When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one
and you reach that deep well where passion lives,
nothing is impossible.
Author Unknown
There are important questions I sometimes receive from potential students who want to enter mediation as a career. Students may ask, “Can I make a living?” “Are there jobs out there for mediators?” “Do you know of companies hiring mediators?” “How long will it take me to make a living?” I have learned to answer these questions mindfully and dutifully, knowing some of these inquiries come from people who may be out of work and struggling to make a living. I begin by letting them know that training, no matter how comprehensive, is never a guarantee of job placement or career success. Indeed, the skills that make someone a great mediator may not translate to the often tedious and intimidating work of building a business. So, I tell all potential students the usual platitude about not quitting their day job. I also caution that, realistically, it may take 3-5 years to build a mediation practice that is sustainable.
There are certain students who come with a decided advantage: attorneys, mental health professionals, business consultants, paralegals, realtors, HR professionals, and life or executive coaches. This is because they can easily add mediation and conflict coaching to the list of services they already provide in their businesses. Others may have an advantage of being well connected to a niche market they can tap quickly for referrals. One particularly successful graduate of our Mediation Certificate Courses used his former job in banking as an entrée into mortgage mediation for local community banks. Another student was able to use his construction contacts to move more rapidly into construction mediation and arbitration practice.
It is important to separate the rapid growth of the mediation field from the ability of individuals to make a living in it. And, so I have compiled a list for those considering mediation and conflict resolution as a career.
- Are you passionate about making a living at conflict resolution? Do not underestimate the importance of passion for one’s work. Sometimes, this is all that will sustain you during the tough times of building a new business.
- What is your EQ (entrepreneurial quotient)? What entrepreneurial skills do you currently have? Do you know how to create a business plan? Do you know how to create a budget? Do you know how much money you need to make before you can go full time in this new profession?
- If your answer to number 2 is (not much), do not be dismayed. YOU CAN LEARN THESE SKILLS. Mediators without Borders recommends students embarking on a career in conflict resolution dedicate themselves to the study of entrepreneurship with the same rigor they give to their mediation studies. At Mediators without Borders, we suggest students purchase a sound business book such as The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber.
- Do not quit your day job! Seriously, a leap of faith is a wonderful act but sometimes is helps to have a parachute as back up. This is where business planning is critical. You will need to calculate the timing of this new venture so it does not adversely affect you or your family.If you are adding this to your practice, plan for the big announcement to your clients, current and past. Start talking about it with everyone you know. You never know when one person may be asked, “Do you know a mediator?” and bingo, your name is right there. In marketing, this is referred to as TOMA, top of the mind awareness. Make sure everyone knows you are now a mediation professional.
- Network, network, network. Again, put this in your business plan and be sure you have an action strategy. For instance, you may plan to take one person to lunch each week as part of your outreach. Add clubs, forums, and social networking to the mix. Make a list of everyone you know and everyone they know. Start arranging it in order of influence (their ability to bring you work). And, have fun with these people. If you don’t make networking fun, you will not do it.
- Find a niche market and develop a plan to penetrate that market. Consider adding a specialty course to your Mediation Certificate Course. Mediators without Borders offers advanced training in our 40 hour Divorce and Parenting Mediation Certificate Course, Health and Eldercare Mediation Certificate Course, Workplace Mediation Certificate Course, Construction Mediation Certificate Course, Arbitration Certificate Course, and Restorative Justice Certificate Course. With the rapidly aging boomer generation, Health and Eldercare Mediation is looking to be a sure growth niche market and it has a lot of overlap with family mediation skills learned in our 40 hour Divorce mediation certificate course.
- JOIN Mediators without Borders professional society and stay connected with others in your profession. Member benefits include:
- Access to Professional Liability Insurance
- Discounts on courses and training programs
- Networking with Colleagues
- Live Teleconference case studies
- Access to Archived Role Play Practice Session
- Online Consultation discount services
- Consider opening an MwB clinic with others. There is nothing like a support system to help out with all that goes into forming or expanding a business. You may decide to join with someone who is in a different niche market and willing to split the costs and efforts involved in this new venture. See information on opening a clinic.
- Consider adding the MwB Internship to your program to gain necessary clinical hours, consultation, and networking with other students looking to build their practice. MwB created this internship after hearing from past students who were struggling to find clinical experience and consultation after completing their studies. More information on our internship.
