In short, a switchboard operator answers incoming phone calls coming into a business. They need to field questions from callers, determine which parties they need to talk to and connect them. For a small office, a switchboard operator could be the office manager, front desk attendant, or an executive assistant. Large organizations like a school district, the switchboard operator plays an essential role in answering inbound calls related to attendance, providing directions, and connecting employment verification calls to Human Resources. The duties will vary depending on your organization and how essential inbound calls are to the daily operations. For convenience, switchboard operators can answer calls with a headset and manage calls easily from a VoIP office switchboard on their computer.