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Working in the funeral professionFor individuals considering employment in the funeral profession, there are a number of important issues you should consider. These apply across the industry, so regardless of which organisation you would like to work for, you should take notice of them. They include:
HoursWe work in a 24-hour-a-day, 365 days-a-year industry. At all times, funeral staff are on call, at Christmas, at Easter, on birthdays. We cannot predict when people die and must be ready and available at all times. Families expect this is a minimum. Physical workAnyone wishing to work in the funeral service profession needs to be of good physical health. Whether the role entails driving, lifting, general maintenance and cleaning, most funeral work is of a physical nature. Successful funeral service workers are flexible and dynamic, prepared to assist with whatever is required for the client. If an overtly physical role is not what you are seeking, the funeral profession may not be for you. Dealing with deceased personsAnyone working in the funeral profession will be exposed to deceased persons on a daily basis. Whilst trained embalmers and mortuary staff work in more detail with hygienic preparation, most staff will see and handle deceased persons in the course of their employment. Of course many people have never done this before entering the funeral profession and do not know how they will deal with this aspect of the industry. However it is something that is an integral part of what we do. DrivingDriving is a major part of the funeral profession. You will require a current Victorian driver's licence. Many companies do not have insurance for drivers under a certain age (sometimes up to 25) and therefore will not employ younger people in certain roles. In addition to driving, funeral staff are also responsible for the general maintenance and cleaning of the car. Following every service, vehicles must be washed and cleaned by those who have driven them. Types of rolesGenerally, the type of work is very manual. It has often been described as "blue collar work wearing white collars". Lifting of deceased persons, of coffins and caskets, and of other materials for funerals is a daily part of most positions. Driving vehicles, including transfer ambulances, hearses and mourning coaches is another major task. Funeral conductors lead teams of Funeral Assistants on the day of the funeral at a variety of locations. Funeral arrangers are the people responsible for making all funeral arrangements with the deceased's family. Successful arrangers communicate clearly such matters as financial and contractual duties, descriptions of funeral products and services, and assist families through the funeral process. There are some very specialist roles such as embalmers. These are trained professionals who specialise in working in the mortuary, embalming and hygienic preparation of deceased persons. Depending upon the size of the organisation, other roles which all businesses require such as accounting, human resources and marketing also exist in the funeral industry. In smaller organisations, managers usually perform multiple roles. ExperienceWhilst previous industry experience may be beneficial in gaining a role, it is not necessary. Increasingly, funeral companies are looking outside the industry to fill positions. Skills gained from other professions can be readily applied to funeral service. Equally, new employees from outside the funeral profession may come with new ideas and skills that could benefit funeral companies. Those without previous funeral industry experience however must acknowledge that the learning curve is steep and that it can take months or even years to attain the level required in different roles. Patience and dedication to learning this new profession are required. Learning & trainingThe best and most common way of learning within the funeral profession is doing so from the ground up. It involves actually doing the tasks required for the position under supervision of an experienced funeral director. Individuals who come straight into senior roles must also follow this type of learning and training to be able to fully perform their senior role. Funeral companies also provide structured training for their own staff. This differs significantly by funeral company. In addition, training courses within Victoria are offered by Mortuary and Funeral Educators, and also the AFDA. See below for links and more information. LinksAttractive to mature workersIn an era of change and technology, many mature workers have difficulty entering certain industries. The funeral profession is one which is attractive to many mature people and is often a great way to commence a second career or to have roles in which they can work until the end of their working lives. Equally, young people can make a significant contribution to this important profession. By entering the profession at a young age, you have the opportunity to establish a long, sustained and rewarding career. Earning potentialThis is a profession which does not attract huge salaries across the board. Mainly this is because the work is manual and does not require much specialist education to perform the roles. Earning potential in a entry level 9-5 job in a call centre may often be much higher than in the funeral industry. Indeed, working in the funeral industry may be a lifestyle decision more than necessarily a financial one. Some funeral companies such as Nelson Bros are developing new ways to attract and maintain staff in the profession. Funeral companies are differentLike in most professions, funeral companies differ. Some companies are large corporate entities that are floated on the stock exchange. They must answer to their public shareholders and are structured as such internally. Other companies are small, single operators with limited facilities and very small numbers of staff. In such companies, there may be opportunities to quickly perform all roles in funeral service. Equally because there are few staff, you will be required more often. Many companies within the funeral profession are family-owned and operated. Family members are very involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. In some of these organisations, there may be few management roles available to non-family members. You should consider what sort of organisation best reflects your needs. |
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