List 5 Reasons to Hire You

How many different architecture firms can you name? How about interior design companies, construction companies, design-build firms, real estate professionals, or building products suppliers? Now, how many of them offer the same services (or products) that you do?

With so many service professionals to choose from, how does a prospect differentiate you from your competition? Give potential clients five reasons to choose you:

1. Identify your niche market - your specialty. You don't have to practice this market exclusively, but you should be able to identify what you're best at.
2. Identify your prospect's needs and fears, and let them know how you will ease their pain.
3. Explain your approach to problem solving.
4. Outline the unique backgrounds and experiences of your employees, focusing on their unique perspective in the building industry, and let prospects know how your employees will be part of the solution.
5. If I gave $5000 to you and three of your competitors, how would your solution to my problem be different?

Crossover Artist

We see it often in the entertainment industry: actor becomes singer; athlete becomes actor; singer becomes producer; producer becomes music industry mogul.

Why do we in the design and building industry feel that once we choose a career, we’re locked into it for life – destined to do the same thing year after year until we retire? Through your college education, on the job training, years of work experience, volunteering and hobbies, you've gained a host of transferrable skills, and most likely, an insight that others may not have. How can another segment of the building industry - or even a completely different industry - benefit from your experience?

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Facility Professionals to Write

1. How did you come to be a facility professional?
2. How do you collaborate with other building industry professionals on a project?
3. What or who inspires you?
4. How do you ensure good customer service?
5. Give advice to your clients to create a smoother relationship.
6. Give advice to other service providers to create a smoother relationship.
7. Write a review of your favorite building or space.
8. Describe the best project you ever worked on.
9. Describe the project you are most proud of.
10. How did your firm or department improve the operation of any particular facility over the last 12 months?
11. Give advice to those entering the facilities profession.
12. Give advice to improve the facilities profession or the building industry as a whole?
13. What trends do you foresee in facility management for the next five or 10 years?
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

Do-it-yourself Career Tactics

I’ve met lots of good people lately. Good, talented, hard-working people who are looking for jobs or consulting opportunities, and some who may have temporarily thrown in the towel.

In the face of lay-offs, downsizing, unemployment and underemployment, a professional has to continue to move forward – and that means setting the wheels in motion to create his or her own career opportunities.

What services do you offer? Tell everyone you know. If they can’t use them at the time, they may know someone who can. (Send me an e-mail at kadavis@buildingsource.net so I know, too.)

Network and keep in contact with positive people, sharing and trading ideas. Yesterday, I had coffee with my friend, interior designer Kiana Doggan-German. Our meeting generated ideas for collaboration, not only between the two of us, but also for the larger building industry community. You’ll hear more about that shortly.

Here are five articles that provide more strategies for opening the opportunity pipeline:

1) You are your best brand advocate

2) Are you communicating your career brand?

3) They tell you you’re over-qualified. Here’s a solution.

4) Tell your network what you need

5) 8 Ways to Stay Marketing-minded During a Recession