Training in the use of automated equipment is usually done informally on the job. Communications skills, physical fitness, and the ability to work under pressure are important personal qualities for dispatchers. Residency in the city or county of employment is frequently required for public safety dispatchers. Dispatchers in transportation industries must be able to deal with sudden influxes of shipments and disruptions of shipping schedules caused by bad weather. Strength, stamina, good eyesight, and an ability to work at repetitive tasks and sometimes under pressure are important characteristics for stock clerks and traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks.
Advancement opportunities vary with the place of employment.
Dispatchers who work for private firms, which are usually small, will find few opportunities for advancement. Public safety dispatchers, on the other hand, may become a shift or divisional supervisor or chief of communications, or move to higher paying administrative jobs. Some may go on to become police officers or firefighters. In large firms, stock clerks may advance to invoice clerk, stock control clerk, or procurement clerk. Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks may be promoted to head clerk, and those with a broad understanding of shipping and receiving may enter a related field such as industrial traffic management.