Are you a peace maker at heart? Can you not stand it when people you know aren’t getting along? Is it a natural ability of yours to mediate an argument in order to keep the peace? Do your friends and family say that you are always fair to a fault and that you can look at both sides without any bias? If these questions seem to be describing you then maybe a career in conflict resolution will suit you perfectly. In this career path you would be required to look fairly at both sides of an argument and make an informed and fair decision. It is common for individuals who work in conflict resolution to become employed in relation to arbitration, mediation, international peacemaking, diplomatic relations, and the legal world. Each of these areas uses conflict resolution on a daily basis to perform the requirements of their job.
Conflict resolution, which is sometimes called alternative dispute resolution (ADR), encompasses the solving and resolving of conflicts that exist in many work places, legal settings, or community environments. In today’s society, conflicts can be costly to a work place, to a court proceeding, or to other such situations. As an individual who is trained in conflict resolution you would be brought in to settle the dispute or disagreement by negotiating with each party and encouraging a compromise. Often, this will be conducted instead of formal court proceedings. Your success in this career path will largely depend upon you being able to appropriately carry out mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and the building of consensus.
With an appropriate training and educational background in conflict resolution you will be eligible to work in the fields of healthcare administration, international business, school system management, or labor relations. Keep in mind, by furthering your educational degree level beyond an undergraduate degree your job possibilities will increase. One of your possible employment options is to work as an arbitrator. In this capacity you would be allowed to make legally binding decisions if the two involved parties cannot come to an agreement. It is likely that as an arbitrator you would be appointed by the courts, or you may work between a labor union and a specific employer regarding compensation. As an ombudsman you will be considered a neutral party who is employed by a company or a group. You will be working to investigate disputes and to identify the proper changes that would bring about resolution regarding employee complaints. In this position, you will use the techniques of ADR to offer confidential conflict resolution advice to your clients. Your knowledge and skills set will also make it possible for you to seek employment as a conciliator. In this career path you would conduct work similar to that of a mediator. It would be important for you to be an impartial party who works to achieve an agreement that both parties agree upon. However, as a conciliator you will find yourself holding separate meetings with each of the conflicting parties, as opposed to conducting meetings where both parties are present. You could also choose to pursue employment as a mediator. In this profession you would use what you know about business, law, and counseling to settle the disagreement of conflicting parties outside of the courtroom. It will be common for you to be present to guide discussion between the parties in order to come to an agreement that suits both parties. In this career path you can choose to specialize in areas such as family disputes, labor relations, or divorces.