As a mortician, undertaker or funeral director, you will be a bridge for those who wish to make plans for their future death, as well as those who have recently survived the death of a loved one and wish for closure. Morticians and undertakers may help clients resolve insurance claims, apply for veterans’ funeral benefits, arrange transportation for mourners, decorate the sites of all services, and find resources on overcoming grief among many other diverse tasks. Funeral service managers conduct the general matters of running a funeral home, such as allocating expenses, handling marketing and public relations, and managing staff. For many who aspire to become a funeral service worker, the key to success is by obtaining an associate’s degree in mortuary science. Funeral directors and embalmers are legally required to obtain a license everywhere, except Colorado. Additionally, funeral service workers are expected to do an apprenticeship of 1-3 years under the guidance of a licensed funeral service professional. As a funeral service worker, you may need to coordinate funeral services within 24 to 72 hours of death. For many funeral service workers, this means working long, unpredictable hours in the evening and on weekends. For funeral service employees, the work is never truly done. As a mortician, undertaker, or funeral director, you will be a member of a robust, growing industry that provides vital services to those who need them.
What they do:
Perform various tasks to arrange and direct funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.
On the job, you would:
Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
Business
customer service
management
Arts and Humanities
English language
philisophy and religion
Math and Science
chemistry
psychology
Safety and Government
law and government
Basic Skills
talking to others
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
understanding people's reactions
looking for ways to help people
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
Math
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Dependability
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Concern for Others
Stress Tolerance
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Project management software
FuneralKiosk
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Data base user interface and query software
Custom Data Systems Sterling Management Software
FPA Software MACCS
associate's degree or certificate after college usually needed
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