Telephonist

Typical Salary

£12,000 To £24,000

Typical Hours

38 to 40 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Telephonist

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
applying directly

College / University

You could take an introductory course like:

Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
Level 2 Certificate in Contact Centre Operations

Apprenticeship

You could do an intermediate apprenticeship in customer service.

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

There are no set requirements for applying directly for jobs, though employers may ask for some GCSEs. Basic computer skills and admin experience can be useful.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

customer service skills
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be flexible and open to change
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to work well with others
excellent verbal communication skills
knowledge of English language
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day tasks will vary with the type of organisation you work for, but may include:

answering and connecting calls using a computerised switchboard system
testing lines and reporting faults
updating directories
taking and passing on messages
carrying out basic administration tasks
working in a team with 'front of house' staff

Working Environment

You could work in a contact centre, in a reception area or in an office.

Career Path & Progression

With experience you could apply for jobs in a related area. You could apply for work as an administrator, customer services specialist or customer services supervisor.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

Temporary work can be a useful way to get started in this career and can lead to permanent jobs.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.