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What does an associate specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

An associate specialist's responsibilities will vary on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical field, an assistant specialist performs tasks to support a senior specialist, such as maintaining medical records and data, devising strategies to improve services and care plans, and monitoring patients' vital signs and daily progress. There are also instances when an associate specialist must provide health care advice to patients and their families. Should the patient show signs of unusual behavior, it is crucial to report to the physician immediately.

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Associate specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real associate specialist resumes:

  • Manage FDA regulate products requirements for ISO2000 quality assurance.
  • Manage coordination, implementation and installation of next generation telemarketing system, an nt-base, client server environment.
  • Implement SharePoint business practices for 10k end users.
  • Organize an update data find in CRM system.
  • Generate daily client correspondence as well as special CRM promotional letters.
  • Install new motors and run new conduit for new installs and repairs.
  • Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on all plant wide equipment and PLC's.
  • Educate customers on all department products with a specific focus on GPS systems.
  • Perform service and repairs on campus automate HVAC systems to ensure proper operation.
  • Operate LIMS to edit and approve sample data and run trends and worksheet reports.
  • Communicate with end users about equipment that need work, work orders that are GMP relate.
  • Experience in analysis, troubleshooting and repairing of PLC s, controls and power distribution systems.
  • Create a library website using straight HTML, without the use of any web design software.
  • Communicate with both on site and off site engineers regarding openwork orders (including GMP orders).
  • Identify and organize tickets according to priority, escalate problems and contact tier two groups as appropriate.

Associate specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 47% of Associate Specialists are proficient in Windows, Product Knowledge, and Phone Calls. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Math skills, and Persistence.

We break down the percentage of Associate Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Windows, 47%

    Trained one on one and groups up to 8 people on Microsoft Windows 3.1 and suite of products.

  • Product Knowledge, 44%

    Teach and coach team members on brand history and product knowledge.

  • Phone Calls, 1%

    Take inbound phone calls for Federal Student Aid Information Center.

  • HR, 1%

    Create HR policies and procedures as well as audit group benefits databases for accuracy of benefit information and ensure employee eligibility.

  • Customer Service, 1%

    Interacted with various departments, including compliance, licensing, customer service, reconciliation and our clearing firm National Financial Services.

  • Sales Floor, 0%

    Mentor other associates * Run the sales floor * Interact with customers * Solve customer problem/ issues

Common skills that an associate specialist uses to do their job include "windows," "product knowledge," and "phone calls." You can find details on the most important associate specialist responsibilities below.

Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for an associate specialist to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." Additionally, an associate specialist resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "provided a superior level of customer service handled cash and credit card transactions exhibited strong communication/interpersonal skills"

Math skills. Another essential skill to perform associate specialist duties is math skills. Associate specialists responsibilities require that "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers." Associate specialists also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created quantitative reports in response to hr management for financial and operational analysis. "

Persistence. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of associate specialists is persistence. This skill is critical to many everyday associate specialist duties, as "a large number of attempted sales may not be successful, so sales workers should not be discouraged easily." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "combine patience, determination, and persistence to troubleshoot utility department issues by contacting vendors daily. "

Selling skills. A big part of what associate specialists do relies on "selling skills." You can see how essential it is to associate specialist responsibilities because "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical associate specialist tasks: "achieved high sales percentage with consultative, value-focused customer service approach. "

Customer-service skills. Another common skill required for associate specialist responsibilities is "customer-service skills." This skill comes up in the duties of associate specialists all the time, as "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." An excerpt from a real associate specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what an associate specialist does: "trained new hires on store knowledge and product knowledge meeting monthly sale goals assisting clients provided excellent customer service"

See the full list of associate specialist skills

The three companies that hire the most associate specialists are:

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Compare different associate specialists

Associate specialist vs. Recieving associate

Seasonal Associates are employees in a retail store during a particular season, such as holidays or school breaks. They may also be employed in any other business with a high volume of customers or clients, like theme parks, restaurants, or holiday destinations, during the aforementioned seasons. As such, they usually work on administrative or clerical activities. They may help in overseeing the store display, assisting customers, taking inventory, and restocking shelves, among others. In case seasonal associates do exceptionally well, the company may offer them a full-time engagement.

If we compare the average associate specialist annual salary with that of a recieving associate, we find that recieving associates typically earn a $63,303 lower salary than associate specialists make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both associate specialist and recieving associate positions are skilled in customer service, sales floor, and pos.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between associate specialists and recieving associate. For instance, associate specialist responsibilities require skills such as "windows," "product knowledge," "phone calls," and "hr." Whereas a recieving associate is skilled in "store merchandise," "store shelves," "electric pallet jack," and "safety procedures." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Recieving associates really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,751. Comparatively, associate specialists tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $95,239.The education levels that recieving associates earn slightly differ from associate specialists. In particular, recieving associates are 7.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an associate specialist. Additionally, they're 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Associate specialist vs. Seasonal associate

Seasonal associate positions earn lower pay than associate specialist roles. They earn a $62,156 lower salary than associate specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Associate specialists and seasonal associates both require similar skills like "product knowledge," "customer service," and "sales floor" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, associate specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "windows," "phone calls," "hr," and "gmp." Meanwhile, a seasonal associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "loss prevention," "customer issues," "back room," and "customer transactions." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, seasonal associates earn a lower salary than associate specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, seasonal associates earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,532. Whereas associate specialists have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $95,239.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Seasonal associates tend to reach lower levels of education than associate specialists. In fact, they're 5.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Associate specialist vs. Lumber associate

On average, lumber associates earn lower salaries than associate specialists, with a $59,987 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on associate specialists and lumber associates resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "sales floor," and "customer satisfaction.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an associate specialist is likely to be skilled in "windows," "product knowledge," "phone calls," and "hr," while a typical lumber associate is skilled in "forklift operation," "work ethic," "math," and "basic math."

Lumber associates earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $35,994. Associate specialists earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $95,239.When it comes to education, lumber associates tend to earn lower degree levels compared to associate specialists. In fact, they're 7.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 4.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Associate specialist vs. Garden associate

Garden associates typically earn lower pay than associate specialists. On average, garden associates earn a $61,241 lower salary per year.While both associate specialists and garden associates complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like product knowledge, customer service, and sales floor, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. An associate specialist uses "windows," "phone calls," "hr," and "gmp." Garden associates are more likely to have duties that require skills in "stock merchandise," "electric pallet jack," "drive sales," and "customer assistance. "garden associates reach lower levels of education compared to associate specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 7.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.