Astra jobs: what it can do on calls
Jobs are the plain-language instructions that define what Astra handles on a call — each job is a name plus optional instructions, and together they become the agent's brief. They live in the agent's Skills section, next to actions — the things Astra can actually do for a caller, such as texting a link.
The suggested jobs
The Skills section offers quick-add suggestions you can enable with one click:
- Take booking requests — collects the caller's name, number, and preferred days or times; your team confirms the appointment. (Astra does not have calendar access, so it never promises a specific slot.)
- Answer common questions — answers about hours, services, pricing, and policies from the knowledge base, and offers to take a message when unsure.
- Take a message — captures the caller's name, callback number, and reason so the team can follow up.
- Transfer to a human — hands the call to the outside phone number set as the call-forwarding destination on Astra's number (a direct, unannounced transfer); without one, Astra takes a detailed message and promises a prompt callback. Astra can't ring the team in the app or choose between departments.
You can add any custom job on top of these.
Step-by-step
Click the AI agent icon in the left sidebar and open your agent (click its card if you have several).
Open the Skills section. It starts with a short explainer — Jobs — what it handles vs Actions — what it can do — followed by the two groups.
Under Jobs — what it handles on calls:
- Click any dashed suggestion chip (for example, + Take a message) to add it to the list.
- To add a custom job, use the form at the bottom of the list: type a name (for example, "Qualify new leads"), optionally add Instructions for the agent, and click Add job.
- Remove a job anytime with the × on its row.
Click Save draft, then Publish — job changes only reach the live agent after publishing. The status bar's N jobs · N actions chip updates as you go.
How jobs work with everything else
- Jobs describe the "what"; the knowledge base supplies the facts. "Answer common questions" only works well if your hours, services, and policies are in the knowledge base. Astra also knows your work schedule automatically and can answer "when are you open?" from it.
- Every agent can end calls gracefully, and a transfer option is offered when a forwarding destination is set on Astra's number. Without one, Astra is honest with callers: it takes a message rather than pretending it can transfer. There is one destination per agent — "transfer to sales" and "transfer to support" can't go to different places yet.
- Jobs say what to handle; actions are things Astra can actually do. When a job like "Take booking requests" needs a follow-through — sending the caller your booking link — add an action under Actions — what it can do for the caller, just below Jobs in the same Skills section. See Have Astra text callers during a call.
- Keep instructions short and concrete — "Capture the caller's name, number, and reason, then promise a same-day callback" beats a paragraph of prose.
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Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a job?
A job is a plain-language instruction — a name plus optional details — that becomes part of Astra's brief for every call. You're describing what it should handle, in your own words.
When do job changes take effect?
After Save draft (to store them) and Publish (to update the live agent). The Skills section reminds you of this under the jobs list.
What is the difference between a job and an action?
A job is what Astra handles in conversation — take booking requests, answer questions, take a message. An action is something Astra actually does for the caller during the call — today, texting them a message you wrote, like your booking link. A job collects the booking details; an action sends the booking link. Both live in the agent's Skills section.
Can Astra book appointments directly on my calendar?
Not yet — Astra takes booking requests: it collects the caller's name, number, and preferred times, and your team confirms the appointment. There is no calendar integration today.
Can Astra transfer callers to a real person?
Astra can hand a call to one outside phone number — the call-forwarding destination set on the number Astra answers (for example your cell phone). It is a direct (blind) transfer. Astra can't ring your team in the Ody app, choose a department like sales or support, or pick a specific teammate. If no forwarding destination is set, Astra takes a detailed message and promises a prompt callback.
Can Astra send interested callers to my sales line?
Yes, if your sales line is an outside phone number: set call forwarding on Astra's number to that phone, then route the number to Astra (in that order), and add a job such as 'When a caller is interested in buying, transfer them.' Switchboard sets this up for you if you describe it. Astra can't tell sales from support — it has one transfer destination.