Facilities Manager Interview Preparation Guide

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A good hiring manager will always want to know that you are keen on the role and that you have taken time to research the organization, or facility, prior to your interview. Display to the interviewer that you have committed to researching their facility prior to your interview.

This is one of the most commonly asked interview questions, so you’ll need to be able to talk about why you left your last job. When asking this question the interviewer is most likely looking for if you left for a good reason if you left voluntarily, and if you left on good terms.

I am a well-organized individual, who knows exactly how to develop, implement and manage quality programs that support the sustainability and continuous improvement in the management and operations of assigned buildings. In addition to this, I am well-versed in managing established company benchmarks, such as customer satisfaction and utility consumption.

This goes back to researching the company before you have the interview. This also ties directly into the position itself because as Facilities Manager, you are expected to be a leader in the organization. To do your job properly, you must be familiar with every part of the facility you work for and the healthcare industry at large. When researching the hospital, go beyond the mission statement and look for information that you can relate to your passions and experience.

The interviewer would like to know what led you to a career in maintenance. How did you arrive on this career path? Talk to the interviewer about why you chose this career and briefly discuss what keeps you engaged.

I was once assigned a building which was literally in tatters, but the owner still wanted it to be operational for his workers. After much convincing through reports and physical inspections, I was able to persuade him that the building was uninhabitable until a thorough renovation could be performed on it. I believe that this was the biggest challenge that I have come across, because if I hadn’t been able to convince him, it meant harming the people who would eventually work there.

Companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job they are applying for. With that, you should have a good answer as to why you want the job. Hospitals rely on Facilities Managers to keep the workplace safe and functioning, and to solve any problems that inevitably come up to maintain safety for staff and patients. When answering this question you should identify a couple of key factors that makes the position a great fit for you and share what you love about the hospital.

Reveals more about work history.

This one is all about job commitment.

Some people make job hopping a career in of itself, and your answer here can be telling. Here, your interviewer is determining if you are:

☛ someone who sets goals
☛ someone who has a vision
☛ someone who is reliable
☛ someone who demonstrates commitment
☛ someone who is loyal

This is a question where you can showcase your expertise on what is relevant in the industry and the research you've done on the facility. Demonstrate your grasp of the latest environmental codes and standards safety, water, emergency and energy management, and JCAHO requirements. Share your viewpoints on the effectiveness or ROI on different medical devices or energy saving plans, though be sure to be tactful in case it is something the hospital currently uses. Not only does this question give you the opportunity to discuss your ideas, it demonstrates your industry expertise, ongoing education and your ability to plan for realistic goals.

Candidates should describe adopting a methodical, highly organized approach to managing their workload. Look for candidates who keep detailed accounts of all business activities and undertake preemptive action to ensure their needs are always met and that candidates never fall behind with their duties.

This question could be asked in several different forms, such as “What are you looking for in a job” or “Relating to your career, where do you see yourself in 5 years?”. When asking this question, the interviewer is looking for you to connect your personal goals to the company. To answer this question, you should relate your goals to the job features, which will show the research you did before the interview (e.g. reduce patient falls, ensure total connectivity to nurse call system, create a more efficient workspace for nursing staff...etc). If you know what you aren’t looking for in a position or why you are leaving your current job, incorporate that in your answer; just be sure to not talk poorly about your current employer.

Demonstrates technical skills.

Demonstrates time management skills.

While this question is an invitation to do some chest pounding, remember to illustrate strengths that will benefit the employer and are relative to the position. For example:

☛ being a problem solver
☛ being a motivator
☛ being a natural leader
☛ the ability to perform under pressure
☛ a positive attitude
☛ loyalty

Are typically all solid strengths, but again, consider the position. For example, mentioning you are an excellent “team player” in a job where you largely work alone suddenly becomes irrelevant to the employer and demonstrates a genuine lack of self awareness.

Facilities Managers often deal with workers who are unhappy with building services. In such events, candidates need to utilize good listening skills to understand what their concerns are and keep them informed as to the status of maintenance or repairs. Always keeping them informed is critical.

Shows willingness to comply with rules.

An easy question to answer well with one caveat – don’t slam your fellow interviewee’s. On the one hand, you have an opportunity to really stand out from the pack. Alternatively, You shouldn’t assume the skills of other applicants. Focus on your own strengths, and if the interviewer hasn’t given you an opportunity to mention that one “slam dunk” quality about yourself, now would be the time.

Is there a wrong way to answer this question? Consider the responses below:

☛ “I really need a job right now”
☛ “I need the money”
☛ “Your office is really close to my house”
☛ “I’ve always been interested in what you guys do”

On the surface, it may seem that an organization is doing well without the contribution of a facilities manager. In actuality, a facilities manager can streamline a lot of systems within the organization, making business processes smoother and easier to handle.

☛ What areas are within your sphere of responsibility in your current position? How do, you make sure that you know what is happening (problems, changes, etc.)?
☛ How do make sure that your employees are accountable?
☛ What operating systems do you use to monitor and maintain control of your area of accountability?
☛ What do you typically do when you hear of a problem in your area? Explain?
☛ How useful have you found written procedures and guidelines in helping you manage your area?
☛ Do you feel that the chain of command is important? Why? When do you feel it might inhibit organizational effectiveness?
☛ Share an effective method you have used to enforce rules and regulations.

☛ How do you go about developing the people you manage?
☛ How do you help your employees become committed to a job or to the organization?
☛ How do you deal with an “attitude” problem?
☛ How often do you think it is necessary to meet with your employees?
☛ How have you handled “complainers?”
☛ How do you deal with an employee who needs to be disciplined? Explain your strategy.
☛ What sort of employee training do you think is necessary to offer?
☛ How do you handle a, personnel situation, which might have a, potential legal impact?
☛ How do you develop trust and loyalty in your employee?

☛ What do you do to ensure objectivity when you evaluate the work of others?
☛ What sort of performance standards have you held Employees to? Were they written?
☛ How often do you evaluate your employees?
☛ How do you get your employees involved in their own evaluation?
☛ How do you evaluate your department’s overall performance?
☛ When you evaluate someone’s performance verbally, what approach do you take?
☛ How do you plan for performance improvements?
☛ How do you measure performance in your area?
☛ What have you found to be the best way to monitor the performance of your work and/or the work of others? Share a time when you had to take corrective action.

☛ At which point do you find it necessary to bring others into your decision-making process? Why?
☛ Describe your approach to making decisions and solving problems. Why do you do it this way?
☛ When you recommend something to management, what approach do you usually use?
☛ How do you assemble relevant data to make your decisions? How do you know you have enough data?
☛ How much leeway do you give your employees to make decisions? How do you still maintain control?

☛ How can you save energy in a building by the use of Facility Management?
☛ What will you do if a contractor hired for the renovation of facilities is not using proper protection equipment?
☛ How would you make the necessary preparations (with reference to facilities) in case of an upcoming event to be held in your building?

☛ How do you get your employees (or others) to follow you?
☛ How do you use power or authority to get what you want done?
☛ How do you delegate responsibility for an assignment? Who do you choose? What and how do you delegate, and what do you monitor and follow up?
☛ How do you describe your management style?
☛ Please share with me an example of how you helped coach or mentor someone. What improvements did you see in the person's knowledge or skills?
☛ Provide an example of a time when you successfully organized a diverse group of people to accomplish a task.
☛ Provide an example of a time when you were able to demonstrate excellent listening skills. What was the situation and outcome?
☛ In your experience, what is the key to developing a good team? (Look for how they build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.)