According to a new forecast, the New York area will lose the most jobs in 2009. » 5 cities that won't be hurt
Believe it or not, a recession can be the best time to start your own business. According to Forbes magazine, recessions provide a great platform for those with a solid business idea. Costs are low on everything from supplies to labor, and digital technologies make it easier than ever to work from home. "There is a rock-solid base for expansion once better times return, as they inevitably will," reports Forbes.
Career Training: Online courses, or an associate's or bachelor's degree in business education or business administration can be great preparation for running your own business.
Average Salary: Earnings vary greatly, of course. With small business ownership, the sky's the limit.
A crucial part of any job search is to know what your strengths are. Take the time to evaluate the talents and skills that you have to bring to a new career. And finally, don't hesitate to go the extra mile. Make looking for a job your new full-time job. It may not be easy, but with smart planning and persistence, you can find a new career, maybe even one that makes you happier and allows you to grow to new professional heights.
The 11 Best-Kept-Secret Careers are:
So how did we select the Best Careers of 2009?
We scored hundreds of careers on five criteria:
When you've narrowed down to one or two candidate careers, visit a few practitioners at their workplace. Check out the feel of the place. Could you see yourself happy there? Also, ask probing questions like: "Would you walk me through your career from the moment you chose it up to today? What's good and bad about the career that might not appear in print? In the end, what ends up being key to being good at this career? Why do people leave this career?" For a final check on your No 1 candidate career, volunteer to work alongside someone in this career for at least a week.
If you're still excited about that career, you've probably found one in which you'll be happy, successful, and make a contribution to society. Congratulations !
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Learn more: Basic Guide to Program Evaluation
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http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/fnl_eval.htm
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Key Considerations:
Consider the following key questions when designing a program evaluation.
1. For what purposes is the evaluation being done, i.e., what do you want to be able to decide as a result of the evaluation ?
2. Who are the audiences for the information from the evaluation, e.g., bankers, funders, board, management, staff, customers, clients, etc.
3. What kinds of information are needed to make the decision you need to make and/ or enlighten your intended audiences, e.g., information to really understand the process of the product or program (its inputs, activities and outputs), the customers or clients who experience the product or program, strengths and weaknesses of the product or program, benefits to customers or clients (outcomes), how the product or program failed and why, etc.
4. From what sources should the information be collected, e.g., employees, customers, clients, groups of customers or clients and employees together, program documentation, etc.
5. How can that information be collected in a reasonable fashion, e.g., questionnaires, interviews, examining documentation, observing customers or employees, conducting focus groups among customers or employees, etc.
6. When is the information needed (so, by when must it be collected)?
7. What resources are available to collect the information?
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Process-based evaluations are geared to fully understanding how a program works -- how does it produce that results that it does. These evaluations are useful if programs are long-standing and have changed over the years, employees or customers report a large number of complaints about the program, there appear to be large inefficiencies in delivering program services and they are also useful for accurately portraying to outside parties how a program truly operates (e.g., for replication elsewhere).
There are numerous questions that might be addressed in a process evaluation. These questions can be selected by carefully considering what is important to know about the program. Examples of questions to ask yourself when designing an evaluation to understand and/or closely examine the processes in your programs, are:
1. On what basis do employees and/or the customers decide that products or services are needed?
2. What is required of employees in order to deliver the product or services?
3. How are employees trained about how to deliver the product or services?
4. How do customers or clients come into the program?
5. What is required of customers or client?
6. How do employees select which products or services will be provided to the customer or client?
7. What is the general process that customers or clients go through with the product or program?
8. What do customers or clients consider to be strengths of the program?
9. What do staff consider to be strengths of the product or program?
10. What typical complaints are heard from employees and/or customers?
11. What do employees and/or customers recommend to improve the product or program?
12. On what basis do emplyees and/or the customer decide that the product or services are no longer needed?
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There are four levels of evaluation information that can be gathered from clients, including getting their:
1. reactions and feelings (feelings are often poor indicators that your service made lasting impact)
2. learning (enhanced attitudes, perceptions or knowledge)
3. changes in skills (applied the learning to enhance behaviors)
4. effectiveness (improved performance because of enhanced behaviors)
Usually, the farther your evaluation information gets down the list, the more useful is your evaluation. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to reliably get information about effectiveness. Still, information about learning and skills is quite useful.
