Due to scheduling issues, for the first time in over 10 years, we will not have a new article on Sunday, May 1st. Instead, for the month of May, we will be recycling some of our older posts for your reading pleasure and information.
Resumes for Mediators
Mediation, rather than trials, has become the preferred method of dealing with disputes on every level from individual to international conflict. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 10 percent rise in the need for mediators after the next 10 years.
Depending on the level of mediation you engage in, you need a bachelor’s degree and work experience as a minimum. Some colleges offer a Master of Dispute Resolution. Every court and state has its own requirements for certification and hours of training, so you might have to satisfy more than one standard before working on a case.
Your experience should relate to the field where you are mediating; for example, if you are mediating medical disputes, you should have medical training. Mediation is often handled by lawyers or retired judges, but they may also need specialization. A dispute between states or nations requires a different range of legal knowledge than one between individuals or local companies.
Mediation is not only a first career choice but also an excellent choice for those transitioning out of legal, social work, education, psychology, public policy, C-level, or other jobs that require a high level of tolerance for conflict. Mediators may work independently or as part of Dispute Resolution Center or other organization.
If you are ready to consider mediation as either a first or second career path, your resume must show:
- Superior listening, decision making, critical thinking, and communication skills
- Life experience in a field that requires decision making and interaction with others
- The certifications and training required by the state(s) or court(s) in which you hope to practice
- Sensitivity to diversity, equality, and inclusion
- Discretion and knowledge of confidentiality regulations
- Possibly internship or other real-world experience
Mediators perform an important function in bringing people, organizations, and even governments together to resolve a problem and prevent crises. The reduce the pressure on overloaded courts, although their advice is not legally binding.
If you are interested in a career as mediator, Robin’s Resumes® is skilled in creating resumes both for recent graduates of mediation programs and for those transitioning into the career. We also have experience working with leaders in all of the fields that might support a specialization in mediation, including government, law, social work, healthcare, and education. Contact us today.
Resume Q&A: Will I Ever Hear about the Job?
Q. I was so excited about the job I applied for. I know my resume is top-notch and I am confident of my interview skills. They said that I would hear in two weeks whether or not I was selected for an interview but no message has arrived. I check every day (even my spam folder!) and nothing. How long should I wait?
A. Any number of problems could have caused your resume or their reply to go astray. They might have lost your resume, mis-typed your email address, become too overwhelmed to reply to everyone, or changed their mind about the job opening. Perhaps you made an error on your contact information—the more familiar information is to you, the more likely you will simply assume it is correct. It is worth your time to check in with the company once.
However, by waiting for an invitation to interview that may never arrive, you are limiting your chances for finding a job. Waiting even a day is waiting too long. Continue to send out your resume until you have an actual offer letter or contract in your hand. You never know when another dream job will appear. Let your resume continue working for you even while you hope.
Before you send out your resume for those other positions, make sure your resume:
- Helps you stand out (in a good way). If you merely repeat the qualifications every candidate is expected to offer, you will miss the opportunity to stand out through individual skills, experiences, and achievements. On the other hand, if you skim over a problem—like a gap in employment—a recruiter or hiring manager may well hesitate to contact you.
- Is customized for the job. Align your job summary statement with the keywords that appear in the job application and with anything you have researched about the goals and values of the company. For example, is the company seeking people with certain educational attainments, experience with diversity and inclusion, or proven communication skills?
- Is still accurate. For example, are you still looking for opportunities to lead, mentor, travel, work remotely, work onsite, or use your language skills? Are your certifications still up to date? Has your boss or job title changed? Have your responsibilities changed?
- Has been proofread again. Any time you make one change to your resume, you affect the entire content. You might repeat an exact bullet point that appears elsewhere, misspell a company name, or change an acronym. You might forget to indent, bold, or line space to match the rest of the resume.
If you need an objective third party to make sure your resume meets all those criteria, please contact Robin’s Resumes®.
