If you’re struggling to fill facilities management jobs or hire qualified facilities managers, the problem may not be the talent pool – it could be your facilities management hiring process. Specifically, your reliance on resume filters.
Automated filters were designed to save time, but in practice, they often screen out the very candidates who could transform your FM operation. In a sector where technical knowledge, certifications, and leadership skills intersect, overly rigid filtering systems create blind spots that hiring managers can’t afford.
why Resume Filters Fail in Facilities Management Hiring
Facilities Management talent comes from diverse career paths – engineering, construction, military service, healthcare, higher education and corporate real estate. That diversity means candidates describe their experience differently. But filters rely on exact keyword matches.
Consider this:
- One candidate lists “CFM,” another writes “Certified Facility Manager.”
- Some use “HVAC systems,” others “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.”
- Sustainability experience could appear as “energy efficiency projects,” “green building,” or “ESG initiatives.”
These are all highly relevant facilities manager skills, but unless the resume wording aligns perfectly with your filter settings, those applications never reach your desk.
A Harvard Business School/Accenture report found that 88% of employers admit qualified candidates are rejected by automated filters simply because resumes don’t contain the “right” keywords. In FM, where terminology varies so widely, this issue is amplified.
The FM Skills Resume Filters Overlook
By letting filters dictate your talent pipeline, you risk losing:
- Transferable skills: Military veterans may not use commercial FM terminology but bring world-class leadership and operational expertise.
- Cross-sector expertise: Professionals from healthcare, education, or manufacturing often bring fresh approaches, but resume filters push them out.
- Credentialed talent: Candidates working toward CFM, FMP, SFP, or LEED certifications may fall through the cracks if acronyms aren’t listed exactly.
- Soft skills: Communication, vendor management, and crisis response rarely show up in keyword scans but are essential for effective facilities management.
In short: filters hire for words, not capabilities.
How Bad Hiring Processes Hurt Facilities Management Teams
Leaving roles unfilled (or filled with the wrong candidates) has real consequences in FM:
- Preventive maintenance schedules slip, creating operational risk.
- Energy-efficiency and ESG projects stall, costing money and reputation.
- OSHA or local compliance deadlines are missed, risking penalties.
- Tenant and employee satisfaction drops when facilities underperform.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 36,000 FM openings each year over the next decade. Competition for FM talent will only intensify—missing out on qualified candidates is no longer an option.
a smarter facilities management hiring strategy
Facilities Management hiring requires nuance and sector knowledge. At Boden Talent, we go beyond keyword searches to understand your role’s scope and each candidate’s full capabilities.
Instead of relying on software that misses the difference between FMP and Facility Management Professional, we assess:
- Technical expertise: BOMA standards, OSHA compliance, MEP, HVAC.
- Certifications and qualifications: CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED, OSHA 30.
- Operational experience: Budgeting, vendor management, capital projects.
- Leadership and cultural fit for your organization.
That means you don’t miss the hidden gems – the FM professionals who may not “check every keyword box” but have the skills and mindset to excel.
Don’t Let Resume Filters Decide Your Future
The FM talent market is competitive, and the cost of missed opportunities is high. If you’re still relying on outdated resume filters, you’re almost certainly overlooking the very professionals who could keep your facilities—and your business—running at their best.
Looking to hire facilities managers?
Register your vacancy with Boden Talent today. As the U.S. specialist facilities management recruitment agency, we’ll help you bypass the filters, cut through the noise, and secure FM professionals who deliver real impact.