3 answers
Sonia
Student
The Woodlands, Texas
1
Question
Updated
1012 views
I truly respect and admire the dedication and compassion required to be a Mortician/Undertaker/Funeral-Director, as my research into funeral service has revealed. To be forthright, I was hoping to conduct a brief interview consisting of just 8 questions for a project assignment by my teacher at LoneStar College. The funeral service profession has always intrigued me, and I wanted to explore whether it might be a path I could pursue. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find someone to interview considering how busy their schedule in this industry is. It would be awesome if my questions could be answered here. I have posted the questions below.
1. What do you do most of the time at work
2.What are the things you enjoy most about your job? What's most rewarding?
3.What are the things you enjoy the least about your job?
4. For most people in this job, what are the greatest struggles? Sacrifices? Adversities?
5. What are the job opportunities going to be like in your field in the near future?
6. What special personality traits does someone really need if they want a job like yours?
7. What are some things I should be doing in college to prepare for this career? (What skills should I be developing?)
8. What is one thing that you wish you would have known about this career before you entered it?
Login to comment
3 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1865
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Sonia !
I understand how disappointing it must be to not be able to locate funeral directors to interview. I think that I can answer some of your questions, although I am not a funeral director. At one time, I had five funeral directors in my family and two friends who had the career. I grew to learn a lot about it. So, if you will allow me, I would like to answer some of the questions based on what I've known and hopefully it could be inspirational and useful to you personally.
1. What a funeral Director does most at work varies depending upon how many families they are serving that day. It totally depends on that. You may be driving to a government office to secure paper work, to a hospital to pick up a body, driving to a cemetery. You could also be writing out Death Certificates. You also may be meeting with a family (the "client" is called a family) at their home or in your funeral home to discuss what the family wants in the way of final services. Counseling, picking out the casket or urn for cremation, etc., and scheduling the services. It's going to depend on how many families you have that day and what particular requests they make.
2. Most funeral directors I have known are very charismatic and people loving professionals. I think the ones I knew loved dealing with the families the most. Because they had dynamic and compassionate personalities, they were able to have the range to meet with the stolid business-like families all the way up to hysterical and almost collapsing family members. This is a real skill. Because I want to be truthful, I will say that the income is another thing that was greatly satisfying to them. The high income just comes with the territory.
3. I would say that perhaps something they enjoyed the least was maybe not enough business if anything. But all the funeral directors I have observed built strong reputations and were always quite busy all the time. After a while, though, although they did every aspect, they would hire for embalming and what lay people would consider the "dirty work". Some still did the dirty work until they retired, though. I never really heard any of them complain about anything about their work, their vendors or colleagues.
4. There didn't seem to be any struggles with the funeral directors I knew. They went to funeral school successfully and most opened their own funeral home. The ones I knew all worked in a major city and had both wealthy, middle and poor families that they served. By the way, some funeral directors will do arrangements for free for babies and toddlers. Oh, I should mention: most funeral directors seem to not be able to do preparations on their own family members because of the emotional attachment. There may be some that have the ability, but the ones I knew would have one of their colleagues do it.
5. I could just advise you that in the past, now in the present, and in the future, funeral directors will remain in demand consistently. It has always been a reliable and stable career.
6. I would say that some personality traits that good funeral directors possess are a winning personality, authentic empathy, a great listener and patient. One must have a sharp business sense, too. Part of it is the reputation you build by being welcoming and interacting with other businesses, getting your name out there so people know you are there.
7. In college, you should take the human sciences like anatomy, biology, chemistry, etc. Develop an above average written, verbal and presentational skills. I know this sounds weird, but go to the theatre department and take a stage makeup class because you will need to "dress" the bodies and part of that is makeup. I remember that a lot of my stage makeup as a theatre student was similar to stuff they used on bodies. But you will learn about dressing a body and preparing it for viewing in funeral school. If you can take a course in grief counseling that would be a great help.
8. All of the funeral directors that I have based this on took different paths from two years funeral school on the GI Bill to a Bachelors Degree in Biology and than funeral school and none of them ever had any regrets. They worked in a major city (where everything is very expensive) with a high population that lent itself to being busy all the time.
I hope that this is a help somewhat and I wish you all the best moving forward !
I understand how disappointing it must be to not be able to locate funeral directors to interview. I think that I can answer some of your questions, although I am not a funeral director. At one time, I had five funeral directors in my family and two friends who had the career. I grew to learn a lot about it. So, if you will allow me, I would like to answer some of the questions based on what I've known and hopefully it could be inspirational and useful to you personally.
