Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator Interview Questions & Answers

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Interpersonal skills
• Critical-thinking skills
• Writing skills
• Listening skills
• Decision-making skills
• Reading skills

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Critical-thinking skills

Why interviewers are interested in your critical-thinking skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must apply rules of law. They must remain neutral and not let their own personal assumptions interfere with the proceedings.

Learn more about critical thinking interview questions and how to answer them!

Decision-making skills

Why interviewers are interested in your decision-making skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to weigh facts, apply the law or rules, and make a decision relatively quickly.

Interpersonal skills

Why interviewers are interested in your interpersonal skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators deal with disputing parties and must be able to facilitate discussion calmly and respectfully.

Learn more about communication interview questions and how to answer them!

Listening skills

Why interviewers are interested in your listening skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must pay close attention to what is being said in order for them to evaluate information.

Reading skills

Why interviewers are interested in your reading skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to evaluate and distinguish important facts from large amounts of complex information.

Writing skills

Why interviewers are interested in your writing skills:

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators write recommendations or decisions relating to appeals or disputes. They must be able to write their decisions clearly so that all sides understand the decision.

(source: bls.gov)

Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. Give me an example of the steps you take to mediate a discussion or a conflict.
2. Tell me how you remain neutral and not let your own personal thoughts and assumptions interfere with the proceedings.
3. What is your strategy to deduce an appropriate conclusion between parties to reach an agreement?
4. Give me an example of how you explain your role to clients in the mediation or arbitration process.
5. Tell me how you plan, organize, and prioritize a typical workday.
6. Describe a time you failed to arbitrate, mediate or reconcile. What happened? What did you learn from that situation?
7. If you could revise one solution, you have mediated, conciliated, or arbitrated, which one would it be? Why?
8. What specific methods do you use to facilitate discussion?
9. Give me an example of how you get disputants to clarify, identify underlying issues or concerns to develop an understanding of their respective interests.
10. What skills do you think are important for an arbitrator, mediator, or conciliator to be successful? Can you give me an example of how you successfully use these skills in your work?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview