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Our team of Instructors and Coaches are often asked “Now that I have the training, how do I become a Mediator? The content of this article contains the various things we find ourselves sharing with Alumni.
If you are on the path to join the world of ADR and RJ as a practitioner who is making enough money to support themselves, then you are committing to years of building your reputation and holding down other jobs while you gain experience. There are full-time positions for mediators now, which there did not exist when I started. It is not impossible to do this as a full-time living, but unless you already have connections in fields that use mediators, who would bring you on to mediate for them, it will take a few years – and it will be totally worth it if this is your passion. You are entering the field at a time when the “experienced” generation are preparing to retire which may open some opportunities.
- Regarding gaining experience the quick and realistic answer is by simply integrating the skills you learn in the courses into your everyday life. Mediation is not a hat you put on when you are hired to mediate, it is how you show up – your presence. Therefore, being a neutral must become who you are – which might not make any sense yet. We are in the business of trust, and it takes time to earn a reputation in this field. How you break into the field is often through the networks you are already a part of. Most mediators start marketing their skills and credentials within those worlds where they already have a reputation.
- As far an getting opportunities to sit in and observe mediations, you are competing for those opportunities with people who already have mediation credentials. Because mediation is so private it is sometimes difficult to get clients to agree to have an observer. When we mentor mediators, we let the clients know that we believe in mentoring the next generation of mediators and would they agree to have someone else work with us in the room – at no cost to the client. We bring them in as assistants or co-mediators. These opportunities are far and few between and only offered to people we know very well and believe are a right fit with the client and the mediator. Many mediators work hard to keep their client list very private and have no intention of introducing a future mediator to their clients.
That said, ask the staff at the organization where you took your training. They may know of rosters, or volunteer organizations that use a co-mediation model and make the second mediator seat available for mentoring mediators for their roster.
- Become a member of local, national, and international Mediation Associations or Societies and ask them about opportunities to gain experience. ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) have Affiliates that represent every Province and Territory in Canada. They were established to represent Arbitrators and Mediators. Being a member of any of their Affiliates also makes you a member of ADRIC. Once you are a member you will receive emails to let the membership know about their upcoming courses, luncheons, or conferences. Attending luncheons and conferences would give you an opportunity to meet people in the field.
The International Mediation Institute has a mentorship program for mediators on their International Qualified Mediator Roster. Our graduates qualify to be on that roster after graduation.
- Getting work as a mediator – you will need Professional Insurance; you may also need Commercial Insurance to work on site with some clients.
- There are now job ads for mediators so watch for those. That did not exist when I graduated almost thirty years ago. Having a Mediator Designation will help your application get noticed.
- If you are in a field and your clients are sometimes in need of a mediator, then you can use your current network of family, friends, colleagues and clients to let others know that you now offer mediation. Be cognizant of Conflict of Interest.
- Start your own business it will take time to establish yourself as a mediator, so keep your paying job to support your mediation habit until you are well enough established that you can support yourself.
- Volunteer with local dispute resolution/justice committees that offer mediation to gain experience.
I’m afraid there is not a quick way to become a Mediator or to gain experience, especially while you are still a student. We have offered a Mentoring for Mediators group in the past that was only available to people who graduated from mediation training and were invited by another member or by me. The group was designed for new mediators and those a little further along to support each other with role-play practicing, networking, and in creating some work opportunities. Some were mentored in how to start their own business, others just wanted one of us ‘as a phone call away’ person to answer their questions when they had mediation opportunities, sometimes we ran a mini workshop to answer their most burning questions, or to give them an opportunity to meet seasoned mediators.
I was once told that successful mediators are successful businesspeople whose product happens to be mediation. I think that is very true unless you are one of the lucky ones to secure a full-time position as a mediator, assuming you want to work for government.
I hope after reading this you are still inspired to study these skills. They are transferable to every aspect of your life and future work experiences. Graduates often comment on how the training changed every relationship in their life. Not everyone who takes the training wants to work as a full-time mediator. Most want to improve their upward mobility in the career they already love.
