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Communications operator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Stefka Hristova Ph.D.,
Robert Glenn Howard Ph.D.
Communications operator example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical communications operator skills. We ranked the top skills for communications operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.5% of communications operator resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a communications operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 communications operator skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how communications operators use patients:
  • Maintained accurate records and protected patients confidentially.
  • Assisted patients and callers with directions, clinic hours, name and numbers of departments, and appointment times and dates.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how communications operators use customer service:
  • Operate in a high pace environment, utilizing multiple communication equipment, while maintaining quality customer service.
  • Provide exceptional customer service receiving and responding to incoming calls from customers and coworkers.

3. Emergency Situations

Here's how communications operators use emergency situations:
  • Elicit information, quickly and accurately analyze situations and choose an effective course of action for both emergency and non-emergency situations.
  • Respond to emergencies and document and relay comprehensive, accurate information to proper parties in emergency situations.

4. PBX

PBX represents Private Branch Exchange, which is a private phone network utilized inside an organization or association. The clients of the PBX telephone framework can call internally (inside their organization) and remotely (with the rest of the world), utilizing diverse correspondence stations like Voice over IP or ISDN.

Here's how communications operators use pbx:
  • Answered PBX phones for the hospital including paging duties and taking messages.
  • Operate PBX switchboards to facilitate call transfers.

5. Public Safety

Public safety can be defined as the well-being or protection of a community, citizen, or nation as a whole. There are 4 basic elements that come under public safety namely: national security, border policy, countering crime, and emergency management.

Here's how communications operators use public safety:
  • Perform communications and record-keeping duties relative to airport emergency service/public safety incidents using computer aided dispatching program (CAD).
  • Key Responsibilities: * Received & processed emergency & non-emergency calls requesting assistance or public safety services.

6. Non-Emergency Calls

Non-emergency calls are calls that do not require immediate attention or intervention. They are simply a request for police, fire or rescue service that does not present a life or death situation. In this case, the local non-emergency number should be used if immediate dispatch of the police is not required.

Here's how communications operators use non-emergency calls:
  • Assisted the public with their life threatening and non-emergency calls * Communicated with law enforcement officers to relay pertinent information
  • Received emergency and non-emergency calls *Routed call to appropriate authority *Maintain operation of terminals linked with SLED & FBI

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7. Computer Aided Dispatch

Here's how communications operators use computer aided dispatch:
  • Review fire apparatus and personnel recommendations generated by computer aided dispatch system.
  • Maintain contact with all police and fire units on assignment; maintain their status and location by using computer aided dispatch.

8. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how communications operators use telephone calls:
  • Prepare and maintain accurate records and logs of all radio transmissions, telephone calls, resource files, and information systems.
  • Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, provide information during non-business hours or when switch board is closed.

9. Phone Calls

Phone calls are a wireless or wired connection made over a telephone or a mobile phone between two people. Two parties are involved in a phone call, the caller and the receiver. A caller dials the number of the one he wants to call, and the recipient hears a bell or a tune to which he picks up the call. The call establishes a connection between them through which they can communicate. The voice is converted into signals and is transmitted through wired or wireless technology.

Here's how communications operators use phone calls:
  • Supervised intensive emergency phone calls to accurately and efficiently send the appropriate agencies to assist callers with immediate response.
  • Answered emergency and non-emergency phone calls and transcribed the information into a computer-aided- dispatch program.

10. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how communications operators use data entry:
  • Input data entry and inquiry for State Crime Information Center (SCIC) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
  • Coordinated trooper activity, provided accurate daily records, operated GCIC system, performed data entry, and provided public 911 assistance

11. Office Equipment

Here's how communications operators use office equipment:
  • Operate office equipment including, but not limited to, computers, fax machine, e-mail, etc.
  • Operate office equipment such as fax machines, copiers, and manage or arrange for repair when needed.

12. Stressful Situations

A stressful event is extremely difficult to deal with under normal circumstances. Such situations take a toll on a person's mental health. Stressful situations can arrive in both personal and work life.

Here's how communications operators use stressful situations:
  • Developed/implemented an exception program allowing agents to decompress from stressful situations without penalty.
  • Demonstrated composure by being able to handle extremely stressful situations with a calm and professional manner.

13. Computer System

Here's how communications operators use computer system:
  • Log all requests with general patient information into the computer system accurately.
  • Operated a multiple computer system utilizing various programs simultaneously.

14. Two-Way Radio

Here's how communications operators use two-way radio:
  • Handle two-way radio traffic on regular and emergency calls related to joint commission specifications.
  • Dispatched Security Dept.calls by two-way radio and documented all information.

15. Emergency Codes

Here's how communications operators use emergency codes:
  • Paged emergency codes on overhead system and beeped required personal and documented.
  • Dispatched fifteen different emergency codes into the hospital.
top-skills

What skills help Communications Operators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on communications operator resumes?

Dr. Stefka Hristova Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Digital Media, Humanities, Communication, Culture, and Media Undergraduate Program Director, Co-Leader for Tech Forward Education for the 21st Century IDEA HUB GenEd, Michigan Technological University

Communication is a central block for building a community. Through communication on interpersonal, group, organizational, and public levels, we can co-create shared cultures. As such, communication is at the core of our personal, professional, and social worlds. Being a good communicator entails not only the ability to speak and write/design but also expertise in being a good listener and careful reader of multimedia content. Communicators can create a common ground, and as such, they are indispensable to organizations that seek to have a meaningful engagement with the public.

What soft skills should all communications operators possess?

Robert Glenn Howard Ph.D.

Director, Digital Studies & DesignLab, Professor, Department of Communication Arts, Affiliated Faculty, University of Wisconsin -- Madison

Soft skills are always key in any professional context, and they are often the sort of thing you can convey to a potential employer by giving a good interview: one that shows you can listen and respond verbally at the moment.

What hard/technical skills are most important for communications operators?

Robert Glenn Howard Ph.D.

Director, Digital Studies & DesignLab, Professor, Department of Communication Arts, Affiliated Faculty, University of Wisconsin -- Madison

Technical skills for communication officers include using social media platforms, using digital media software to create graphic, video, and audio content, understanding and doing some basic coding. Understanding the use of metadata tagging, social media marketing techniques, and database design and how those structures work can be assets.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about communications operator

List of communications operator skills to add to your resume

Communications operator skills

The most important skills for a communications operator resume and required skills for a communications operator to have include:

  • Patients
  • Customer Service
  • Emergency Situations
  • PBX
  • Public Safety
  • Non-Emergency Calls
  • Computer Aided Dispatch
  • Telephone Calls
  • Phone Calls
  • Data Entry
  • Office Equipment
  • Stressful Situations
  • Computer System
  • Two-Way Radio
  • Emergency Codes
  • Exceptional Guest
  • NCIC
  • CAD
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Communications Equipment
  • Dispatch System
  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • EMS
  • Dispatch Police
  • Communications Systems
  • Paging Systems
  • Radio Communications
  • Fire Alarms
  • Radio Systems
  • Radio Traffic
  • Emergency Services
  • Alarm Systems
  • TDD
  • CPR
  • Two Way Radios
  • HIPAA
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Service Calls
  • Front Desk
  • EMD
  • Transferring Calls
  • Multi-Line Phone System
  • Radio Equipment
  • Computer Terminals
  • On-Call Schedules
  • Transmitters
  • CCTV
  • Inbound Calls
  • Radio Transmissions

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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