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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Communications Equipment Operators

Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.

Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.

Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.

Monitor emergency and code alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the appropriate location.

Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.

Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.

Relay or route written or verbal messages.

Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Overview

Career

What Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Do

Other Job Titles Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Overview

Career

What Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Do

Other Job Titles Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Related Careers

Related Leaders