Order Clerks
People classed as Order Clerks receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. The skills rated most useful are active listening, speaking, and service orientation. A regular part of the work is to review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing. On the six-type interest model it reads CER, meaning orderly work with data, records and clear procedures comes first, followed by leading, persuading and making business decisions. Getting in usually takes a few months to a year of learning on the job, a level O*NET calls some preparation. If you want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, keep it on your list. If you need research, analysis and working through hard problems, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main tasks
- 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.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You like taking the lead and making the call.
- You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
- You are comfortable relying on active listening and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
- You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You want a career built on years of advanced study.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CER takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.
Preparation
Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Hub Associate
- Materials Specialist
- Order Analyst
- Order Clerk
- Order Entry Administrator (Order Entry Admin)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.