Occupation

Order Clerks

Human Advantage 77%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.5 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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: 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) +53 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
  2. Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
  3. Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
  4. Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
  5. Receive and respond to customer complaints.
  6. Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
  7. Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
  8. Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
  9. Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
  10. File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
  11. Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.

Supplemental Tasks (8)

  1. Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.
  2. Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.
  3. Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
  4. Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.
  5. Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.
  6. Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.
  7. Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.
  8. Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: 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.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
63%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
24%
Bachelor's Degree
12%
Some College Courses
1%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (20)

  • Automated manifest system software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Email software
  • IBM Sterling Configure, Price, Quote
  • Inventory management systems
  • Microsoft System Center
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Order management software
  • Warehouse management system WMS
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (9)

  • Belt diverters
  • Conveyer belts
  • Copy machines
  • Credit card authorization software
  • Electronic cash registers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Multiline telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Printing calculators

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Leadership & Operations Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Order Clerks You are here
Zone 3
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks 78% match
Zone 4
Biofuels Production Managers 78% match
Zone 5
Chief Sustainability Officers 77% match

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Related Occupations

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Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksClosely Related Postal Service ClerksClosely Related Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelClosely Related Customer Service RepresentativesClosely Related Procurement ClerksClosely Related Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Counter and Rental Clerks Stockers and Order Fillers
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Billing and Posting Clerks Office Clerks, General Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products Advertising Sales Agents Cashiers Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Purchasing Managers Driver/Sales Workers Sales Managers First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

Real Talk

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