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Basic analysis of "qualitative" information (respondents' verbal answers in interviews, focus groups, or written commentary on questionnaires):
1. Read through all the data.
2. Organize comments into similar categories, e.g., concerns, suggestions, strengths, weaknesses, similar experiences, program inputs, recommendations, outputs, outcome indicators, etc.
3. Label the categories or themes, e.g., concerns, suggestions, etc.
4. Attempt to identify patterns, or associations and causal relationships in the themes, e.g., all people who attended programs in the evening had similar concerns, most people came from the same geographic area, most people were in the same salary range, what processes or events respondents experience during the program, etc.
4. Keep all commentary for several years after completion in case needed for future reference.
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An example of evaluation report contents is included later on below in this document. Click Contents of an Evaluation Plan but, don't forget to look at the next section "Who Should Carry Out the Evaluation".
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Develop an evaluation plan to ensure your program evaluations are carried out efficiently in the future. Note that bankers or funders may want or benefit from a copy of this plan.
Ensure your evaluation plan is documented so you can regularly and efficiently carry out your evaluation activities. Record enough information in the plan so that someone outside of the organization can understand what you're evaluating and how. Consider the following format for your report:
1. Title Page (name of the organization that is being, or has a product/service/program that is being, evaluated; date)
2. Table of Contents
3. Executive Summary (one-page, concise overview of findings and recommendations)
4. Purpose of the Report (what type of evaluation(s) was conducted, what decisions are being aided by the findings of the evaluation, who is making the decision, etc.)
5. Background About Organization and Product/Service/Program that is being evaluated
a) Organization Description/History
b) Product/Service/Program Description (that is being evaluated)
i) Problem Statement (in the case of nonprofits, description of the community need that is being met by the product/service/program)
ii) Overall Goal(s) of Product/Service/Program
iii) Outcomes (or client/customer impacts) and Performance Measures (that can be measured as indicators toward the outcomes)
iv) Activities/Technologies of the Product/Service/Program (general description of how the product/service/program is developed and delivered)
v) Staffing (description of the number of personnel and roles in the organization that are relevant to developing and delivering the product/service/program)
6) Overall Evaluation Goals (eg, what questions are being answered by the evaluation)
7) Methodology
a) Types of data/information that were collected
b) How data/information were collected (what instruments were used, etc.)
c) How data/information were analyzed
d) Limitations of the evaluation (eg, cautions about findings/conclusions and how to use the findings/conclusions, etc.)
8) Interpretations and Conclusions (from analysis of the data/information)
9) Recommendations (regarding the decisions that must be made about the product/service/program)
Appendices: content of the appendices depends on the goals of the evaluation report, eg.:
a) Instruments used to collect data/information
b) Data, eg, in tabular format, etc.
c) Testimonials, comments made by users of the product/service/program
d) Case studies of users of the product/service/program
e) Any related literature
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Indeed.com took top honors among job search sites in a holiday poll over at Lifehacker. The straightforward search site ranked no. 1--Monster, Careerbuilder, LinkedIn, HotJobs and Craigslist rounded out the top six.
Lifehacker says of the site: "Indeed isn't a full-service job search site where you post your resume and hope for calls from employers, but if you know what kind of work you're looking for, its impressive meta-search (complete with email alerts and RSS feeds) is worth a look."
You can see all of the site's job tools here.
...continue reading.Education: Even in the current slowdown, our political leaders seem committed to education spending, and voters continue to pass education bonds to upgrade facilities.
