The future’s so bright
U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of best careers is out. And … drum roll please … mediator is included for the first time. You’ll find it under the headers, Best Careers for a Changing Job Landscape and 31 Careers With Bright Futures.
One factor leading U.S. News to give mediator the nod this year is its resistance to offshoring. It makes sense. We can’t very well have all of our conflict resolution occurring across the vast oceans or continents.
Each career listed comes with a day-in-the-life feature, and an executive summary. Considering what I’ve learned thus far from experienced pros, I’d say these pieces are pretty on point.
The pros noted are that
- Mediators can provide a better alternative to hiring a lawyer when conflict is unresolved, as mediators “can often help resolve a dispute less expensively and with less conflict…”
- “Most mediators love their work, helping people beat their swords into plowshares.”
And the cons…
- Mediators outnumber mediation jobs.
- Low barriers to entering the field (just a 40 hour training) continue the overpopulation.
- Overpopulation of the field means “most mediators do not earn a middle-class income for one to five years.”
This matches well the message in Jeffrey Krivis’ and Naomi Lucks’ recently published, “How to Make Money as a Mediator (And Create Value for Everyone).” Chapter one can be summed up thusly: If you love mediation, if you live for it, if you work very hard every day to build up your skills and connections, you have a chance at putting food on the table doing something you love. Otherwise, pursue something that will better suit you.
So. Do you fit Krivis’ and Lucks’ profile of the top tier mediators?
- Do you love mediating? Are you good at it?
- Do you inspire trust? Are you likeable?
- Have you cultivated relationships with referral sources, or will you be able to?
- Are you ready to work hard? (Long days, late nights, and less time with family and friends.)
If you’ve answered yes to all of the above, you might have a good chance at what’s being reported as one of the top careers with a bright future in the U.S.
If not, I hope you won’t despair. I believe the skills trained mediators possess are vital to our local, national and global communities. The more I learn about conflict, the more I see how people trained in conflict resolution are desperately needed in our offices, stores, schools, government bodies, busy streets, families and friendships. Even if it’s not your bread and butter, you can take heart in knowing that you’re part of a movement.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
[…] like to share a few of her words as a contrast to my recent post, The future’s so bright. Why does the Superior Court pay every judge, secretary, clerk, and janitor, yet refuses to pay the […]
March 5th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Some scientific studies suggest that a loving relationship, physical touch and sex can bring health benefits such as lower blood pressure.