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SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS, INCLUDING ANSWERING SERVICE
 
Occupation Description:
 
  Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
 
Typical Tasks:
 
 
  • Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
  • Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
  • 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.
  • Perform various data entry or word processing tasks, such as updating phone directories, typing or proofreading documents, or creating schedules.
  • Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.
 
Knowledge:
 
 
  • Customer and Personal Service - 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..
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar..
  • Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems..
  • Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology..
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming..
  • Administration and Management - 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..
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media..
 
Search for Jobs on CareerOneStop:
 
  Search for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Jobs
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Education & Training:
 
  Short-term on-the-job training (short demonstration up to one month)
 
Wage Information:
 
 
Region Average Annual Average Hourly Entry Level (hourly) Mid-Range  (hourly)
Statewide $40,326.00 $19.39 $15.10 $15.34 - $24.08
Bridgeport/Stamford $37,166.00 $17.87 $15.71 $16.08 - $18.20
Hartford $43,715.00 $21.02 $15.13 $15.15 - $25.35
New Haven $39,397.00 $18.94 $15.18 $15.28 - $22.97
Waterbury $33,364.00 $16.04 $13.81 $13.81 - $18.23
Torrington $36,463.00 $17.53 $14.84 $14.84 - $19.06
      
Select a town to see its region Not sure which Region applies to you?
    

 
Occupation Outlook:
 
 
Region Employment Average Annual Growth Rate Average Annual Job Openings
2020 2030
State of Connecticut 730 540 -0.2% 52
 
Key:
  N/A = Not Applicable, ***** = Over $60.00 per hour, ##### = Over $124,821
 
Similar Occupations:
 
 
State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109
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