1. What a funeral Director does most at work varies depending upon how many families they are serving that day. It totally depends on that. You may be driving to a government office to secure paper work, to a hospital to pick up a body, driving to a cemetery. You could also be writing out Death Certificates. You also may be meeting with a family (the "client" is called a family) at their home or in your funeral home to discuss what the family wants in the way of final services. Counseling, picking out the casket or urn for cremation, etc., and scheduling the services. It's going to depend on how many families you have that day and what particular requests they make.
2. Most funeral directors I have known are very charismatic and people loving professionals. I think the ones I knew loved dealing with the families the most. Because they had dynamic and compassionate personalities, they were able to have the range to meet with the stolid business-like families all the way up to hysterical and almost collapsing family members. This is a real skill. Because I want to be truthful, I will say that the income is another thing that was greatly satisfying to them. The high income just comes with the territory.
3. I would say that perhaps something they enjoyed the least was maybe not enough business if anything. But all the funeral directors I have observed built strong reputations and were always quite busy all the time. After a while, though, although they did every aspect, they would hire for embalming and what lay people would consider the "dirty work". Some still did the dirty work until they retired, though. I never really heard any of them complain about anything about their work, their vendors or colleagues.
4. There didn't seem to be any struggles with the funeral directors I knew. They went to funeral school successfully and most opened their own funeral home. The ones I knew all worked in a major city and had both wealthy, middle and poor families that they served. By the way, some funeral directors will do arrangements for free for babies and toddlers. Oh, I should mention: most funeral directors seem to not be able to do preparations on their own family members because of the emotional attachment. There may be some that have the ability, but the ones I knew would have one of their colleagues do it.
5. I could just advise you that in the past, now in the present, and in the future, funeral directors will remain in demand consistently. It has always been a reliable and stable career.
6. I would say that some personality traits that good funeral directors possess are a winning personality, authentic empathy, a great listener and patient. One must have a sharp business sense, too. Part of it is the reputation you build by being welcoming and interacting with other businesses, getting your name out there so people know you are there.
7. In college, you should take the human sciences like anatomy, biology, chemistry, etc. Develop an above average written, verbal and presentational skills. I know this sounds weird, but go to the theatre department and take a stage makeup class because you will need to "dress" the bodies and part of that is makeup. I remember that a lot of my stage makeup as a theatre student was similar to stuff they used on bodies. But you will learn about dressing a body and preparing it for viewing in funeral school. If you can take a course in grief counseling that would be a great help.
8. All of the funeral directors that I have based this on took different paths from two years funeral school on the GI Bill to a Bachelors Degree in Biology and than funeral school and none of them ever had any regrets. They worked in a major city (where everything is very expensive) with a high population that lent itself to being busy all the time.
I hope that this is a help somewhat and I wish you all the best moving forward !
Thank you for the advice.
Sonia
This is super helpful!! Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions 😊
Sonia
You are very welcome, Sonia. I am happy that it is of help to you.
Michelle M.
Theresa Stanfel Hull
Sonogragher
4
Answers
Mukilteo, Washington
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
These questions your asking are great!
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answers to this field.
My advise would be to talk to people at a funeral home.
When you call or email them be sure to ask the above questions and state again that you’re a student feeling like you would like to work in this field.
Hopefully, there will be one that will take you under their wing. Sometimes they’ll allow you to observe.
You can always remind them how difficult it is to know whether or not this is the right field and you would hate to waste their time and yours to figure that without knowing more about what you would be doing.
Best of luck.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answers to this field.
My advise would be to talk to people at a funeral home.
When you call or email them be sure to ask the above questions and state again that you’re a student feeling like you would like to work in this field.
Hopefully, there will be one that will take you under their wing. Sometimes they’ll allow you to observe.
You can always remind them how difficult it is to know whether or not this is the right field and you would hate to waste their time and yours to figure that without knowing more about what you would be doing.
Best of luck.
Thank you!
Sonia
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6130
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Sonia,
RESPONSES:
1. Can you describe a typical workday?
As a funeral director, your work primarily involves coordinating and managing all aspects of funerals or memorial services. This includes consulting with grieving families to understand their needs, preparing the deceased for burial or cremation, potentially embalming, organizing the funeral service logistics, liaising with cemeteries or crematoriums, and offering support and guidance to the bereaved throughout this process.
2. What will I find most enjoyable and rewarding about your job?
The most fulfilling part of this job is the ability to provide solace and support to families during their most difficult times. Assisting families in honoring their loved ones in a significant way and guiding them through their grieving process is deeply rewarding. Moreover, the sense of purpose that comes from helping individuals on their final journey with dignity and respect brings immense satisfaction.
3. What is challenging about this job?
The most challenging aspect of the job is dealing with grief on an everyday basis. Being exposed to intense emotions and supporting individuals experiencing profound loss can be emotionally draining. Additionally, the unpredictable schedules, long working hours, and the need to remain empathetic and composed under stressful situations can be demanding.
