Anyone interested in becoming an ombudsman should first consider the various roles that these professionals play in organizations. Ombudsman positions come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are found in a variety of companies and businesses. One of the first steps toward a career as an ombudsman is to learn more about the traditional job description.
An ombudsman serves as a link between a company and the general public, or a specific audience or “constituency.” Some people think of the ombudsman as a mediator, someone who can help people resolve conflicts. In a sense, the ombudsman is someone who receives complaints on behalf of their employer.
A company, an organization, or even a country may appoint an ombudsman. A diplomatic ombudsman is an official who works for a country’s general representation abroad. A corporate ombudsman can deal with a wide range of issues, including product liability, customer service, and any other aspect of a company’s public relations.
The term ombudsman is a somewhat out-of-date term derived from an old Norse word that few people today use. Though the role of an ombudsman is largely public, other terms may be used in this type of job position in place of “ombudsman.” Many people from recent generations are probably most familiar with the term in the context of newspapers, where a literary ombudsman hears complaints about errors printed in a publication.
In many cases, a specialized college degree is not required for someone wishing to work as an ombudsman. Individuals can instead enroll in short educational programs to supplement skills learned on the job. Individuals who have worked in human resources, customer service, or liaison roles have a better chance of rising through the ranks of a company to become an ombudsman. Individuals working in international offices, likewise, have a good chance of becoming a national ombudsman.
The International Ombudsman Association maintains organizational resources and offers aspiring career professionals a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner certification. The same organization offers specialized training for those interested in pursuing a career as an ombudsman. This organization, as well as others like it, assists people in achieving their goal of becoming an ombudsman. The most effective way for someone to pursue an ombudsman job is to do some in-depth research on different types of ombudsman jobs.