Looking for a new role in facilities management can be slow and, at times, discouraging. The best roles attract strong competition, and the candidates who succeed are rarely the ones who apply most often. They are the ones who prepare properly and present their experience clearly.
30 Steps to Success in the Facilities Management Recruitment Process sets out all 30 do's and don'ts in the order you will meet them: deciding what you want, preparing your CV and applications, following up, preparing for and handling the interview, and what to do once you know the outcome. It is written for FM, estates and workplace candidates.
Use it as a working checklist. Some steps will feel obvious, but the obvious ones are the steps most often skipped when a search is under pressure.
What's inside
The 30 steps follow the recruitment process stage by stage, ending with a short note on putting them to work.
- Before You Start Looking: Steps 1 to 5: why you should never resign on a verbal offer, how to define what you want, when to start lower down, and how to choose a small number of specialist recruiters.
- Your CV and Applications: Steps 6 to 10: an error-free CV tailored to each role, careful application forms, full contact details, a LinkedIn link and a cover letter, plus a checklist to run before you press send.
- Following Up and Staying Resilient: Steps 11 to 15: polite follow-up before the closing date, checking junk folders and voicemail daily, asking for early feedback, handling rejection and using voluntary work to avoid CV gaps.
- Preparing for Interview: Steps 16 to 20: researching the organisation and your interviewer, showing real interest, planning your route or testing your video link, and dressing the part.
- In the Interview: Steps 21 to 25: managing nerves, structuring examples around situation, task, action and result, talking confidently about your strengths, body language and the questions to ask at the end.
- After the Interview: Steps 26 to 30: prompt thank-you messages, deciding whether the role is right for you, keeping doors open, connecting on LinkedIn and asking for feedback.
- Putting the 30 Steps to Work: Why doing the steps consistently, especially when a search runs long, puts you in a stronger position than most of the candidates you are competing with.
What the data says
Five figures from the guide on today's job market for candidates, each linked to its source.
- 16%: UK applications submitted are up 16% and interviews needed to land a single role are up 18%, Totaljobs found in 2026. Source: Totaljobs Hiring Trends Update, 2026
- 77%: 77% of UK candidates say it's harder to get an interview than a year ago. Source: Totaljobs Hiring Trends Update, 2026
- 66%: Two in three (66%) UK candidates don't hear back beyond an automated acknowledgement when they apply. Source: Totaljobs Hiring Trends Update, 2026
- 12 weeks: The average time to hire in the UK climbed to 12 weeks in spring 2026, up from 10 weeks in autumn 2025. Source: Totaljobs Hiring Trends Update, 2026
- 92%: 92% of the 497 FM vacancies Maxwell Stephens advertised from 2023 to 2026 showed a salary figure, giving candidates pay clarity up front. Source: Maxwell Stephens analysis of 497 advertised vacancies, May 2023 – September 2026
Sources checked in September 2026. Maxwell Stephens figures are drawn from our own published vacancies and placement records.
See it in practice
Head of Facilities for The Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists engaged Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Head of Facilities with operational FM expertise and experience of events and membership organisations. We screened candidates for qualifications, experience and cultural fit, shortlisted against the College's own person specification and ran in-depth behavioural assessments. Shortlisted candidates received thorough interview preparation, including insight into the client's expectations and guidance on presenting their experience and achievements. The appointed Head of Facilities went on to strengthen the College's FM function across premises, sustainability, health and safety and contract management.
It shows the preparation this guide recommends, from understanding the employer to evidencing your achievements, at work in a real senior FM appointment.
Read the full case study or browse all case studies.
Related reading
- Interview Preparation for Facilities Management Candidates
- How to Write the Perfect CV: A Complete Guide to Standing Out
- Why You Should Always Ask for Feedback After an Interview
More from Maxwell Stephens Insights
Our Insights library covers FM hiring, leadership and careers in more depth. Continue with:
- The Facilities Management Interview Guide
- Facilities Management Career Guide
- Facilities Management Salary Guide UK 2026
Browse the full Insights library.
Who this guide is for
Facilities managers, coordinators and assistants, estates and workplace professionals, people moving into FM or into a new area of it, and experienced FM leaders back on the job market who want a disciplined approach to applications and interviews.
Next steps
Browse our current Facilities Management vacancies, upload your CV so a consultant can contact you about suitable roles, or join our mailing list for new vacancies and market updates.