In the field of a project management, schedulers are responsible for maintaining project schedules and ensuring the execution of these tasks on time. Different industries such as construction, manufacturing and production hire schedulers due to the time-specific nature of their work. They have to create the master schedule for each new project and modify it whenever necessary.
Other professionals involved in scheduler work are appointment schedulers who schedule appointments for a business executive and conduct follow up on the appointment in the form of documentation, correspondence letters, emails and telephone calls. A great deal of planning work goes into the job tasks of a scheduler as they have to predetermine the logistical requirements of a project or appointment and plan the schedule accordingly.
Description
Creation of a project schedule, modifying and reviewing it regularly are the chief job functions of a scheduler. They also record the execution of work and determine whether it is being completed on time or not. Evaluating the overall progress of the project is another task carried out by a scheduler. They have to coordinate with the various departments in an organization in order to deliberate about the overall progress and find solutions to any pending problems within the project.
Liaising with suppliers and other third party sources for the timely arrival of products is carried out by schedulers. In some cases, they may also carry out some technical tasks related to the project. This depends on their technical qualification and the specific requirements of the task. Assisting project managers with various tasks and helping in the solution of different schedule related problems are handled by schedulers.
Requirements
Although a high school diploma is sufficient for a scheduler's position, many hiring organizations prefer candidates who possess a bachelor's degree in business administration or any other related subject. Prior experience in administrative work is considered to be valuable for those applying for this job position. Most schedulers are trained on the job and learn about the different company-specific procedures in these training programs.
Skills
As the major job function of a scheduler is to create schedule reports, they should possess excellent written communication skills and good knowledge about software programs such as MS Excel, Word and Outlook. They should have comprehensive knowledge about scheduling systems and their principles. Possessing good interpersonal skills is also important as they have to frequently communicate with professionals from other departments and coordinate with them on the various tasks that are carried out in scheduler work. Besides these qualities, they should also have good analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills in order to carry out their work in an efficient manner.
Work Conditions
Most schedulers work in an office based environment which has good ventilation and lighting. With the advent of technology, most tasks of schedulers are carried out online or on the phone. Those who still use traditional methods of communicating may have to spend long hours on foot and travel around various departments in the company all day. Long hours of sitting in front of a computer monitor can result in eye strain and other health related problems for schedulers. Failure to meet deadlines can add to mental pressure as this is a goal oriented job.
Career Advancement
Schedulers may receive promotion in the form of supervisory or even managerial roles based on their qualifications and overall experience in the company. Because of the diverse nature of their job, they may also move on to different roles in other departments such as human resources, administration or sales.
Salary and Benefits
The average salary of a scheduler is around $60,000 and this figure may vary depending upon the industry, specific organization, skill level and experience of a particular individual. Some schedulers working in senior positions are also known to earn substantially higher salary packages. They receive fringe benefits in the form of paid vacations, leaves, pension plans and health insurance plans.
Scheduler work can be a rewarding line of work for those who possess the necessary amount of skills and dedication required for this job. It has a number of job advancement options making it a viable career option.