What they do
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Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
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| Also called: |
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411 Directory Assistance Operator, Directory Assistance Operator, Information Specialist, Live Source Operator, Long Distance Operator (LD Operator), Telecommunications Operator, Telephone Operator, Toll Operator
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Wages
Wage rates not available for Vermont
but may be for the nation and other states at
CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| United States - 2020 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
- Hospitals; state, local, and private
| 28% |
- Ambulatory healthcare services
| 15% |
| 15% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 7% |
| 5% |
| More at BLS |
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Knowledge
| People in this career often know a lot about: |
- 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.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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- Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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- 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.
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| More at O*NET |
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Skills
| People in this career often have these skills: |
- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
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- Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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| More at O*NET |
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Interests
| People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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- Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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| What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
| People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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| More at O*NET |
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Tasks
| On the job, you would: |
- Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
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- Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.
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- Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
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| More at O*NET |
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| Related Occupations
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| Career Video
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Projected Employment
Projected employment not available for Vermont
but may be for the nation and other states at
CareerOneStop |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Short-term on-the-job training
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| Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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- Physical activity is Somewhat Important
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- Level of activity is Very Low
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| Low |  | High |
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| Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
| Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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| Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
| How much education do most people in this career have? |
| Education level |  | Percent of
U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate | | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
| Associate's degree | | 0% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 1% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 84% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 16% |
| More at O*NET |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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- Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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- Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
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- Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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| More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Working with Computers
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
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- Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
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- Operate communications equipment or systems.
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- Assist individuals with paperwork.
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- Discuss account status or activity with customers or patrons.
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| More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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