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Career Exploration

Telephone Operators

Also called: Directory Assistance Operator, Information Specialist, Long Distance Operator (LD Operator), Telephone Operator

What they do:

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.

On the job, you would:
  • Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
  • Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.
  • Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
On the job, you'll need:

Business

  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Communications

  • telecommunications
  • multimedia

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen

Conventional

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Self Control
  • Attention to Detail

Operating system software

  • Handheld computer device software
  • Microsoft Windows

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $38,330

Education

High school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED is usually needed.