Entertainment: During the Great Depression, the movie industry boomed as people craved escapism and had time to burn. That would very likely be the same today: The film, video game, sports, and creative arts industries should remain viable.
Utilities: This is the classic defensive stock investment. Even in the worst of times, utilities stay cranking.
Don't let minor errors or missed opportunities keep you from landing the perfect new job. » Tips
Thursday December 18, 2008, 2:35 pm EST
...The negative mind-set: There are a thousand thoughts that can derail your ability to search. Some examples: "I just lost my dream job." "The economy is tanking, and there are no jobs." "I just got laid off, but some colleagues kept their jobs, so it must have been for reasons they aren't telling me."
It doesn't matter a whit in your current job search whether these statements are true or false. Maybe your last job was your dream job. OK, find another dream. So the economy is in a downturn and the job search is tough. Well, most of us can handle tough challenges. Easy challenges are pretty rare.
When it feels society is designed to be out of kilter. [...]
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Earlier this year, my husband and I took the plunge and left the UK to run our businesses on the move. We struck out to find our ‘ideal world&# [...]
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Every boss wants employees who do their jobs well. But even among highly competent employees, there are distinctions. Here are 10 tips for making sure you're on the boss's A-list:
1. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Especially at the beginning of your relationship -- that is, when either you or the boss is new to the job -- err on the side of giving your boss too much information and asking too many questions.
"There's no such thing as a dumb question," says Marianne Adoradio, a Silicon Valley recruiter and career counselor. "Look at it as information gathering."
Don't keep up the constant stream of communication unless your boss likes it, though. It's best to ask directly whether you're giving the boss enough information or too much.
2. Acknowledge what the boss says. Bosses appreciate "responsive listening," says John Farner, principal of Russell Employee Management Consulting. When your boss asks you to do something or suggests ways for you to improve your work, let her know you heard.
3. Collaborate. When your boss has a new idea, respond to it in a constructive way instead of throwing up roadblocks.
"Be willing to brainstorm ways to get something done," says Michael Beasley, principal of Career-Crossings and a leadership and career development coach.
4. Build relationships. You'll make your boss look good if you establish a good rapport with your department's customers, whether they're inside the company or outside. Bring back what you learn -- about ways to offer better customer service, for example -- to your boss. This is also helpful for your own career development.
"Everybody wins in the long run," Adoradio says.
5. Understand how you fit in. Is your boss detail-oriented, or someone who keeps his head in the clouds ?
"The boss's personality is just incredibly important," says Norm Meshriy, a career counselor and principal of Career Insights.
Equally important is understanding what your boss wants in an employee. It may be, for example, that a boss who is detail-oriented will expect his employees to be as well. But a boss who has no time for details may actually appreciate an employee who does.
6. Learn the boss's pet peeves. If your manager has said repeatedly that she hates being interrupted first thing in the morning, don't run to her office to give her a project update when you first get in.
7. Anticipate the boss's needs. Once you have worked with your boss for a while, you should be able to guess what information he will want before approving your purchase order, for example.
If you provide it ahead of time, "that's a gold star," Farner adds.
8. Think one level up. You still need to do your own job, of course. But when managers consider who deserves a promotion, they look for people who understand the issues that their bosses face.
9. Open yourself to new ways of doing things. When your boss comes to you with a new idea, don't simply dismiss it. If you don't think it will work, offer to discuss it further in "a mature, responsible, adult-like way," Beasley says.
10. Be engaged in your work. Arguing with your boss over every request is not a good strategy, but neither is simply shrugging your shoulders and agreeing with everything your boss says. "The manager would like to see an engaged individual," Beasley says. That means both showing enthusiasm for your work and speaking up when you see room for improvement.
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Economists and pundits use the phrase "uncertain times" to talk about the health of the economy without getting too specific. But at the individual level, "uncertain times" means insecurity about your job and its future.
