Skills and Competencies of Switchboard Operator

Intermediaries also perform a number of administrative tasks similar to that of a receptionist or secretary. This includes receiving and distributing incoming correspondence, preparing letters and packages, distributing and sending faxes, greeting visitors and customers, and using access control procedures. You can also perform a number of general office functions, such as: B.: This includes copying, scanning and archiving various types of documents as well as organizational support for front office activities.

Intermediaries can also work in a company's contact center or call center and perform customer service activities such as: B.: Interact with users and customers, provide phone support, collect customer data, and manage administrative activities. These tasks are typically performed using software such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications.

Where does an operator work?

The operators work for companies, offices, public and private companies, hospitals, schools, medical practices and medical practices.

Contracts can be full-time or part-time contracts and include day, night and weekend shifts as well as public holidays. This makes flexibility a basic requirement for potential operators.

The personnel of the emergency call center of doctors, police and fire brigades must be able to process incoming emergency calls effectively and efficiently according to certain procedures and must be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and when shifts are changed.

Operator - responsibilities and tasks

The activities of an switchboard operators include:

• Serve operators and answer and forward incoming calls
• Forward calls to the appropriate person or department
• Write down and forward where necessary
• Updating the internal company directory
• Collaborate with receptionists and perform general administrative tasks

Skills and qualifications

The operators need the following knowledge:

• Possibility to use a switchboard
• Telephone communication skills
• Ability to speak clearly and precisely
• Strong listening, interpersonal and mediation skills
• Competence in customer service
• Possibility to use standard office equipment (e.g. printers, fax machines etc.) as well as IT systems and software
• Organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work without supervision
• Operators must work quickly and precisely even under pressure and be able to make demanding calls calmly, politely and professionally.

What Does an Switchboard Operator Do? Salary and Outlook

What is a switchboard operator? An operator works for large companies, hospitals and hotels, which usually make phone calls. The operator helps the callers to answer the call and connect the caller with the appropriate person or service. Before modern inventions came to fruition, operators had to manually connect calls to a switchboard by connecting telephone lines to the correct circuit. Today's operators work with IT systems that require less human intervention. Today's operators are more customer oriented than before.

What does an operator do?

The operational staff manages all internal and external calls to a company. Answer the phone and divert calls to the correct destinations in the business. They also handle internal calls that must be forwarded within the company.

Operators are often responsible for pager systems within the company. When a person calls, it may be necessary to call the service or the person through the PA system to notify a call. For many operators, the job requires that they only be responsible for incoming calls. Many companies require the operator to be a receptionist. He greets customers who enter the store and takes them to the areas they need to find.

Some operators also handle customer service. You can answer brief questions from clients, such as B. Where is the business or what services do you offer? Operators carry out all kinds of activities within a company. The definition of the operator profession is very different from one company to another.

Education and Training

Employers often require managers to have a high school diploma or equivalent, and many require applicants to be at least 18 years of age. In general, no additional work experience or training is required, but applicants with previous experience in customer service or call center stand out among potential employers.

Training is provided for this entry-level job, the duration of which varies depending on the employer. The training usually lasts no more than two or three weeks, while new switchboard operators learn to work with various equipment and memorize the company's telephone protocols. During the training, the switchboard operators work in close collaboration with a senior manager or a training manager.

Operator salary and outlook

PayScale information shows that switchboard operators earn an average hourly income of $ 12.55. Receptionists earn $ 13.65 an hour, the equivalent of $ 28,390 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Receptionists answer phones and receive visits, performing many of the same activities as switchboard operators. In some companies, the two actions are interchangeable. BLS projections show that employment in the sector will increase by 9% until 2026. This rate is faster than the national average.

Full-time switchboard operators can receive basic benefits, including medical insurance. Paid vacation days can also be provided. Part-time switchboard operators do not generally receive benefits.

10 Best Engineering Jobs To be Considered

An impressive 87 percent of professional engineers state that they are "satisfied or very satisfied" with their work.1 However, this is only one of the reasons why they should choose an engineering career. There are many considerations when choosing an approach, but payment is undoubtedly a key factor in planning your future. In terms of average salary and growth potential, these are the 10 highest paying engineering jobs to be considered.

1. Big Data Engineer

The growth of large amounts of data has opened up significant business opportunities, but complex records are meaningless if they are not structured in an understandable way. Enter the Big Data Engineer who is responsible for creating the hardware and system architecture that other users can use to interpret and use data. With an average annual salary of $ 155,500, big data offers engineers great opportunities.

2. Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers develop methods for extracting oil and natural gas from the ground and use these materials to generate energy efficiently and cleanly. With an average salary of $ 132,280, the petroleum engineer is one of the highest paid engineering jobs in 2019. It is predicted that this area will grow much faster than the average career over the next five to ten years.

