When considering career paths, the idea of working in the funeral industry may not be at the forefront of one’s mind. Although it’s often perceived as a mysterious and sometimes unsettling field, the funeral industry can be a fantastic place for people who enjoy serving others and working through new challenges on a daily basis.
There are many different avenues to working in the funeral industry, and the amount of education and certification varies depending on what role someone serves.
Those looking to become a funeral director in the state of Indiana must attend an accredited mortuary school and receive a certification of completion. Prospective directors must also hold an internship for a year and pass the Board examination before receiving their license.
While becoming a funeral director requires specific schooling and licensure, most other positions in the industry are much more flexible with requirements. There are plenty of positions available for people of any educational or professional background, with jobs relating to transportation, grounds maintenance, crematory operations, and more.
People interested in business might find themselves leaning more toward a position similar to Bartholomew Funeral Home Office Manager Kyle Newhard’s, where the primary role is managing the day-to-day operations of the business including scheduling, communications, and other tasks.
Those interested in math may be inclined to work on the finance side of the business. A major aspect of planning a funeral relies on the budget and requirements of the deceased family, and each service must be planned with heavy attention to the budget.
Regardless of what position one finds themselves in, it’s important to consider the empathy, compassion, and tenacity required to serve in a position in the industry. Staff in the industry are faced with death, grief, and high emotions every day, and while each family and service is different, staff members can always expect a variety of feelings and emotions for every service.
Staff members must also be open and accepting of the many religions and belief systems that may come with each service. Each service and family is completely different, and funeral directors must be willing and able to accommodate for every possibility. This variance in needs on a case-by-case basis is a large part of what makes the job interesting for many in the field.
“Everybody has different needs and different wants. I think a lot of people in the industry enjoy the challenge of that,” Newhard said.
The funeral industry can seem like a mystery for people who are not regularly in the funeral environment, but just like any other business, Bartholomew is always open to answering questions or showing people around.
“Ask questions. That’s why we’re here,” Newhard said. “If you're curious about becoming an electrician, you would probably go to an electricians’ union and start asking questions, or if you wanted to get into the restaurant industry, you might talk to a local restaurant. It’s the same here.”
Even if someone is merely curious about the process of organizing a funeral and burial, Newhard encourages questions.
“Whether somebody's passed away or not, we're here to provide information. Even if you’re just curious about what’s inside of a casket or something like that, ask, because you don't know unless you ask. We're more than happy to help educate you about these things to help lift that aura of mystery surrounding funerals and death,” Newhard said.
In order to help people determine if the funeral industry is right for them, Bartholomew occasionally offers internships to high school students at the Porter County Career and Technical Center. Interns are able to sit in on consultations, services, and planning sessions while gaining insight into what it takes to enter the industry.
“They usually come in for a few hours a couple of times a week and get to see what the daily life of a funeral home is like. They can ask questions if they have them, and they can sit in on an arrangement with a family and see what things you would have to go through and have to know for that sort of thing,” Newhard said.
Whether it’s to talk about a future career or to answer a burning question, Newhard’s best advice is to reach out and ask. Funerals don’t have to be a mystery, and often a simple conversation clears the air about much of the industry’s little known facts.
“Come in and talk to us, or whoever your local funeral home is,” Newhard said. “People think funeral directors are kind of cold and dry and stuff like that, but we're not. We're average, everyday people.”If you’re dying to get into the funeral industry, look no further than Bartholomew Funeral Home. Click here to learn more.