So, is everything "uncertain" right now? Fortunately, no. Below are five career types that project strong growth -- and hence high job security -- in the coming years. Along with the national-average salaries for each position (courtesy of Indeed.com/salary) are characteristics that make each a line of work rewarding as well as secure.
Engineer ($72,000 salary) -- from Electrical Engineer ($67,000) to VP of Engineering ($123,000)
In the coming decade, engineers will have a corner on one of the hottest, most steadily-growing careers in the United States (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS). As their careers progress, engineers often advance into Management, or into lucrative consultant positions. The job outlook for engineers is very positive -- but the good news begins earlier: starting salaries for college graduates with engineering degrees are significantly higher than those with degrees in other fields.
Financial Analyst ($67,000 salary) -- from Financial Operations Analyst ($54,000) to Principal Financial Analyst ($93,000)
The future holds opportunities. According to BLS, the job market for financial advisers and analysts is projected to increase sharply -- by 37 percent during the 2006-16 decade -- well above the national average for all careers, and personal financial advisors are anticipated to be one of the 10 fastest growing jobs during this period. Despite the growth, strong competition is expected for these new positions, which are well-paid. Candidates who have an MBA or other business degree will have the best opportunity for success.
Nurse ($66,000 salary) -- from Charge Nurse ($44,000) to Nurse Emergency RN ($144,000)
Calling projected employment opportunities for nurses "excellent," BLS details that Nursing already makes up the largest healthcare occupation, at 2.5 million jobs, and that roughly 587,000 new Nursing positions will be added through 2016. A registered nurse (RN) has the ability to specialize in multiple areas of patient care -- for instance, as a pediatric nurse, you'd work with children, while as a pediatric oncology nurse your specialty would be young people with cancer. There are many specialty options for nurses, varying by employment setting. Educational options take three main forms: a bachelor's of science degree in Nursing (BSN), an associate degree in Nursing (ADN), and a diploma (administered within hospitals).
Internet Marketer ($53,000) -- from Internet Marketing Specialist ($43,000) to Internet Marketing Life Coach -- $203,000
Online marketers, also called eMarketers or Internet advertisers, work in a lively business sector that changes every day. One of those changes, according to the BLS 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, is continued growth. "Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales manager jobs are highly coveted and will be sought. ... In particular, employers will seek those who have the computer skills to conduct advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales activities on the Internet."
High school teacher ($46,000 salary) -- from Math teacher ($42,000) to Spanish teacher ($52,000)
Over the next ten years, according to BLS, 1.3 million new teachers will be needed for public schools. Within that favorable outlook, job opportunities will vary by subject taught and, naturally, geographic area. For public school teachers, one big advantage is job security, given that the teachers' union is strong, and many states have tenure laws keeping teachers from being fired without due process. Public school teachers must be licensed, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and completion of an approved teacher education program. Given the competition for good teachers in the coming years, highly qualified teachers are likely to bring in larger bonuses and increased salaries.
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by Richard Barrington
If you think looking for a job and finding a career are the same thing, think again. With the U.S. unemployment rate under 5%, almost anybody can find a job. The bad news is that many of these jobs are low-paying, come without benefits, or offer little in the way of security. Finding a career where you have the upper hand takes a little more long-term planning than simply finding a job, but it will be well worth it in the long run.
These ten careers--in four major job sectors--are likely to be rewarding because employees in these fields are expected to find themselves in an employee's market.
For better or worse, you can't fight demographics, and those demographics show that the average American is getting older. Healthcare needs increase with age, so as the baby-boom generation enters retirement, healthcare workers are going to be in more demand than ever.
Career possibility #1: Personal/Home Health Aide. As people age, healthcare becomes more of a day-to-day issue, which is why personal/home health aides are in such demand. Health aid training will give you enough background to get started in this field.
Career possibility #3: Mental Health Counselors/Social Workers. The psychological aspect of healthcare cannot be overlooked. Consistent with the theme of an aging America, Alzheimer's disease is creating more and more mental health challenges, but there are also conditions such as autism which are becoming more common in the general population. Psychology programs are offered in many schools, and online psychology degrees are also available.
