Thanks to rapid economic and regulatory changes, the facilities management industry is growing rapidly. That’s great news for existing facility managers as much as brand new ones. After all, in a time when facilities management is more important than ever before, your company may be more willing to invest in your growth as an employee.
More to the point, facility managers should push for continuing education opportunities with their companies. These opportunities will make them more valuable as professionals and open doors that would have been unavailable otherwise.
Still on the fence about whether or not to go back to school? Here are three reasons to invest in facility management courses.
1. Find Your Career Path
One of the major benefits of facility management courses is that they allow you to figure out your career path, especially as a newcomer to the field who’s just getting started.
Career paths in facilities management are many and diverse, including:
- Environment, health and safety (EHS)
- Facility cleaning
- Hardware management and maintenance
- Space management and mitigation
- Transportation
- Fire safety
- Security services
- Operations
- Business continuity
A career optimizing transportation is a whole different animal from an EHS career. The trick, of course, is knowing where your interests lie. Taking a course is a good way to get a feel for your options while also working toward marketable skills.
2. Work Toward a Degree or Certification
In the meantime, you can also work toward a degree or certification, which is perhaps the most marketable skill-set of all.
Several universities from the State University of New York to the University of California Irvine to the University of Kansas offer online courses as part of their degree and certificate programs for students. Now is the time to get a degree, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that the demand for facilities managers and administrative services managers will grow 7% by 2028, faster than average.
The trick, of course, is that we no longer live in a time when you could simply get a promotion by knowing your facility like the back of your hand. Facilities management has evolved, and you need to have a degree that shows you’re qualified for the job. What better way to start than by taking a course that interests you?
3. Investing in Your Assets
Your facilities are part of your assets, and if you want to use your assets effectively, you’ll need the right tools for the job. That means more than just an asset management system – it means having the training necessary to leverage your software systems and data effectively.
In many ways, an investment in facility management courses is also an investment in your assets. After all, you’re gaining the skills necessary to transform your assets for your business.
This means that facilities management courses are also a great way to bridge your knowledge gaps to strengthen your overall program. If you know there’s an area where you lag, taking a few courses can help bring your skills up to speed.
Starting Facility Management Courses?
If you’re starting facility management courses, now is the time to expand your knowledge. We’re here to supplement your learning with simple, to-the-point advice that you can leverage in your position every single day.
If you’re looking for more learning opportunities, make sure to check out our blog for more great posts.