Worst Case Career Paths
Sometimes, when faced with a situation where the next step is unclear or seems too risky, it pays to step back and ask yourself, “What is the worst that can happen?” Otherwise, you may find yourself on one of these worst case career paths:
You are in a job that you hate and you are stressed every day. What is the worst that can happen? You make a mistake that gets you fired or you become too stressed and sick to work at all.
Compared to that, hunting for a new job while you are still employed is a much better alternative. When you are stressed, spending hours on a job search seems impossible. So hire a resume writer to take on the burden of writing a resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile. Then spend just 10 minutes every day researching job openings; even 10 minutes a day will start speeding you on your new path.
You love your job but your career has stalled. Other people receive promotions and you do not. What is the worst that can happen? You become bored and restless and may even quit a good job to take a chance on a new company—where once again your career stalls.
Compared to that, investing in a career coach makes sense. A career coach will help you discover how to fix the problem where you are now; perhaps by letting your boss know you want to advance or by earning credentials you need to move on or by making sure you get credit for your contributions. Alternatively, the coach may help you realize that what you want is not going to happen in the company or industry you are in—it is time for a career transition.
You are about to lose your job and you do not have a plan. When you know that the end of a company is near, your impulse is to jump ship fast. What is the worst that can happen? You end up in a job that you hate, and take a full step backward in your career.
Compared to that, taking your time to think through your next steps makes sense. Review your resume to highlight your most recent achievements. Talk to trusted bosses or peers about giving you recommendations. Research companies before you apply to make sure they have a good culture and a strong financial backbone. Now is the time to make thoughtful transitions.
You are about to retire, and you are dreading it. You love working and you fear that without work your brain will atrophy and you will lose respect for yourself. What is the worst that can happen? All those predictions come true.
Compared to that, striking out into a new career is far less risky. You may be able to become a consultant; start a business of your own; contribute to a nonprofit or for-profit board; or even take a role in local government. A professional resume writer can help you describe those transferable hard and soft skills that you honed over a long career and show how they will benefit businesses, customers, or organizations in your next phase of life.
When you find yourself on a worst case career path, please remember Robin’s Resumes®. We offer resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn writing and job and career transition coaching to help guide your career from the worst outcome to the best.
How to Evaluate a Resume Writer—Before You Hire
Many individuals are happy to take your money for a “professional” resume; but how do you know that you are truly dealing with a professional resume writer?
- Ask for their certifications. Career Directors International is the premier organization offering certifications for resume writers, such as Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW).
- Ask for their memberships. Among other notable industry organizations are the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) and Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC).
- Ask for samples. Resume writers are creative; therefore, two individuals with the exact same credentials will approach the same resume differently. By looking at examples, you can determine if the writer’s style meshes with your own.
- Pay attention to the intake. Does the writer ask intelligent, probing questions or simply throw a fill-in-the-blank form at you? Does the writer seem familiar with at least one of the following: your industry, your field, or your level of experience?
- Find out about the process. Does the resume writer have a process that seems organized and efficient, giving you enough time to review but not dragging on for months?
- Find out who you will be working with. Some large firms will have a qualified person interview you but then parcel your resume out to whatever writer happens to be next in line, whether or not that writer meets your expectations.
- Look for reviews. Go beyond the resume writer’s own website to seek out online reviews of the service. Invitations to speak or participate in events for job seekers are also good indications that the writer has the respect of clients and peers.
- Read the contract carefully. Make sure you are getting what you need, whether that is a resume capable of passing through an ATS system or a complete package including resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter(s).
- Be leery of online resume builder services. A live person will create an individual—not generic—resume and will display expertise in grammar and proofreading—not merely the ability to hit the spellcheck button. A live person will give depth to your resume that singles you out from your competition.
- Be reasonable in your demands and budget. If you want a resume writer who works for free; who agrees with every decision you make on what to add, delete, or say in your resume; and who guarantees that this resume will get you a job, then you want a magician, not a professional resume writer. A professional resume writer is worthy of their fee, keeps abreast of the latest trends in resumes, and knows that a professional resume is just one step in a long process.
For over 20 years, Robin Schlinger has met every standard of professionalism in resume writing and career coaching. Contact Robin’s Resumes® today.