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Telephone Order Clerk

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Telephone Order Clerk

Telephone Order Clerk Career Details

Telephone order clerks, sometimes known as telesales operators, work for companies that sell goods through catalogues or advertisements. They answer enquiries from customers, take orders over the telephone and give advice and details about the company’s products, such as clothing or household furniture. Order clerks also check that items requested are in stock.

A keyboard, linked to a screen, is used to check stock, confirm or insert information about customers, and to record payments made over the telephone by credit card.

Telephone order clerks may need to record statistics, complete basic paperwork and work to set targets.

Working Environment

Telephone order clerks usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Part-time work is common. Companies providing an evening/weekend ordering service may operate a shift system.

Most telephone order clerks work in offices, often alongside many other clerks. Most of their time is spent sitting at desks or computer workstations. Some work from home.

Telephone Order Clerk Related Skills

To be a telephone order clerk you need:
  • clear, fluent spoken communication skills and a good telephone manner
  • the ability to listen attentively
  • to be helpful, polite and patient
  • to be accurate and pay attention to detail
  • to gain some knowledge of the products you sell
  • basic computer skills
  • to have customer service and sales skills.

Telephone Order Clerk Career Opportunities

It is usual for the well-established catalogue companies to offer a telephone ordering service. Smaller direct marketing companies which insert catalogues or advertisements in newspapers or magazines also employ telephone order clerks. Other opportunities arise with the many companies that supply goods to other businesses.

Opportunities for promotion may be limited, but it is possible to progress to team leader or supervisor posts.

Experience as a telephone order clerk is also a useful background for other jobs, e.g. telephone sales person or sales representative.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Telephone Order Clerk related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

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