4. What are the common struggles, sacrifices, and adversities in this job?
Common challenges in this profession include maintaining work-life balance due to irregular hours and emergency calls, dealing with emotional exhaustion from constant exposure to grief, managing complex family dynamics during funeral arrangements, and confronting societal taboos about death and dying. Sacrifices often involve missing personal events due to work commitments and the risk of burnout from the emotional demands of the job.
5. What is the future job outlook in this field?
The demand for funeral service professionals is likely to remain steady in the near future. While technological advancements may influence some aspects of the industry, such as online memorial services or virtual arrangements, the need for compassionate individuals to provide personalized care and support to grieving families will persist.
6. What personality traits are essential for this job?
To thrive in this career, one needs strong communication skills, empathy, compassion, professionalism, attention to detail, organizational abilities, resilience in handling emotional situations, cultural sensitivity, and a sincere commitment to assist others during times of loss.
7. How should you prepare for this career in college? (What skills should I develop?)
Aspiring funeral service professionals should consider pursuing degrees or certifications in mortuary science or funeral service education. It's beneficial to develop skills in communication, psychology, business management, ethics, bereavement counseling, anatomy/physiology, embalming techniques (if applicable), and legal regulations related to funeral services.
8. What do People wish they had known before entering this career?
Many professionals in this field wish they had been aware of the emotional intensity of working closely with grieving families daily. It's crucial to learn how to set healthy boundaries while still providing compassionate care to maintain personal well-being in this emotionally demanding profession.
Top 3 Credible References Used:
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - A leading professional organization offering resources and information on funeral service industry trends.
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) - An accrediting body for mortuary science programs, setting educational standards for future funeral directors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Provides data on job outlooks and occupational information for various professions, including funeral service workers.
BLESSINGS!
James Constantine.
RESPONSES:
1. Can you describe a typical workday?
As a funeral director, your work primarily involves coordinating and managing all aspects of funerals or memorial services. This includes consulting with grieving families to understand their needs, preparing the deceased for burial or cremation, potentially embalming, organizing the funeral service logistics, liaising with cemeteries or crematoriums, and offering support and guidance to the bereaved throughout this process.
2. What will I find most enjoyable and rewarding about your job?
The most fulfilling part of this job is the ability to provide solace and support to families during their most difficult times. Assisting families in honoring their loved ones in a significant way and guiding them through their grieving process is deeply rewarding. Moreover, the sense of purpose that comes from helping individuals on their final journey with dignity and respect brings immense satisfaction.
3. What is challenging about this job?
The most challenging aspect of the job is dealing with grief on an everyday basis. Being exposed to intense emotions and supporting individuals experiencing profound loss can be emotionally draining. Additionally, the unpredictable schedules, long working hours, and the need to remain empathetic and composed under stressful situations can be demanding.
4. What are the common struggles, sacrifices, and adversities in this job?
Common challenges in this profession include maintaining work-life balance due to irregular hours and emergency calls, dealing with emotional exhaustion from constant exposure to grief, managing complex family dynamics during funeral arrangements, and confronting societal taboos about death and dying. Sacrifices often involve missing personal events due to work commitments and the risk of burnout from the emotional demands of the job.
5. What is the future job outlook in this field?
The demand for funeral service professionals is likely to remain steady in the near future. While technological advancements may influence some aspects of the industry, such as online memorial services or virtual arrangements, the need for compassionate individuals to provide personalized care and support to grieving families will persist.
6. What personality traits are essential for this job?
To thrive in this career, one needs strong communication skills, empathy, compassion, professionalism, attention to detail, organizational abilities, resilience in handling emotional situations, cultural sensitivity, and a sincere commitment to assist others during times of loss.
7. How should you prepare for this career in college? (What skills should I develop?)
Aspiring funeral service professionals should consider pursuing degrees or certifications in mortuary science or funeral service education. It's beneficial to develop skills in communication, psychology, business management, ethics, bereavement counseling, anatomy/physiology, embalming techniques (if applicable), and legal regulations related to funeral services.
8. What do People wish they had known before entering this career?
Many professionals in this field wish they had been aware of the emotional intensity of working closely with grieving families daily. It's crucial to learn how to set healthy boundaries while still providing compassionate care to maintain personal well-being in this emotionally demanding profession.
Top 3 Credible References Used:
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - A leading professional organization offering resources and information on funeral service industry trends.
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) - An accrediting body for mortuary science programs, setting educational standards for future funeral directors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Provides data on job outlooks and occupational information for various professions, including funeral service workers.
BLESSINGS!
James Constantine.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Sonia
I want to express my sincere gratitude for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to help me. It's been challenging to connect with a professional in this field for the past week, so your assistance means a lot to me.
Sonia
May You Be Blessed IN ALL YOU DO!
James Constantine Frangos