Career Details
Career Details

Career Details

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43-4151.00 - 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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
195,900
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
194,300
Estimate
Change in Employment
-1,500
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-0.8%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
  • Receive and respond to customer complaints.
  • Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
  • Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
  • Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
  • Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete 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.
  • Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
  • Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.
  • Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
  • Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.
  • Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
  • Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.
Supplemental
  • Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.
  • Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.
  • Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 87%
    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.
 Clerical
  • 79%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 English Language
  • 73%
    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
  • 72%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 62%
    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.
 Telecommunications
  • 62%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Production and Processing
  • 62%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 59%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Transportation
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Administration and Management
  • 57%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Mathematics
  • 55%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Communications and Media
  • 53%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 51%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Conveyors and accessories
  • Belt diverters
  • Conveyer belts
 Duplicating machines
  • Copy machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
 Computer data input devices
  • Credit card authorization software
 Calculating machines and accessories
  • Electronic cash registers
  • Printing calculators
 Personal communication devices
  • Multiline telephone systems
 Computers
  • Personal computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Automated manifest system software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • IBM Sterling Configure, Price, QuoteHOT
  • Intuit QuickBooksHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • SAPHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 System management software
  • Microsoft System Center
 Operating environment software
  • Palm OSHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Product/Equipment
  • SAP Certified Application Associate - Order Fulfillment with SAP ERP 6.0 EHP5
    3999 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073888-227-1727

  • SAP Certified Application Associate - Sales and Distribution, ERP 6.0 EhP6
    3999 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073888-227-1727

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Bridgewater College
 Programs
Eastern Shore Community College
 Programs
Paul D. Camp Community College
 Programs
Randolph-Macon College
 Programs
Southside Virginia Community College
 Programs
Tidewater Community College
 Programs
Wytheville Community College
 Programs