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Order Clerks

Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Generally receives orders via mail, phone, fax, or other electronic means. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.

What you’d do

  • Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
  • Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
  • Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
  • Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
  • Receive and respond to customer complaints.
  • Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
  • Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
  • Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Service Orientation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Judgment and Decision Making

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Materials Specialist
  • Order Clerk
  • Warehouse Clerk
  • Warehouse Person
  • Hub Associate
  • Order Analyst

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