Telemarketer

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Telephone Solicitors and Telemarketers (6623.4) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Other Elemental Sales Occupations (G973) 
• 2011 NOC: Other sales related occupations (6623) 
• 2016 NOC: Other sales related occupations (6623) 

Telemarketers may telephone businesses or private individuals to:

• identify potential customers
• arrange appointments for sales demonstrations
• build relationships with current and potential customers
• solicit sales for goods or services
• ask for donations for charitable causes
• conduct market or client surveys
• communicate product or account changes that could lead to sales opportunities
• conduct customer satisfaction surveys.

They may obtain names and telephone numbers from lists of previous customers or donors, reply cards from magazines, lists obtained or purchased from other sources, telephone directories or Internet searches.

Duties and responsibilities vary from one organization to another but, in general, telemarketers:

• telephone prospective customers to describe the service or merchandise offered, or to solicit information for surveys
• deliver prepared sales talks that are designed to initiate conversations about products and services, and persuade customers to buy
• answer questions and quote prices
• record names, addresses, purchases and reactions, or sign people up to attend sales presentations.

Telemarketers may work flexible hours from their own homes, or work shifts in an automated office environment. Evening and weekend work usually is required.

Telemarketers need:

• a telephone voice that conveys sincerity and confidence
• tenacity, a strong sense of self-esteem and a sense of humour
• organizational skills
• the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• the ability to perform repetitive tasks
• the ability to deal with the stress of rejections
• the ability to think quickly and respond smoothly and tactfully.

They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to their work, persuading people and distributing information to other workers.

Employment and Advancement

Telemarketers work for:

• organizations with in-house telemarketing departments
• outsourcing companies or service bureaus that contract out telemarketing services to other companies and charities.

Experienced telemarketers may advance to supervisory, training, quality assurance or script-writing positions. Telemarketers with additional education and leadership skills may advance to contact centre management positions.

Telemarketers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6623: Other elemental sales occupations. In Alberta, 80% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Retail Trade [pdf]
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services [pdf]
• Business, Building and Other Support Services [pdf]

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the G973: Other Elemental Sales Occupations occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 97 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.