Conflict Resolution Specialists

There are many ways to learn more about the work of conflict resolution specialists. You can obtain experience in the field by volunteering or completing an internship at a company, association, or organization that provides conflict resolution services. You could also try to serve as the mediator when your siblings or friends have a disagreement. But be sure to serve as an unbiased moderator and avoid getting dragged into the argument.

Talk to conflict resolution specialists about their work. Ask your school counselor or psychology teacher to help set up an information interview. Additionally, the Association for Conflict Resolution offers a list of its members at https://acrnet.org/search. Use this list to contact potential interviewees. Once you’ve scheduled an interview, ask these and other questions:

• What made you want to become a conflict resolution specialist?
• How does one enter the field?
• What are the most important personal and professional skills for conflict resolution specialists?
• What are the pros and cons of working in the field?

Read books about conflict resolution to learn more about the field. Here are two suggestions: Changing the Conversation: The 17 Principles of Conflict Resolution, by Dana Caspersen and Joost Elffers, and The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict, by Gary T. Furlong.