What You'll Do

  • Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
  • Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
  • Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation.
  • Prepare settlement agreements for disputants to sign.
  • Organize or deliver public presentations about mediation to organizations, such as community agencies or schools.
  • Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.
  • Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.
  • Evaluate information from documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
  • Interview claimants, agents, or witnesses to obtain information about disputed issues.
  • Research laws, regulations, policies, or precedent decisions to prepare for hearings.

Essential Skills

Negotiation 4.62/5
Active Listening 4.38/5
Writing 4.25/5
Reading Comprehension 4.12/5
Speaking 4.12/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Active Learning 3.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Persuasion 3.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Coordination 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Integrity, Independence, Analytical Thinking, Dependability, Attention to Detail

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.25/5
Written Expression 4.25/5
Oral Comprehension 4.12/5
Oral Expression 4.12/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Speech Clarity 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Enterprise resource planning ERP software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word Oracle PeopleSoft Salesforce software SAP software Scheduling software Web browser software Word processing software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 4.89/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.74/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.7/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.55/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Adjudicator Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator) Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator (ADR Mediator) Arbiter Arbitration Manager Arbitration Specialist Arbitrator Community Relations Representative (Community Relations Rep) Conciliator Contracts Negotiator Debt Settlement Negotiator Dispute Coordinator Divorce Mediator Environmental Conflict Manager Family Mediator Federal Mediator Labor Arbitrator Labor Mediator Legal Mediator Long Term Care Ombudsman Mediation Commissioner Mediator Ombudsman Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Program Officer Public Employment Mediator Resolution Coordinator