At small telephone companies, operators usually receive shorter, less formal training. These operators may be paired with experienced personnel who provide hands-on instruction. Switchboard operators may also receive short-term, informal training, sometimes provided by the manufacturer of their switchboard equipment. New employees receive training on equipment operation and procedures for maximizing efficiency. They are familiarized with company policies, including the level of customer service performance they are expected to deliver.
Instructors monitor both the time and quality of trainees' responses to customer requests.
Supervisors may continue to closely monitor new employees after their initial training session is complete. Employers generally require a high school diploma for operator positions, and applicants should have strong reading, spelling, and numerical skills. Operators must have clear speech and good hearing. Computer literacy and typing skills are also important, and familiarity with a foreign language is helpful. After 1 or 2 years on the job, telephone operators may advance to other positions within a company.