Although it has experienced many changes through the ages in San Francisco and elsewhere, the funeral business has been in existence since the earliest years of recorded history. There are new jobs in the Bay Area in this field it may be worth refreshing your resume, especially if this involves a career change or a new career path entirely.
In the earlier days, barber-surgeons, burial societies, communities and family members were responsible for funerary rituals. Duties highlighted on professional resumes evolved over time, and eventually they shifted into two major categories, which include funeral directors and embalmers.
Funeral directors work with the surviving family to plan and conduct the funeral. Embalmers prepare and preserve the deceased's body for viewing.
Types Of Jobs Available
In a small family-owned funeral home, workers are likely to perform a multitude of tasks. Cleaning, removals, driving, embalming, office work, meeting with families, directing funerals and accounting are some common duties that such employees perform on a daily basis.
However, larger corporate-owned funeral firms divide tasks into separate categories. For example, there may be specific jobs for custodians, embalmers, funeral directors, funeral arrangers, pre-need salespeople, drivers and branch managers. Pay rates depend on the level of skill or education required for the job. For example, an embalmer receives higher pay than a driver because the embalmer must attend and obtain a license. California has its rules about education and licensing requirements as do other states.
How To Enter The Field
For those who are not fortunate enough to be born into a family-owned funeral business, it is best to be persistent and seek employment in a funeral home. Obtaining an associate's or bachelor's degree in mortuary science is extremely helpful. Having the right attitude and a good purpose for entering the field is the most helpful asset in getting through the door. There are several community colleges, universities and private mortuary schools offering approved training programs.
The American Board of Funeral Service Education is responsible for accrediting programs, and a list of approved schools is available on their Web site. With a focus on funeral directing and embalming, most programs are on campuses. However, there are a few online programs, which require mandatory on-campus embalming labs.
It may come as a surprise to many but a job in the San Francisco Bay Area funeral home industry can be promising and benefit from a professional resume writer to help you take your best shot.
Comments