Telephone operators answer all kinds of phone systems -- private, corporate
and government. They listen to customers, and then do their best to meet each
caller's needs.
Long-distance operators help customers make long-distance calls, collect
calls, international calls, conference calls and reverse-charge calls. These
types of operators also handle calls from public pay phones.
Sometimes, they also have to help people in emergency situations. They
may even get people who can't dial the phone numbers themselves!
Private branch exchange (PBX) operators work the telephone systems in corporate,
government or industrial settings. They also answer calls, give callers information,
help customers and transfer calls. Some PBX operators occasionally make outgoing
calls for employees.
Directory assistance operators (DA) concentrate on helping customers find
business and residential phone numbers. Callers give them the information
they're looking for. The DA operator enters the information into their computer
and tells the caller what they found.
Finally, you have telephone operators who work at answering services. These
operators answer calls for the answering service's customers. Their main duty
is to relay messages from each incoming call so that clients don't lose business.
These operators may also make client appointments.
Operators either work alone or with other operators. Their work environment
is usually very comfortable, well lit and well ventilated.
Most operators work about 40 hours a week. Sometimes they also have to
work evenings, Sundays and holidays. New operators generally work either split
shifts or night shifts. Senior operators get first priority for the better
shifts.