Order Clerks

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-4151
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

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

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Apple Safari, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Mozilla Firefox, Order management software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
• Postal Service Clerks
• Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
• Customer Service Representatives
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
• Procurement Clerks
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Stockers and Order Fillers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Order Clerks — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.