Top 12 Building Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the competitive field of building management, showcasing a robust set of skills on your resume can significantly enhance your marketability to potential employers. This article provides a curated list of the top 12 skills that are crucial for building managers, helping you stand out and signal that you can actually run the place—safely, efficiently, and without chaos.

Building Manager Skills

1. AutoCAD
2. BIM (Building Information Modeling)
3. HVAC Systems
4. Yardi Voyager
5. Energy Management
6. Fire Safety
7. Plumbing Systems
8. Electrical Systems
9. Project Management
10. Budgeting
11. Negotiation
12. Risk Management

1. AutoCAD

AutoCAD is computer-aided design software for creating precise 2D and 3D drawings and models—vital for planning layouts, documenting changes, and coordinating maintenance or capital projects.

Why It's Important

AutoCAD helps Building Managers plan with precision, coordinate trades, and maintain accurate as-builts. Better drawings mean fewer surprises, cleaner compliance, and faster decisions.

How to Improve AutoCAD Skills

Level up without spinning your wheels:

1. Refresh fundamentals: Short, regular practice on layers, xrefs, blocks, and plotting beats long, sporadic sessions.

2. Use templates and standards: Title blocks, annotation styles, layer naming, and sheet sets—lock them down so every plan looks consistent.

3. Lean on AutoCAD Architecture: Purpose-built tools for building elements speed up drafting and reduce errors.

4. Automate the boring: Learn basic AutoLISP or scripts for repetitive tasks (batch renaming layers, inserting standard blocks, plotting sets).

5. Collaborate in the cloud: Use Autodesk Construction Cloud (including BIM 360) for sharing, version control, and markups across teams.

6. Stay current: Keep an eye on new features and update cycles; small tweaks often save big time.

How to Display AutoCAD Skills on Your Resume

2. BIM (Building Information Modeling)

BIM is a rich digital model that captures a building’s physical and functional traits across its lifecycle. It becomes a living source of truth—from design to operations.

Why It's Important

BIM sharpens decision-making, improves coordination, reduces clashes, and anchors preventive maintenance. Fewer blind spots. Better timing. Lower costs.

How to Improve BIM (Building Information Modeling) Skills

1. Keep learning: Train on core tools (Revit, Navisworks) and workflows; practice beats theory.

2. Adopt standards: Align with ISO 19650 and set naming, file, and data conventions. Consistency is gold.

3. Use a common data environment: Centralize models and documentation in Autodesk Construction Cloud or similar for control and traceability.

4. Tighten data management: Clean parameters, structured asset data, clear model ownership—so facilities teams can actually use it later.

5. Extend to FM: Connect BIM to IWMS/CMMS tools (e.g., ARCHIBUS, Planon) for maintenance, space, and asset workflows.

6. Create feedback loops: Capture lessons from operations and feed them back into models and standards.

How to Display BIM (Building Information Modeling) Skills on Your Resume

3. HVAC Systems

HVAC—heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—keeps temperature, airflow, and air quality in check. Comfort and health ride on it.

Why It's Important

HVAC drives occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and utility costs. It’s the heart of the building’s day-to-day experience.

How to Improve HVAC Systems Skills

1. Schedule proactive maintenance: Base routines on manufacturer guidance and ASHRAE principles; log everything.

2. Upgrade for efficiency: High-efficiency equipment, VFDs, and ECM motors pay back. Verify with commissioning.

3. Smart controls: Use networked thermostats and analytics to tune schedules, setpoints, and setbacks.

4. Tighten the envelope: Better insulation, air sealing, and door sweeps reduce load and cycling.

5. Improve IAQ: Right-size ventilation, use appropriate MERV filters, and monitor CO₂/PM where relevant.

6. Zone intelligently: Zoning and demand control ventilation curb waste and soothe hot/cold complaints.

7. Explore renewables: Pair with solar, heat pumps, or energy recovery where feasible.

How to Display HVAC Systems Skills on Your Resume

4. Yardi Voyager

Yardi Voyager is a web-based platform for property management and accounting across residential, commercial, and mixed portfolios—leases, tenants, maintenance, budgets, reporting, all stitched together.

Why It's Important

It centralizes operations, trims manual work, and surfaces insights. One system, fewer gaps.

