Dispatchers are required to perform different duties related to the communication within the company and also with the public. They engage in tracking vehicles, setting schedules for the services provided, receiving messages, among other activities. In the cases where they interact with the public, they work as a bridge between the clients and their needs. These professionals may work in fire departments, taxicab agencies, police departments, truck companies, emergency medical services, etc.

Dispatchers usually perform many of the following tasks:
• Monitoring police activity.
• Preparing schedules.
• Answering calls.
• Giving advice to the public.
•   Creating records about calls.

• Being able to stay alert and act quickly.
• Having willingness to help.
• Being familiar with the latest technologies.
• Having excellent interpersonal skills.
• Being able to detect hoax calls.
• Having basic knowledge of transportation facilities.
• Being able to work under pressure.
• Having good communication skills.
• Being flexible and adaptable.
• Having high attention to details.

Applicants for Dispatcher job placements are required to have a High School Degree as a minimum academic qualification. They should have a clean criminal record, must be citizens of the United States, and be over eighteen years old. Internship programs are offered to candidates who have the required qualifications for this job by organizations having communication units, such as police stations and fire departments. These schemes may include cardio pulmonary resuscitation and first aid training in order to provide assistance in calls of emergency cases. Some employers demand applicants having one year of work experience as a dispatcher to make sure that they understand the working pattern of these posts.