Career Details :: Order Clerks
Description
Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Calculates and compiles statistics and prepares reports for management.
- Checks inventory control to determine availability of merchandise and notifies department of order that would deplete stock.
- Computes total charge for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
- Routes or relays orders to specified department or unit to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
- Recommends merchandise or services to customer.
- Collects charge vouchers and cash for service and keeps record of transaction.
- Recommends type of packing or labeling needed on order.
- Confers with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace merchandise or delayed shipments.
- Reviews orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forwards incomplete orders for further processing.
- Prepares invoices and shipping documents.
- Receives and handles customer complaints.
- Attempts to sell additional merchandise or service to prospective or current customers by phone or through visits.
- Files copies of orders received or posts order on records.
- Inspects outgoing work for compliance with customer's specifications.
- Writes or types information on form to record customer's requests and specifications.
- Informs customer by mail or phone of information, such as unit price, shipping date, anticipated delay, and additional information needed.
Related Careers
- Bill and Account Collectors
- Counter and Rental Clerks
- Insurance Claims Clerks
- Insurance Policy Processing Clerks
- Insurance Sales Agents
- Library Assistants, Clerical
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks
- New Accounts Clerks
- Receptionists and Information Clerks
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Selling or Influencing Others
- Processing Information
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Provide a Service to Others
- Indoors
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Deal With External Customers
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Administrative Science |  [ add ] |
| Administrative Secretary | [ add ] |
| Administrative Systems | [ add ] |
| Business/Public Administration | [ add ] |
| Clerical Studies | [ add ] |
| General Office Procedures | [ add ] |
| Office Technology | [ add ] |
| Secretarial | [ add ] |
| Secretarial Science | [ add ] |
| Secretarial/Office Studies | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.