Telephone Operators
Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
- Tasks
- 14 tasks7 core, 7 supplemental
- Family
- Office & Administrative SupportOne of its 55 occupations
- Code
- 43-2021.00SOC 2018: 43-2021
What the work is made of
7 core tasks and 7 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections.Core taskTask 13246Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 2. Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls.Core taskTask 13247Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 3. Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.Core taskTask 13243Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 4. Update directory information.Core taskTask 13257Rated by 56 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 5. Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.Core taskTask 13244Rated by 54 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 6. Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail.Core taskTask 13251Rated by 54 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 7. Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.Core taskTask 13245Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 8. Operate paging systems or other systems of bells or buzzers to notify recipients of incoming calls.Supplemental taskTask 13256Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 9. Monitor automated systems for placing collect calls and intervene for a callers needing assistance.Supplemental taskTask 13250Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 10. Interrupt busy lines if an emergency warrants.Supplemental taskTask 13253Rated by 54 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 11. Provide assistance for customers with special billing requests.Supplemental taskTask 13248Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 12. Provide relay service for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.Supplemental taskTask 13254Rated by 54 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 13. Keep records of calls placed and received, and of related toll charges.Supplemental taskTask 13258Rated by 55 people who do the job, August 2024
- Task 14. Promote company products, services, and savings plans when appropriate.Supplemental taskTask 13255Rated by 54 people who do the job, August 2024
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 43-2021
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
More in Office & Administrative Support
54 other occupations in this family, each with its own page.
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