Help Others Resolve Conflicts
Whether they hold the title ‘mediator’, ‘conciliator’, or ‘arbitrator’, it is the job of a conflict resolution and mediation specialist to help individuals resolve disputes outside of court, in a hearing that typically has less formality than a judicial court does. A mediator serves simply as a neutral party, generally only making suggestions, not giving binding orders; in other words, either party can reject the mediator’s suggestions as they deem fit and proper.
When two disagreeing parties agree to mediation, they have decided to resolve their conflict themselves; if they are unable to do so, they then move on to a more formal hearing. The less formal process, however, because it offers a less expensive way to reach an agreement without all the attention taking the feud public brings, is usually more attractive than a long, drawn out, expensive courtroom trial.
As a prospective mediator, you have a broad level of career training options to choose from – from a certificate to a master’s degree. The American Arbitration Association, among other state agencies, offers certification in conflict resolution. You can find training in this field through independent mediation programs, post-secondary schools, and local and national mediation membership organizations.
While earning a degree in conflict resolution and mediation, you will learn the following skills:
- Conflict analysis: stepping outside of a conflict in order to analyze it objectively.
- Negotiation: leading people to compromise, utilizing skills such as questioning, agreement writing, and neutral language.
- Mediation theory: studying and learning the common ethical issues that arise during mediation and conflict resolution (i.e. informed consent, impartiality, and confidentiality).
- Handling cultural diversity: approaching conflict with an understanding of a culturally diverse setting.
You will find that the licensing requirements for each state varies widely – some require arbitrators to have experience in law, while others have no certification programs; check with your state to determine whether or not the degree and training you are looking into will qualify you to work in your state.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has determined that in 2008, mediators, arbitrators, and conciliators earned a median annual salary of $48,840.
Some of the top paying industries in this field include:
- State government ($60,080)
- Medical and surgical hospitals ($66,290)
- Universities ($68,350)
- Legal services ($69,010)
- Federal executive branch ($109,490)
The BLS expects conflict mediators to experience steady job growth of approximately 11% through 2016.
Wed, Jul 7, 2010
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