3. Computer hardware engineer

With an average salary of $ 115,120, this highly technical field encompasses the development and construction of computer systems and components such as processors, printed circuit boards and memory chips.4 Computer hardware technology is an excellent field for solving analytical problems with an interest in mathematics or mathematics physics. ,

4. aerospace engineer

This is a race in which you can say: "Actually, it is space science." Aerospace engineers design and build airplanes, spacecraft, missiles and satellites. Design skills are essential, along with strong analytical skills and problem awareness.6 The average salary for 2017 was $ 113,030.7

5. Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear engineers investigate, design and develop the tools and instruments necessary for the use of nuclear energy.8 They are responsible for safely controlling the operation of nuclear power plants and should be familiar with a high degree of complexity. In 2017, the average salary was $ 105,810, which made nuclear engineers one of the five highest paid engineering jobs.

6. Systems engineer

Systems engineers manage the technical infrastructure of a company and maintain all the hardware and software necessary to boost the business. If you have strong communication skills and the ability to translate technical information into non-technical teams, consider this professional career, which has an estimated annual average salary of $ 103,800.10

7. chemical engineer

With an average salary of $ 102,160, chemical engineers use solid science to make connections that are used daily in fuels, food, pharmaceuticals, etc. Enjoy working in a team to solve important problems.

8. Electrical engineer

Electrical engineers work in a variety of industries and develop electrical and electronic components such as electric motors, radars and navigation systems. You can also participate in the development of broadcasting or communication systems. The average salary in 2017 was $ 97,970 annually.

9. Biomedical engineer

Biomedical engineers, who often work in a medical or clinical context, use technical principles to advance medical science by developing tools that help medical professionals better diagnose and treat their patients. Biomedical engineers can expect an average salary of $ 88,040.14

With a biomedical engineering program sponsored by US News & World Report and ranked in the top 20 in the country, the Biomedical Engineering Department of the Case Western Reserve is known for innovation and excellence. See how teachers and students from the Case School of Engineering are making incredible advances in medicine.

10. Environmental engineer

Environmental engineers, who are often active in the construction industry, use their knowledge of engineering, geosciences, biology and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. Because of the nature of the job, they can be in the workplace, making it an excellent career path for those who don't want to be tied to desk work.15 In 2017, the average salary was $ 86,800.16

In-Demand Engineering Jobs of the Future

After major advances in technology, science, and computer science, engineering students and graduates from around the world can expect high demand and one of the lowest unemployment rates in all major industries in the coming decades. Here are the top most demanding engineering field in future.

1. Software engineering jobs

With the rise of cloud technology and mobile computing, more and more brands are learning to work digitally and to develop new systems and applications. The software sector is a rapidly evolving area that is likely to offer interesting career opportunities and high salaries for engineering graduates with experience in mobile and cybersecurity.

2. Aerospace engineering jobs

With an estimated worldwide demand for 27,000 new passenger aircraft and 40,000 commercial helicopters between 2013 and 2031 and rapid advances in aerospace technology, the sector will continue to grow and create high-wage jobs for graduates with strong technical knowledge of aerospace systems. and problems - solve innovative minds.

3. Civil engineering.

As the population grows, so does the need for infrastructure. Critical areas in this sector include the maintenance and construction of new roads, water supply management, waste filtration and the development of residential properties in urban areas. One of the main advantages of civil engineering is that it is "recession proof". In a healthy economy, civil engineers build new infrastructure. In an economically difficult situation, civil engineers repair existing ones.

4. Environmental engineering work

Pollution and socio-economic trends will lead to a growing demand in the coming years of engineers who need to use their knowledge of science to develop new solutions in critical areas such as air and water pollution, recycling, waste management and green energy. With a high average salary, growth potential and the ability to work with the latest technology to implement critical changes, environmental technology has a bright future.

5. Biomedical engineering work.

To meet the needs of aging populations around the world and to drive rapid innovation in medical technology, including 3D printing and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), the demand for biomedical engineers to enter and develop the medical workforce will increase.

6. Mining engineer

Mining is the beginning of a product's life cycle, as it is at this stage that raw materials are extracted for everything that is produced. A mining engineer usually plans open pit and underground mines and oversees their excavation and construction. They also design methods to process the extracted materials and to transport them to various processing plants. As iron consumption declines in the coming decades, the demand for lithium, copper, nickel and other metals needed for electronic products and batteries will continue to increase.

7. Project Engineer

A project engineer is a critical field that is needed in all technical areas. Project engineering is generally not explicitly studied, since you can get a job as a project engineer with each engineering degree. However, more studies in project management are generally recommended after a bachelor's degree to improve overall efficiency. A project engineer manages technical projects that can include the development, acquisition, manufacture and delivery of small and simple components to complex chemical treatment plants. The role is multidisciplinary and requires a basic technical understanding of all aspects of the project.