OCCUPATION THESAURUS

EMERGENCY DISPATCHER



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HELPFUL TIP:

There’s probably a good reason why your character chose their career. Think about how certain talents and skills, a dominant positive or negative trait, or even an emotional wound might have influenced this decision. And once they're on the job, don't forget about the many work-related conflict scenarios you can throw at them to create tension and add complications.
OVERVIEW:
When someone calls 911 during an emergency situation, the first point of contact is the dispatcher. This person takes calls, gathers vital information, offers medical advice when necessary (such as how to perform CPR), passes the information along to the correct agencies (police, ambulances, fire department, etc.), and records the information into a database so it's available to all parties. While the job requirements are fairly technical, this position requires a lot of finesse, since the dispatcher will need to remain calm and think clearly under high pressure, life-or-death circumstances. Turnover is high in this field due to the stressful nature of the job.

NECESSARY TRAINING:
Most dispatch positions require a high school diploma or GED. Required instruction includes on-the-job training as well as extensive classroom training that usually occurs during the dispatcher's first year.

USEFUL SKILLS, TALENTS, OR ABILITIES:
A KNACK FOR LANGUAGES, BASIC FIRST AID, ENHANCED HEARING, EXCEPTIONAL MEMORY, GAINING THE TRUST OF OTHERS, GOOD LISTENING SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE OF EXPLOSIVES, MULTITASKING, PREDICTING THE WEATHER, READING PEOPLE

HELPFUL POSITIVE TRAITS:
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HELPFUL NEGATIVE TRAITS:
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EMOTIONAL WOUNDS THAT MAY HAVE FACTORED INTO THIS OCCUPATION CHOICE:
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SOURCES OF FRICTION:
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PEOPLE THEY MIGHT INTERACT WITH:
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HOW THIS OCCUPATION MIGHT IMPACT ONE'S BASIC NEEDS:
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TWISTING THE STEREOTYPE:
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REASONS THE CHARACTER MAY HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO THIS PROFESSION:
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