Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (AFPE): Field report by participant Roxanne Sherilynn Forster - I found my way into facility management via the hotel industry/service sector

Tell us about yourself and your professional career to date.

My name is Roxanne Sherilynn Forster. I originally come from the hotel industry. I got my start through a service apprenticeship. I continued my commercial training by studying business administration. I then moved into facility management in the reception area and was later able to switch to the customer mandate. I first worked in office support there and was later promoted to property manager. I was then increasingly involved in facility management. That's why I decided to do continuing education, further training to become Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (AFPE).

Which course did you complete at the Lenzburg training center?

I completed my continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE)) at the Weiterbildungszentrum Lenzburg.

Why did you decide to do the continuing education, further training to become Head of Facility Management and Maintenance?

After studying business administration, I got a varied job in the office area with our customer. However, I lacked the knowledge of facility management. I was able to obtain quotes and call on specialists, but the technical background was not clear to me and therefore the correct description of the problem and the right action was not always clear. That's why I decided to do continuing education, further training to become a Facility Management and Maintenance Manager (AFPE), so that I could acquire the background knowledge in this area.

Why did you choose the wbz Lenzburg for continuing education, further training as a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance?

I attended the information event at wbz Lenzburg for continuing education, further training as a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance. I felt well looked after right from the start. We not only talked about the structure of the continuing education, further training, but also had a longer part with Fabian Schaller and the course director Frank Hoher. In this part, they answered individual questions. They also talked about their careers and their experiences in previous courses of continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance. This was very personal right from the start. I quickly felt that I was in good hands.

How does what you have learned help you in your professional life?

Since completing my continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance, I understand my technicians, janitors and gardeners and their concerns much better. I also understand the technical terms and the technical background much better. This makes the problems and requests more tangible for me.

What did you like best about continuing education, further training as a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance?

I have very good and positive memories of the lecturers on the continuing education, further training course for Facility Management and Maintenance Managers. At wbz, great value is placed on lecturers who have a very good background and are also active in facility management themselves. This enabled us to learn from many practical examples and the close exchange with other specialists. Everyone was able to contribute and so the continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance was very practical.

Were there any difficult or challenging moments?

There were definitely challenging moments during my continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance. It wasn't always easy being the only woman among fifteen men who, with a few exceptions, came from the janitor or building services sector. As a career changer, it sometimes took me a little longer to understand the technical background. However, the lecturers and the other participants were very helpful in this regard. I was then able to return the favor with the business management subjects as part of the continuing education, further training to become Head of Facility Management and Maintenance.

Have you been able to increase your market value with continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance?

Continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance definitely increased my market value. During my continuing education, further training, I was able to take over the team management of the reception area and support services. It was therefore also an advantage for me to review all the business subjects again. What's more, after continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance, one or two projects have landed on my desk, as I now understand the issues much better.

Have you grown personally?

The "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance" course also helped me grow personally. The challenge of completing the module exams every two to three months meant you always had to stay on the ball. This challenge combined with a one hundred percent job was not easy. You learn to focus on school and still manage everyday life in the business. As a result, you automatically learn to work in a more organized way. I now do more planning and prioritizing in my everyday life. Of course, the contact with theory about things from my everyday life and job has also helped me. The Head of Facility Management and Maintenance continuing education, further training gave me tools to better manage my everyday life.

What did you find particularly useful from the continuing education, further training in Facility Management and Maintenance?

It became exciting for me during my continuing education, further training as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance when the specializations began. The first part of the continuing education, further training includes the module subjects relating to business administration and the last six months are about the specialization subjects such as facility management, building technology, hospitality and real estate management. As I already had contact with these areas in my business before the continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance, it was exciting for me to learn the theory now.
 

When did you like it best in class?

For me, the lessons were most exciting when the lecturer had prepared something and the teaching day took a completely different turn. In our class, the lessons were very lively during the continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance. We were all allowed to get actively involved. As a result, we also came across current topics such as electricity prices or the dependence on raw materials and alternatives in building technology.

To whom would you recommend continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance?

I would recommend this continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance to anyone who is already working in facility management but does not yet have any background knowledge. The field is much more comprehensive than you would expect. Especially if you come from an administrative or business management background. However, continuing education, further training in facility management and maintenance is just as important for trained janitors to learn the business management subjects. The course is so wide-ranging that it also appeals to a broad audience.

What was the atmosphere like during the training?

The atmosphere during the Head of Facility Management and Maintenance training was very good. On our first day, we were immediately asked to form a learning group. That seemed a bit premature at first. Looking back, I can see how much this helped us. It meant that we were very connected with each other throughout the course and were able to exchange ideas about the different jobs. The school's insights into the early formation of this learning group were definitely an advantage for us.

Do you have anything else important to say about the Head of Facility Management and Maintenance continuing, further training?

I would be delighted if more women completed the Head of Facility Management and Maintenance continuing education, further training. Because a woman can do this job just as well as a man. It did give me pause for thought that I was sitting alone as a woman in a class with only men. I was very well received and supported. This made me feel very comfortable in the class. From a female perspective, I would very much welcome a higher proportion of women in the Head of Facility Management and Maintenance continuing education, further training.

Overview of training providers Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (AFPE)