The big concern with information technology (IT) has been that some programming and customer support functions have been outsourced overseas. However, certain IT functions are more hands-on, and these are the areas where trained workers remain in demand.
Career possibility #4: Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts. Mastery of the computer system makes you indispensable to an organization. This takes a high level of training, so a degree in information technology is a must. Experience plus training is even better, so if you are already working, consider earning an IT degree online.
Career possibility #5: Computer Software Applications Engineers. Routine programming can be outsourced, but there will never be any substitute for the ability to create new, value-added applications. A computer programming degree is a good start, or go online to check out other types of computer science degrees.
Teaching is another career that is hands-on enough to be immune to outsourcing.
Career possibility #6: Teacher. Dedicated teachers are in demand in virtually every part of the country, and with the general population growing, this demand is not going to wane any time soon. You will need a degree in education, and an online teaching degree is one way of meeting this requirement. You'll need teacher's certification as well, so check your state department of education website.
The nature of these services is highly-individualized, which is one of the reasons trained professionals are in demand.
Career possibility #7: Paralegal/Legal Assistant. These occupations are in demand because they can leverage the time of high-priced lawyers. There are paralegal schools across the country and online where you can pursue a paralegal degree or legal assisting training.
Career possibility #8: Financial Services. The heart of the baby boom is entering its peak savings years. Careers in finance can be highly compensated, so an MBA in finance may be well worth the investment. An online finance degree can be a way to give your current career a new boost.
Career possibility #9: Accountants and Auditors. These have some of the same characteristics as financial services careers. Training can be found at a variety of accounting schools, or consider an online accounting degree. Specialize in taxes or estate planning or fraud to attract even bigger opportunities.
Career possibility #10: Employment Services. With all the job demand described above, it should be no surprise that this is expected to be the fastest growing segment of the professional and business services sector. Plus, what better way to keep track of evolving employment trends than working as a recruiter or placement specialist? Consider earning a human resource management degree either online or at a traditional school.
As always, check out the relevant accreditation standards for any career training and educational program you choose. As for making that choice, the bottom line is, if you want a job where you'll be in demand, just look at society's trends and follow those trends toward your new career.
If you don't mind veering off the beaten career path, these professions will pay you well. » Six careers to consider
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Overview. In a school system, curriculum specialists lead the selection of textbooks and other curriculum and train teachers while motivating them to embrace the government's edicts du jour. They may also attempt to evaluate the results.
In the workplace, training specialists receive requests from higher-ups to develop or select training programs, recruit instructors, perhaps teach some workshops, and evaluate the results. Development of online training, especially using simulations as a primary instructional vehicle, is growing in demand.
This is a pleasant job because you avoid many of teaching's in-the-trenches frustrations yet feel you're helping people to grow. Also, in reviewing and evaluating curriculum and instruction, you're learning new things all the time.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, instructional coordinator jobs are projected to grow much faster than average through 2016 as corporations strive to keep up with the ever quickening pace of change. In addition, increased school system spending is likely, even in a slow economy. Few politicians dare oppose it, even though the United States already spends more money on education in real dollars and even as a percentage of gross domestic product than any other G-8 country, while American students still score below average compared with those nations.
With the work rewarding and not unduly stressful and the job market strong, and with school-system-based jobs offering top job security and the summers off, curriculum/training specialist is a Best Career.
A Day in the Life. You're the reading coordinator for a medium-sized school district. Arriving at your office at about 9 a.m., you settle in to review the three textbook options the state will allow. Tomorrow, you'll outline their pros and cons to one school's teachers and parents, who will make the final choice.
Next, you start designing a questionnaire to be used in evaluating a grant-funded experimental reading program that you and a school's teachers developed. You believe it's too early to see test scores increase, so you're using questionnaires, interviews, and observation as the basis for your evaluation.
