Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Materials Specialist
- Order Clerk
- Warehouse Clerk
- Warehouse Person
Alternate Job Titles
- Ad Taker (Advertising Taker)
- Advertising Clerk (Ad Clerk)
- Advertising Space Clerk (Ad Space Clerk)
- Back Order Clerk
- Blood Bank Credit Clerk
- Blood Bank Order Control Clerk
- Catalogue Clerk
- Classified Ad Clerk (Classified Advertisement Clerk)
- Classified Ad Taker (Classified Advertisement Taker)
- Clerical Order Filler
- Compliance Clerk
- Contact Clerk
- Contact Worker
- Film Rental Clerk
- Food and Beverage Order Clerk
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administrative
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Information Ordering
- Deductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Integrity
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Apple Safari
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Belt diverters
- Conveyer belts
- Copy machines
- Credit card authorization software
- Electronic cash registers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Printing calculators
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $33,530 |
| Median | $44,660 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $61,680 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 83,420
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,190
Postal Service Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,630
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $66,260
Customer Service Representatives
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $42,830
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $57,770
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.