There is a place for you in property, facilities management and health and safety

I say this because my own career began in the field of hotel service. At the time, I could not imagine that I would become Head of Commercial & Residential Properties in London. Over more than 18 years, I have been through hospitality, building management, building operations, and property management.

Today I want to help more women, particularly those beginning their careers, to see the possibilities of these two industries and to feel encouraged to take that first step.

Your starting point can become your strength

When you are considering a career change or seeking your first opportunity, it can be easy to focus on the experience you lack. I would encourage you, first of all, to recognize the experience that you have.

Hospitality taught me how to listen, understand expectations, organize conflicting priorities and remain calm when something went wrong. It made me realize how much people depend on constant service and clear communication.

These lessons were valuable in building management. A tenant reporting a problem wants to be heard, a contractor wants clear instructions, an owner wants someone to take responsibility and follow through.

If you have worked in customer service, in the administration, in a shop or in another people-facing job, you may have developed relevant skills. Your background deserves to be taken into consideration when you look for a new opportunity.

Discover the people behind the buildings

Think about the buildings you use every day, your place of work, your home, a hotel, boarding-school, or shopping centre.

Have you ever thought about who keeps their services going? Who plans repairs, organizes alterations, supervises the workmen and sees that problems are taken care of?

Behind these daily experiences are the property and facilities managers. Health and safety professionals help organizations understand the risks and protect people.

There are different ways to contribute in the work. You may like to investigate technical problems, manage projects, handle budgets or build relationships. You are perhaps interested in working environment, gender, compliance or leadership.

My role brings a few of these things together. I work with people, buildings, finances, and improvement projects, sometimes all in one day.

For a woman who enjoys variety and wants to see the practical results of her work, there is much to explore.

You can learn the technical side

An unfamiliar industry can be daunting, especially when it involves equipment, rules and abbreviations that are new to you.

I understand why someone might wonder whether they know enough to belong. My encouragement is to give yourself permission to learn.

Knowledge of technology develops through study, experience and discussions with knowledgeable people. You ask an engineer to explain a fault, learn how a building system works, and slowly combine what you learn with what you see on site.

It is not necessary to pretend to know everything. The habit of preparation, of curiosity and of a willingness to pursue knowledge are valuable in any calling.

Each new understanding lays a firmer foundation for the next.

Your work can make a difference

One of the most rewarding aspects of this industry is knowing that the decisions you make affect the daily lives of people.

Resolving a recurring malfunction makes the workplace more comfortable. - The timely repair can prevent damage. Listening carefully to the question may bring attention to a need.

Health and safety gives this responsibility particular importance. It involves looking at how work is carried out, who might be affected, and what needs to be improved.

For women who seek a career with a purpose, this kind of responsibility is in itself motivating. You can see the connection between your actions and the experience of the people who use a building.

Confidence can grow with you may look at someone in a leadership position and assume that he has always felt confident. What you see today does not usually show all the questions, difficult decisions, and learning experiences behind this confidence.

My own development has consisted of accepting new responsibilities, asking for advice and learning. My academic background has helped me to build up my knowledge and to reflect on the way I lead.

Becoming a chartered manager and chartered member of the Institute were meaningful milestones. They represented learning and commitment acquired over time.

You do not need to have every degree before looking around. First, find out which roles interest you and what skills they require.

Trust can grow when one gains experience, receives feedback and becomes aware of progress. Allow yourself to be a beginner.

Find people who support your progress

Having someone to talk to can make a difference when considering your future.

A mentor can help you understand a role, recognise transferable skills or think through your next step. He or she can also give you a more realistic picture of working life, and how they tackle challenges.

Alongside my professional responsibilities, I volunteer to coach young women. I enjoy helping them to find their strengths, explore their options and develop goals that feel meaningful to them.

You don’t need to have a perfect question before you approach someone. You can begin by saying, “I’m interested in your work. Could you tell me how you got started?”

This conversation may lead you to discover an opportunity, a useful resource, et cetera.

Give yourself permission to be ambitious

If you are interested in progress, you may explore what that could look like.

You may want to become a technical specialist, manage a building, lead a team or take on a portfolio. Your ambitions may change as you gain experience.

Being nominated for the Women in Safety and Health award was a proud moment for me. It prompted me to reflect on my journey and increased my desire to support others.

I want more women to feel free to make use of opportunities, share their achievements and contribute their ideas.

Your ambition does not have to look like that of others. What matters is to find something you are interested in and to take practical steps towards the future you desire.

Visit a job exhibition, look at the job description for property or facility management, ask about work experience, contact a professional body, contact someone whose career interests you...

It may lead you to discover a role you’ve never heard of, or to the realization that your existing skills can take you further than you expected.

My journey began with a host. Yours may begin somewhere entirely different.

There is room for women with different backgrounds, perspectives, and ambitions in property, in building and security. I hope you will give yourself the opportunity to discover where you could fit in.

Agnes Bak CMgr CIWFM, Property and Operations Manager, Square APE Ltd