Should you still consider becoming a telephone operator

Should you still consider becoming a telephone operator It’s an iconic image from the middle of the 20th century: a telephone operator sitting at a crazily lit-up switchboard, wearing headphones and directing phone calls wherever they need to go. Technologically, we’ve moved on and digitized- average calls don’t need that kind of human help anymore. But what about those operators? Are there still jobs out there for efficient people with great phone skills? Short answer: yes. The job just looks much different than it used to. Today’s telephone operators are specialty agents, working directly in customer service to manage large volumes of phone calls, or in places like hotels or other hospitality facilities that may have their own internal phone systems. Instead of manually placing calls, today’s telephone operator is likely juggling multiple lines, performing triage on incoming calls in a call center or other multi-line phone operation. They’re also employed in emergency dispatch centers and other places where a human voice and expertise is needed to route calls quickly and efficiently to the right place.Where can you find phone operator jobs?Because the job landscape for phone operators is much different than it was just 30 years ago, you’ll need to use some creativity in your  job search. You might want to start by looking at particular industries instead of making general searches. Look for openings at telecommunications companies, as well as logistics companies, hotels, and other industries that still rely on phone bookings or reservations or that offer a lot of phone support (like call centers).Phone companies also still employ live people for directory assistance calls who handle things such as questions about public phone numbers and addresses and assist people with placing international calls. Phone operators are also still needed to help people place collect calls- sure, these are not quite as prevalent as they used to be with unlimited cell phone calling pl ans, but they’re still relevant enough to require phone operators to place them.How many phone operator jobs are out there?According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2012 there were fewer than 14,000 people specifically designated as â€Å"phone operators,† but that number expands once you include the hospitality industry, emergency dispatchers, and other support jobs that rely almost entirely on communicating by phone.What skills do phone operators have?Phone operators are essentially customer service personnel, and need to have a certain set of skills:People skillsCommunication skillsCustomer service focusOrganizational skillsProblem solving skillsMost companies will provide on-the-job training for its operators, but there’s no special training or educational program specifically for phone operators.So should you consider becoming a phone operator?If you have the skills and a strong sense of nostalgia, then why not? We haven’t become an entirely digital society yet, and sometimes an authoritative and knowledgeable human voice is absolutely as necessary as it ever was.

Habits and Traits of Millipedes, Class Diplopoda

Habits and Traits of Millipedes, Class Diplopoda The common name millipede literally means thousand legs. Millipedes can have a lot of legs, but not nearly as many as their name suggests. If you compost your organic waste or spend any time gardening, youre bound to find a millipede or two curled up in the soil. All About Millipedes Like insects and spiders, millipedes belong to the phylum Arthropoda. This is where the similarities end, however, as millipedes belong to their own class- the class Diplopoda. Millipedes move slowly on their short legs, which are designed to help them push their way through the soil and vegetative litter. Their legs remain in line with their bodies, and number two pairs per body segment. Only the first three body segments- those of the thorax- have single pairs of legs. Centipedes, in contrast, have single pairs of legs on every body segment. Millipede bodies are elongate and usually cylindrical. Flat-backed millipedes, as you might guess, appear flatter than other worm-shaped cousins. Youll need to look closely to see a millipedes short antennae. Theyre nocturnal creatures that live mostly in the soil and have poor sight when they can see at all. The Millipede Diet Millipedes feed on decaying plant matter, functioning as decomposers in the ecosystem. A few millipede species may be carnivorous as well. Newly hatched millipedes must ingest microbes to help them digest plant matter. They introduce these necessary partners into their systems by feeding on fungi in the soil, or by eating their own feces. The Millipede Life Cycle Mated female millipedes lay their eggs in the soil. Some species lay eggs singly, while others deposit them in clusters. Depending on the type of millipede, the female may lay anywhere from a few dozen to several thousand eggs in her lifetime. Millipedes undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Once the young millipedes hatch, they stay within the underground nest until theyve molted at least once. With each molt, the millipede gains more body segments and more legs. It may take many months for them to achieve adulthood. Special Adaptations and Defenses of Millipedes When threatened, millipedes often curl into a tight ball or spiral in the soil. Though they cannot bite, many millipedes do emit poisonous or foul-smelling compounds through their skin. In some cases, these substances may burn or sting, and may even discolor your skin temporarily if you handle one. Some of the brightly colored millipedes secrete cyanide compounds. Large, tropical millipedes can even shoot a noxious compound several feet at their attackers eyes.