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43-4151.00 · Task explorer

Order Clerks: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

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.

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This source lists 19 tasks, including 11 marked Core and 8 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2023.

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19 tasks shown

Core · Task 2675 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.

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Core · Task 2668 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.

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Core · Task 2680 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.

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Core · Task 2683 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.

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Core · Task 2671 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Receive and respond to customer complaints.

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Core · Task 2674 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.

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Core · Task 2672 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.

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Core · Task 2678 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.

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Core · Task 2670 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.

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Core · Task 2677 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.

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Core · Task 2684 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.

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Supplemental · Task 2669 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.

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Supplemental · Task 2679 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.

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Supplemental · Task 2673 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.

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Supplemental · Task 2681 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.

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Supplemental · Task 2682 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.

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Supplemental · Task 2686 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.

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Supplemental · Task 2685 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.

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Supplemental · Task 2676 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.