How to Improve Yardi Voyager Skills

1. Master the core: General ledger, payables/receivables, work orders, and leasing flows—get fluent.

2. Customize dashboards: Pin critical KPIs and reports to shorten decision time.

3. Automate workflows: Use rules, notifications, and approvals for renewals, rent escalations, and maintenance triage.

4. Integrate modules: Add PAYscan, Maintenance, Energy, RentCafe, and Asset Management to close data loops.

5. Stay updated: Keep current with releases and training; check Client Central and user groups for tips.

6. Standardize data entry: Naming, coding, and categories—enforce them to keep reports clean.

How to Display Yardi Voyager Skills on Your Resume

5. Energy Management

Energy management means tracking, controlling, and reducing consumption to cut costs and emissions—without sacrificing comfort or safety.

Why It's Important

It lowers operating expenses, supports sustainability goals, meets codes, and makes the building more resilient to price swings.

How to Improve Energy Management Skills

1. Benchmark first: Use Portfolio Manager or similar to compare performance and set targets.

2. Lighting upgrades: LEDs, controls, and daylighting strategies slash loads quickly.

3. HVAC optimization: Tune setpoints, sequences, economizers, and schedules; recommission regularly.

4. Smart controls and submetering: Install a BMS/BEMS and meters by end use; analyze, then act.

5. Renewables and storage: Solar, heat pumps, and batteries where viable; line up incentives before buying.

6. Engage occupants: Simple behaviors—lights off, blinds use, equipment shutdowns—compound savings.

7. Maintain relentlessly: Dirty coils and clogged filters burn money; keep equipment in spec.

How to Display Energy Management Skills on Your Resume

6. Fire Safety

Fire safety spans prevention, detection, suppression, and evacuation—aligned with codes and drilled into habit.

Why It's Important

Lives come first. Then property. Strong fire programs reduce risk, downtime, and liability.

How to Improve Fire Safety Skills

1. Inspect routinely: Walk routes, check signage, doors, extinguishers, alarms, sprinklers. Document and fix fast.

2. Maintain systems: Test alarms, strobes, pumps, valves, and emergency lighting per code (NFPA/IFC/local).

3. Update the plan: Keep a site-specific fire and evacuation plan current, accessible, and practiced.

4. Train everyone: Drills, extinguisher basics, roles for wardens and floor captains—make it muscle memory.

5. Protect egress: Exits clear, doors operable, hardware functional. No excuses.

6. Stay compliant: Track code updates and inspections with the authority having jurisdiction; close deficiencies quickly.

7. Communicate: PA systems and mass notification must be reliable and understood by occupants.

How to Display Fire Safety Skills on Your Resume

7. Plumbing Systems

Plumbing covers potable water, hot water, wastewater, and storm lines—moving clean water in and dirty water out without drama.

Why It's Important

It safeguards health, prevents damage, and keeps operations smooth. One hidden leak can spiral into structural headaches.

How to Improve Plumbing Systems Skills

1. Preventive inspections: Look for corrosion, mineral buildup, unstable supports, and failing seals. Fix small, avoid big.

2. Modernize fixtures: Low-flow, high-performance fixtures reduce use while maintaining comfort.

3. Control pressure: Verify safe ranges; install or tune pressure-reducing valves where needed.

4. Leak detection: Use sensors in risk areas (mechanical rooms, risers, kitchens) and shutoff valves for critical spaces.

5. Water quality: Treat for hardness and corrosion; keep heaters descaled and anodes in check.

6. Compliance tasks: Backflow tests, temperature checks for Legionella control, and proper labeling—on schedule.

How to Display Plumbing Systems Skills on Your Resume

8. Electrical Systems

Electrical systems deliver, protect, and control power—service entrance, panels, wiring, lighting, generators, and safety devices all working in concert.

Why It's Important

Reliable power underpins everything: life safety, IT, comfort, and productivity. Mistakes here can be costly—or dangerous.

How to Improve Electrical Systems Skills

1. Audit usage: Identify baseloads and peaks; target outliers and idle loads.

2. Upgrade lighting: LEDs plus occupancy/daylight controls for quick, durable savings.

3. Right-size equipment: Replace inefficient motors and appliances with high-efficiency models; verify via nameplate and metering.

4. Tune HVAC electrically: VFDs, power factor correction where sensible, and clean electrical connections to reduce losses.

