of admin experience, financial management or budget controlling and management are usually needed to secure these jobs - especially when you are competing with literally thousands of ex-construction workers.

Tabnabs · 30-05-2013 11:43am

rossie08 wrote: »

Just wanted to let people know that have a background in construction, because the state agencies seem to forget this is a career, there are huge oppertunities in the market for full time employment as a facilities manager. On any given day I see up to 175 jobs advertised. These roles would ideally suit people with a trade background like Project Managers, Electricians, Engineers, Surveyors, Site Managers, etc. and offer oppertunities worldwide.

I have a background that translates readily into FM. I'd love if you could share the job adverts (in Ireland preferably) as they seem to be a bit thin on the ground any time I go looking.

westies4ever · 30-05-2013 11:51am

My husband had 25 years construction experience - started as a carpenter, moved into pub and shop fitting and was a site manager and project manager for ten years.

he was made redundant in 2009 and wanted to become a facilities manager. he completed the Facilities Diploma at Portobello and started applying. The skills are definitely transferable but trying telling the recruiters this. He got knocked back so many times as he had 'no experience'.

He continued to take contract site manager roles to pay the bills. his break came when a company that he managed a successful fit out for advertised for a facilities manager.

It took 3 years to land a role. He loves it and is very happy but it wasnt easy and it took a bit of luck as well.

you are definitely not going to walk into an FM role just because you have a background in construction.

westies4ever · 30-05-2013 11:53am

Tabnabs wrote: »

I have a background that translates readily into FM. I'd love if you could share the job adverts (in Ireland preferably) as they seem to be a bit thin on the ground any time I go looking.

my husband definitely had more luck applying directly to companies rather than recruitment agencies.

another thing to remember is that starting out, salaries for FM are a lot lower than construction salaries. my husband is literally earning half of what he did 4 years ago.

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 12:17pm

In my current role, I deal with FM companies all the time and most of them are looking out for good people with experience with trades. Definitly I would agree a lot of the recruitment companies are a waste of time but there are some very good companies involved in FM and people should apply directly to the HR departments. With a growing number of foreign companies setting up house in Ireland they immediately farm out FM to specalist companies.

Tabnabs · 30-05-2013 12:19pm

On any given day I see up to 175 jobs advertised.

Any chance of sharing links to these jobs though?

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 12:28pm

tatli_lokma · 30-05-2013 12:30pm

rossie08 wrote: »

In my current role, I deal with FM companies all the time and most of them are looking out for good people with experience with trades.

Fair enough, but to the extent of 175 job adverts a day?? I doubt it. I think you may be exaggerating the figures there. Even at 175 jobs advertised a week, and lets say that each advert stays for maybe 2 weeks this would equate to over 4500 jobs per year in facilities management. I can't see how this is likely. There are not that many large FM companies in Ireland to justify a figure like that, and there are maybe a dozen big name players if even that (such as Dalkia, G4S, Noonan, aramark etc).

tatli_lokma · 30-05-2013 12:31pm

rossie08 wrote: »

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7061445.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-Coordinator-7069839.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Critical-Services-Manager-Lead-7058862.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Area-Operations-Manager-7061905.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/General-Manager-Prestigous-Financial-Client-7067719.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Co-Ordinator-7075752.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7055512.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7068285.aspx

That is a long way from 175 adverts. And not one of those links is live - all the jobs you link to have been deleted :rolleyes:

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 12:32pm

Apologies that snap shot was taken a couple of weeks ago here is the current listing from that site

http://www.irishjobs.ie/ShowResults.aspx?Keywords=Facilities+Manager&Location=&Category=&Recruiter=Company&Recruiter=Agency

westies4ever · 30-05-2013 12:33pm

rossie08 wrote: »

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7061445.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-Coordinator-7069839.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Critical-Services-Manager-Lead-7058862.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Area-Operations-Manager-7061905.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/General-Manager-Prestigous-Financial-Client-7067719.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Co-Ordinator-7075752.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7055512.aspx

http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Facilities-Engineer-7068285.aspx[/QUOTE]

the job you are looking for has been deleted from the system'. every single link.

Rossie08, I agree that Facilities management is a great career path for construction workers but its really not that easy and there is a huge amount of competition.

My husband applied for hundreds of jobs - like those ones advertised without any luck for nearly three years.

tatli_lokma · 30-05-2013 12:34pm

rossie08 wrote: »

Apologies that snap shot was taken a couple of weeks ago here is the current listing from that site

http://www.irishjobs.ie/ShowResults.aspx?Keywords=Facilities+Manager&Location=&Category=&Recruiter=Company&Recruiter=Agency

Most of the jobs in that listing are not facilities management jobs. Of those that are, most of them are with recruitment agencies and furthermore most of them ar duplicates of the same job.

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 12:37pm

http://jobs.fm-world.co.uk/

tatli_lokma · 30-05-2013 12:43pm

rossie08 wrote: »

http://jobs.fm-world.co.uk/

all UK jobs!!!

and a total of 150 on the whole site - not exactly 175 a day!

rossie08, I appreciate the message you are giving, that FM might be a new career path for construction workers, but the extent of the work available is way off the mark for one. And secondly, consider that a lot of construction workers went straight into apprenticeships/trades straight out of school - some without finishing secondary. None of these workers will be able to get a job in FM. A prior experience in construction is of course a benefit, but just having been a construction worker does not mean you would be a suitable FM candidate.

Fair enough, make the suggestion but no need to give people false hope or misinformation either.

rossie08 · 30-05-2013 1:21pm

For starters I never said 175 new jobs a day I said up to 175 jobs listed on any given day. The UK is better than Canada or Australia. As regards construction background as a prequalification to FM. Yes it is with the right qualifications or experience. FAS will co fund courses and I personally know of 5 people who were either plumbers, electricians or project managers who applied for courses in FM put it on their CV and walked into fm roles. So please don't shoot the messinger. If there is no attempt to upskill or utilise experience to move into a career then most of us wouldn't be in our jobs today. I just want people that feel they have to emigrate or are looking at long term unemployment to see the potential options available to them.

westies4ever · 30-05-2013 2:18pm

rossie08 wrote: »

For starters I never said 175 new jobs a day I said up to 175 jobs listed on any given day. The UK is better than Canada or Australia. As regards construction background as a prequalification to FM. Yes it is with the right qualifications or experience. FAS will co fund courses and I personally know of 5 people who were either plumbers, electricians or project managers who applied for courses in FM put it on their CV and walked into fm roles. So please don't shoot the messinger. If there is no attempt to upskill or utilise experience to move into a career then most of us wouldn't be in our jobs today. I just want people that feel they have to emigrate or are looking at long term unemployment to see the potential options available to them.

Rossie08 I appreciate what you're saying but I cant agree that people are walking into FM roles simply by putting FM courses on their CV. My husbands experience was very very different. And a lot of recruiters told him they were inundated with cv's and applications from ex construction workers.

While he has had a positive outcome a lot was down to luck and being in the right place at the right time. It took 3 years as well.

While he had completed the Facilities Diploma and had that on his cv, the FM companies didnt want to know as he had no FM experience - Aramark, Mitie, Acacia, Acumen, etc etc. Its not as easy as completing a FM course and then just walking into a job. You shouldnt get peoples hopes up.

Facilities Management

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