Ready for a break, you drop by the district's curriculum center, where all manner of kits, videos, and paraphernalia are housed. You're dismayed at how little material the teachers have checked out, so you make a note to develop a marketing campaign to increase the center's use.
At 3 p.m., you train a school's teachers on how to use the new online, multicultural curriculum, which is tied to the state's new standards. The younger teachers are generally enthusiastic, but a few veterans sigh and roll their eyes at what they perceive to be just this year's fad, soon to be replaced by the next one. You muster all your powers of tactful persuasion to keep the skeptical from sabotaging the training.
Median (with eight years in the field): $55,100
25th to 75th percentile (with eight or more years of experience): $45,800-$76,100
(Data provided by PayScale.com)
For school system jobs, the normal route in is to become a teacher and succeed at that. You might then need to spend some time as a principal or assistant principal.
For training jobs, a wide range of bachelor's degrees is often acceptable for entry-level jobs. Some former teachers have obtained positions in workplace training.
Ah, election season. There's nothing like a good battle between the Democrats and the Republicans (and Ralph Nader and Ron Paul) to whet the appetite of a political junkie. But if you're looking for something less temporal—the kind of work that will let you feed your addiction year-round—you don't have to become a legislator. Consider one of these (mostly) nonpolitical jobs where you may find a way to keep the spirit of the election alive every day.
Librarian: Not just any librarian—a special librarian. Special librarians work for companies, government agencies, nonprofits, universities, or museums, rather than for the general public. There are plenty of opportunities for people to focus on specialties. Janice Lachance, chief executive of the Special Libraries Association, says "it's absolutely a perfect fit" for people who are politically inclined, as leaders at nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, or government agencies rely on well-sourced, "top level information." Librarians can follow specific passions for policy or politics into jobs at places like AARP, which employs 13 association members. Most have a master's in library or information science, but the jobs pay: A 2008 association survey found the average salary of its members was $71,812.
Lobbyist: The word is practically an obscenity during election cycles, but the job and qualifications of a "lobbyist" are largely a mystery to Americans. While many think of lobbyists as Washington fat cats with standing reservations at the Capital Grille and closets full of suede loafers—that's only half the story. Lobbyists advocate for issues and petition government on behalf of organizations—farm bureaus and oil companies alike. They need to understand policy, and they need to know the ins and outs of politics. Most are college grads, and many have advanced degrees in law, communications, education, public relations, or journalism, according to the American League of Lobbyists. How to get in? A congressional staff position is one of the best ways to learn the legislative process.
Tour guide: Believe it or not, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports this occupation is growing much faster than average. It's a good pick for retirees and students, but full-timers and part-timers alike make political history or current events come alive as tour guides. "Politics is a sport in DC," says Adam Plescia, 35, who works as a tour guide in Washington while also writing his dissertation. Plescia stays up on political news and events with a regular diet of the Washington Post, New York Times, New Yorker, and NPR. The tours aren't, however, for sharing his political opinions. Instead, he gets to quiz and to teach. He takes visitors to the front of the Treasury building and asks, "Who's the secretary of the Treasury?" The good news: "More people know now," Plescia says. "Before the [financial] crisis, the majority of the people on the tour wouldn't know his name."
Radio announcer: Two words: Rush Limbaugh. The longtime radio announcer has made a major mark on the American conservative political scene through his top-rated radio show. This is a highly competitive industry with a median hourly wage of less than $12, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There may, however, be better opportunities for hosts or disk jockeys with specialized knowledge of subjects like politics. But if, like Limbaugh, you prove successful in smaller markets, you can test your mettle and opinionating on a much larger audience.
Pollster: This is a good fit for political junkies with a love of statistics, as well as a solid understanding of the larger political picture. Tom Jensen, communications director at Public Policy Polling, says polling firms look for people who are especially knowledgeable about politics, particularly those who understand the way voters think about elections. "It's a great job for someone who's very knowledgeable about politics but can also detach themselves from the process enough to keep a perspective about things and not get too swept up in the emotions of an election," Jensen says. Advanced degrees are pretty common.