5. Maintain to code: Follow NFPA 70 (NEC) and NFPA 70B for maintenance; thermal scans catch hot spots early.

6. Enhance protection: Test GFCI/AFCI where required; label panels and circuits cleanly; maintain clearances.

7. Consider on-site generation: Solar, CHP, or standby generators improve resilience and may cut costs.

8. Monitor continuously: A BMS/BEMS with submeters pinpoints waste and verifies savings.

How to Display Electrical Systems Skills on Your Resume

9. Project Management

Project management for Building Managers means scoping, planning, coordinating, and closing projects—on schedule, on budget, and on spec.

Why It's Important

It safeguards value, minimizes disruptions, and keeps stakeholders aligned. Predictability beats firefighting.

How to Improve Project Management Skills

1. Use a system: Task boards or full PM suites—Trello, Asana, or enterprise tools—just pick one and standardize.

2. Work iteratively: Short sprints, visible priorities, and regular check-ins keep momentum and expose risks early.

3. Clarify scope: Define deliverables, acceptance criteria, and change control before kickoff.

4. Communicate clearly: Cadence meetings, concise updates, and a single source of truth for documents.

5. Manage risk actively: Log risks, assign owners, track mitigations; review weekly.

6. Mind the money: Forecast by phase, track committed vs. actuals, and reconcile monthly. Tools like QuickBooks or ERP modules help.

7. Close properly: Punch lists, O&M manuals, training, and warranty logs—finish strong.

How to Display Project Management Skills on Your Resume

10. Budgeting

Budgeting builds a forward-looking plan for operating and capital spend—repairs, preventive maintenance, utilities, upgrades, and reserves.

Why It's Important

It directs dollars to what matters, avoids nasty surprises, and supports long-term asset health.

How to Improve Budgeting Skills

1. Map your baseline: Categorize historical costs (utilities, staffing, service contracts, repairs, capital) and spot trendlines.

2. Adopt software: Property and facilities platforms (Buildium, AppFolio, or your PM system) keep forecasts and actuals tight.

3. Chase efficiency: Fund energy and water projects with clear paybacks; measure savings, not just intentions.

4. Negotiate smartly: Bid contracts regularly, bundle services where logical, and lock in pricing where risk is high.

5. Plan maintenance: Shift from reactive to preventive and predictive; fewer emergencies, steadier spend.

6. Review quarterly: Reforecast with fresh actuals and adjust priorities as conditions change.

How to Display Budgeting Skills on Your Resume

11. Negotiation

Negotiation is the art of aligning interests—vendors, tenants, contractors—so agreements stick and value doesn’t leak.

Why It's Important

It trims costs, prevents disputes, and builds long-term relationships. Calm, fair, firm beats brinkmanship.

How to Improve Negotiation Skills

1. Prepare deeply: Know your must-haves, walk-away point, and alternatives. Do the homework.

2. Build rapport: People deal with people; respect and empathy open doors.

3. Listen hard: Surface the other side’s constraints and priorities; hidden levers often live there.

4. Be clear and assertive: State needs plainly, avoid fluff, document agreements.

5. Aim for win-win: Expand the pie—term length, service levels, payment schedules—then divide sensibly.

6. Use concessions wisely: Trade, don’t give; get something for something.

7. Walk if needed: A weak deal today becomes a headache tomorrow.

How to Display Negotiation Skills on Your Resume

12. Risk Management

Risk management means spotting threats early, sizing them up, and putting controls in place—so the building stays safe, compliant, and operational.

Why It's Important

It protects people, assets, and cash flow. When risks are managed, surprises get smaller and downtime shrinks.

How to Improve Risk Management Skills

1. Identify systematically: Structural issues, fire hazards, water ingress, security gaps, cyber exposure—list and categorize.

2. Analyze impact: Rate likelihood and consequence; prioritize what can hurt most.

3. Mitigate smartly: Preventive maintenance, system upgrades, redundancies, and policy updates reduce exposure.

4. Monitor and review: Keep a living risk register; audit controls and update quarterly.

5. Train the team: Safety, incident response, and reporting protocols—practice until it’s reflex.

6. Insure appropriately: Match coverage and deductibles to your risk profile; revisit annually.

7. Plan for emergencies: Build and test emergency action and business continuity plans—communications, roles, and recovery steps.

How to Display Risk Management Skills on Your Resume