
Call or contact centre operator
Call or contact centre operators respond to telephone or email enquiries and complaints about the goods and services that an organisation offers. They take incoming calls and messages, assist customers with their specific inquiries, and provide callers with appropriate information or advice. They may also forward calls on to the most appropriate or relevant department of an organisation, follow up calls by letter, fax or email, ring customers to promote products or services, and also conduct phone surveys with customers.
Working conditions
Call or contact centre operators work indoors, usually sitting down for extended periods of time. They work at desks, often using hands-free telephone headsets whilst working on computers. They spend a significant amount of their working day talking to customers over the phone. They need to be particularly familiar with the products and services that their organisation sells or deals with as they are often required to pass this information on to their customers.
Tools and technologies
Call or contact centre operators usually work with computers and hands-free telephone headsets. Although most work in offices, often with other operators, some may work from home. They should be familiar with word processing and spreadsheet computer programs, and other means for undertaking data entry. They usually work in large organisations surrounded by many other employees.
Education and training
It is possible to work as a call or contact centre operator without any formal qualifications and get training on the job
However, entry into this occupation may be improved by obtaining a qualification in customer service or a related field. The Certificates II III in Customer Engagement are offered at TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations throughout Western Australia. Browse courses through Jobs and Skills WA and search on the My Skills website to find a registered provider near you.
You can also undertake a traineeship in customer engagement (level 2 or level 3). The traineeships take 12 months to complete and the Level 2 traineeship is available as a school-based traineeship.

Free support and assistance
Your local jobs and Skills Centre can provide free information, support and assistance to help you decide on the best training options to meet your goals.
Disclaimer
The information presented on the occupation profiles within this website is offered as a guide only.