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The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

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.

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

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, and 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.

Place telephone calls or arrange conference calls as instructed.

Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.

IBM Notes

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

SAP software

M-Tech Hotel Service Optimization System HotSOS

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Access

Premise branch exchange PBX equipment

Telephone switchboards

Copy machines

Paging systems

Video surveillance monitors

Computer inkjet printers

Alarm system monitors

Public address PA systems

Intercom equipment

Multiline telephone systems

Laser facsimile machines

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Every day

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People

Once a week or more but not every day

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

Never

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

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

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