When you are a funeral director, you play an important role in your community. The community looks to you for sympathy during tragic losses. You also have the dual responsibility of caring for your business and seeing that administrative tasks are completed in a timely manner. Being a funeral director is a career that requires the ability to handle high levels of stress and emotional turmoil. If you are able to handle the stress associated with this career, then you can enjoy great job security and a high salary. Maybe you have thought, “How do I become a funeral director?” If you want to become a funeral director, then you should attempt to shadow another director for the most insight into this profession.
What’s it like to be a funeral director?
As a funeral director, your daily job changes every day. On one day, you may be hosting a reception at the funeral home for the family members of a lost loved one. You may need to host counseling sessions with the family members in order to get them through the difficult time. You may also need to refer family members to other psychologists in the community. It is important for you to network with professionals such as lenders, psychologists and lawyers so that you can refer family members to these professionals. You should also be on good terms with the spiritual leaders in your community. Spiritual leaders will frequently come to you after a tragic event has occurred and may refer family members to you. Apart from counseling members of the community, your other tasks will be overseeing your business. You will need to keep a monthly budget and make sure that all of the bills are paid for the operation of the funeral home. You will need to send out notices to the local newspaper. You may also need to print remembrance cards for family members of loved ones who have passed away.
Education Requirements
It is important for you to pursue a degree that relates to mortuary sciences. You should look to your state requirements in order to see whether you need to obtain an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. In addition to obtaining a college degree, you will need to complete an apprenticeship with a funeral director. The apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to have all of your questions answered about the funeral business. You will also see the appropriate way to embalm bodies and care for them. You will learn the entire process of storing bodies. You will also learn how to be sensitive and compassionate in dealing with family members of those who have died. Being a funeral director can bring a deep sense of peace to you. You may actually enjoy the sense of serenity that you feel in helping people transition from earth into the spiritual world.
Salary & How to Get a Job
The average salary of a funeral director is about $55,000 a year. To get a job in this field, you should start out as an intern for a funeral home. You can then apply for director positions within funeral homes. You may eventually decide that you want to open and operate your own funeral home.
When you become a funeral director, you will have a sense of peace and tranquility. It is peaceful to know that you are helping people come to a comforting understanding of human nature. It can also be very satisfying to know that you are helping people come to terms with a tragic loss. You can help people put aside feelings of anger and resentment so that they can come to appreciate the time they had with a loved one. You can also help people understand that death is a natural part of life.
References:
1. http://www.ehow.com/how_2302555_become-funeral-director.html
2. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/funeral-directors.htm