Translator/interpreter: This probably isn't a great path if you have strong opinions, but it's got plenty of growth potential if you merely have a serious interest in being part of the political process. The Labor Department expects job opportunities to grow by 24 percent between 2006 and 2016. Thanks to globalization and increased security threats, there's been a greater need for translators (who work with written words) and interpreters (who work with spoken words), according to the American Translators Association. While many translators work for themselves, those who are employed by the government make an average of nearly $60,000 a year, the association reports.
Reporter: Some journalists today still labor under a kind of Woodward and Bernstein nostalgia, but many just love politics. Reporters at small-town newspapers continue to uncover local political transgressions, and major metro papers vie with bloggers for a piece of the national political pie. Beat reporters may also work long and hard enough to earn the right to state their pithy opinions as columnists, in blogs, or as TV pundits. In one example, New York Times columnist David Brooks started out working the cops beat for City News Service in Chicago and held various roles at the Wall Street Journal, even spending five months as its movie critic.
Overview. If we can't solve a conflict, we tend to give up or hire a lawyer. There can be a better way: A mediator can often help resolve a dispute less expensively and with less conflict, whether it's a divorce, a discrimination claim, or the parent of a special-education student seeking more services from a school.
Mediators don't decide who's right. They guide a discussion so the disputants can more wisely reach agreement and move on with their lives. Most mediators love their work, helping people beat their swords into plowshares.
The problem is that there are more mediators than there are mediation jobs. In part, this is because the barriers to entry are so low—most mediators are required only to complete a 30-to-40-hour training course.
The oversupply means that most mediators do not earn a middle-class income for one to five years. And even to do that, a mediator must embrace marketing by establishing a niche—disputes among postal workers, people of different races, parents and teens, or even participants in the online world "Second Life." Until mediators develop a reputation, they must schmooze with potential referral sources, write articles or give talks on mediation, perhaps blog or create a YouTube video, and certainly find well-connected champions willing to recommend them. Ironically, success may be more likely in a slow economy as people and businesses seek lower-cost alternatives to attorneys to solve their disputes.
If you have the gift for establishing trust, generating creative solutions, calming angry disputants, and staying calm amid ambiguity and dissembling, and are willing and able to market yourself, mediation can be a win-win career for both you and your clients.
A Day in the Life. Normally, mediators are wise to specialize and mediate no more than one dispute per day. But here, for illustrative purposes, are three varied cases:
Your specialty is employment mediation. The week before Thanksgiving, Susan had been downsized after 10 years with her company, and she is suing for wrongful termination. In the mediation, her emotions pour out. Not only is she angry that she was let go merely so the company could hire someone cheaper in India, but she has no relatives and has always spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with coworkers. This year, she will be alone. Everyone is moved by Susan's story, and the company offers her a more generous severance package and a permanent invitation to all company social events. Not thrilled but mollified, she agrees.
In your next mediation, a Muslim employee suffers from depression and has been fired from the small architecture firm for which he worked. The employee claims both that he was a victim of religious discrimination and that the employer failed to provide reasonable accommodations to his depression. The employer vehemently denies that religion or ethnicity was a factor in the firing and maintains that the accommodations would devastate his business. After listening patiently and asking lots of questions, you ask if telecommuting might sufficiently reduce the problem. The disputants agree to a two-week trial, after which you'll meet again.
Like most mediators, you do pro bono work. In this next case, the police department asks you to mediate a dispute involving a neighbor complaining of frequent parties that last into the wee hours: "My bed shakes with every bass note, and it doesn't stop until 5 a.m." The partier agrees to tone down the music and the neighbor agrees to be more tolerant, but you won't bet your life that this dispute is permanently settled.
