Occupation Details
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.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$32,010.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,250.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$48,230.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
5,190
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
4,840
+-35 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
492
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
-0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
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.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
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.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Belt diverters
- Conveyer belts
- Copy machines
- Credit card authorization software
- Electronic cash registers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
Technology
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Automated manifest system software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Email software
- IBM Sterling Configure, Price, Quote
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft System Center
- Microsoft Word
- SAP business and customer relations management software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- advise clients or customers
- manage inventories or supplies
- inspect products or materials for damage, defects, or shortages
- collect payment
- provide customer service
- sell merchandise
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use telephone communication techniques
- investigate customer complaints
- compile data for financial reports
- process account invoices
- calculate rates for organization's products or services
- code data from records
- maintain account records
- take messages
- resolve customer or public complaints
- review records for completeness
- write business correspondence
- maintain records, reports, or files
- fill out business or government forms
- process orders for merchandise
- maintain inventory of office forms
- prepare financial reports
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- obtain information from individuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
- Receive and respond to customer complaints.
- Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
- Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
- Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
- Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.
- Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
- Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.
- Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
- Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
- Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
- Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
- Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.
- Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.
- File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
- Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.
- Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.
- Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.
- Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Information and record clerks (Intro)
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreOrder clerks
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More