What You'll Do

  • 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.
  • Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
  • Relay or route written or verbal messages.
  • Place telephone calls or arrange conference calls as instructed.
  • Monitor alarm systems to ensure that secure conditions are maintained.
  • Contact security staff members when necessary, using radio-telephones.
  • Keep records of calls placed and charges incurred.
  • Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.
  • Stamp messages with time and date and file them appropriately.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.5/5
Service Orientation 3.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Monitoring 2.88/5
Writing 2.75/5
Critical Thinking 2.75/5
Time Management 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.62/5
Active Learning 2.5/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Dependability, Cooperation, Social Orientation, Attention to Detail, Self-Control

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.12/5
Oral Expression 4.12/5
Speech Recognition 4.0/5
Speech Clarity 4.0/5
Near Vision 3.38/5
Selective Attention 3.12/5
Written Comprehension 3.0/5
Written Expression 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

IBM Notes M-Tech Hotel Service Optimization System HotSOS Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word SAP software Word processing software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.57/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.38/5)
  • Social Orientation (High importance: 4.28/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.24/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.2/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Answering Service Telephone Operator CBX Operator (Computerized Branch Exchange Operator) Central Communications Specialist Combination Operator Command and Control Specialist Communication Center Operator Communications Coordinator Communications Operator Communications Specialist Complaint Operator Desk Operator Exchange Operator Information Specialist Line Technician Operator PBX Operator (Private Branch Exchange Operator) PBX Service Adviser (Private Branch Exchange Service Adviser) Police Communications Operator Police District Switchboard Operator (Police District SB Operator) Private Branch Exchange Switchboard Operator (PBX Switchboard Operator) Route Clerk Service Operator Switch Technician Switchboard Operator (SB Operator) Switchboard Receptionist (SB Receptionist) Switching Clerk Tandem Operator Telecommunications Clerk Telecommunications Operator Telegraph Office Telephone Clerk Telephone Answering Service Operator Telephone Service Representative (Telephone Service Rep) Telephone Switchboard Operator (Telephone SB Operator) Test Operator Through Operator Traffic Operator

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.