Mortgage renegotiation. In a weak economy, the market for divorce mediators may decline because fewer couples can afford to break up and thus live on one income. In contrast, with so many homeowners falling behind on their mortgage payments, mortgage renegotiation could be a strong niche for mediators. Get clients by explaining to the branch managers of locally owned banks that mediation can reduce the chances of a borrower defaulting.
Median (with eight years in the field): $59,700
25th to 75th percentile (with eight or more years of experience): $42,700-$116,000
(Data provided by PayScale.com)
There are many styles of mediation, each of which will be valuable in a particular situation. You'll want significant exposure to as many as possible. So take two or more of the 30-to-40-hour comprehensive mediation training courses. A list can be found here.
Family and divorce mediators will want to take training approved by the Association for Conflict Resolution.
You can get brief exposure to top mediators' styles by attending workshops at the Association for Conflict Resolution Conference and the American Bar Association Section for Dispute Resolution Conference. There also is a wide range of state and regional conferences, which you can check at mediate.com/calendar.
Overview. We don't normally think of politicians as the most ethical of people, so it may sound surprising that being a highly principled person is a critical requirement. Political office brings an endless stream of temptations, so it is essential that the politician start out with a strong ethical backbone. Other intangible assets: Be instantly likable, an excellent negotiator and debater, and indefatigable. For many higher-visibility posts, unfortunately, it's practically a full-time job just to get elected—even as state legislator. No sooner do you win an exhausting campaign than you must crank up your fundraising machine all over again.
You also probably need to live a squeaky-clean life. For example, in most jurisdictions, cheating on your spouse jeopardizes your career.
But for many politicians, all the hard work is well worth it. They have the opportunity to make a difference in society. Yes, the wheels of democracy turn slowly (and sometimes backward), but inexorably, those wheels move toward progress. And politicians often feel they get to see their constituents' quality of life improve. Less lofty, you feel a sense of power . . . sometimes an exaggerated sense.
A Day in the Life. Today, the legislature is in session, as it is for half the year. You're a state senator, and on arriving at your office in the capitol, your first appointment is with a lobbyist from a road construction company that donated money to your last campaign. He urges you to vote for a transportation bill that would emphasize roads over mass transit. He shows you some data suggesting that most people hate mass transit and won't use it. After he leaves, you wonder if you've been convinced on the merits or because you feel you owe him.
The debate on the transportation bill continues on the Senate floor. An influential senator taps you on the shoulder and asks you to step outside. He offers a quid pro quo: something you want in exchange for your support on the transportation bill.
After you cast your vote, there's a discussion of the governor's budget. When there's a recess, you and your chief aide plan a speech you'll make tomorrow on the topic.
Your aide hands you a couple of newspaper clippings: an article touting one of your accomplishments and a letter to the editor calling you a fool. Politicians need thick skin.
You leave the capitol to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new school you helped get funded. This part you enjoy—like most politicians, you've never met a microphone you didn't like.
Then, you're off to a spaghetti-feed fundraising dinner, followed by a long drive home; your district, like most, is large, and you're usually far from where you live.
County Schools Superintendent. Your day-to-day life in this under-the-radar niche consists of leading the planning for all the school districts in your county, guiding grant writers, lobbying legislators, and solving thorny problems like union negotiations, tax apportionment, or disputes between principals and parents.
Pay is all over the map, ranging from $0 for a town alderman to $400,000 a year for president of the United States. Here are a few data points:
Legislators' pay ranges from $7,200 (Texas) to $116,208 (California) Governors' salaries range from $74,145 (Arkansas) to $212,179 (California) U.S. senators and representatives earn $169,300 generally, with more pay for leadership roles
No formal training is required. Many politicians start as a school board member, city councilperson, prominent attorney, or aide to an elected official. And some make their way through law enforcement channels, becoming a district attorney or judge, which requires a law degree. Typical next steps: mayor, state legislator, and later, perhaps, governor or member of the U.S. Congress. Many elected officials, however, don't aspire to higher office, largely because of the much-increased time spent fundraising and campaigning.
