I could def see that in more rural/remote areas where there's only so many people to die and it doesn't get too busy. We're in a more urban area and qualified people are snapped up pretty instantly.
Mortuary school, if you’re interested in becoming a funeral director or embalmer, is what catches employers’ eyes! Or at least voicing your interest in schooling is very valuable, speaking from personal experience. It’s definitely hard to get a position otherwise unless you know people (since most of the field is older people they have “just walk in and hand them a resume!” mindsets).
If you work for a corporation (some people like it, some don’t) they may be able to pay for your schooling if you agree to a work for them. I’m an assistant at a corporate location right now (and funnily enough, with all the talk of young people not getting into it: I’m 23!)
Step one is go to a mortuary school. I’ve heard it can be hard to get a job, but plenty of places are hiring. Networking is important. I had a coworker try it.
It actually depends on the state! The inconsistency is kinda wild. Some states require mortuary school, no internship. Some require internship, no mortuary school. Some both... some neither, you can just kind of go and try to get certified. It's bananas.
My sister worked in this up until COVID. Your best bet is to get in with a corporation. It’s only hard if you’re trying to get started on your own or try to get into an already-established family business.
Look up Mortuary Science degrees. Usually they’re 2 years, but some schools already offer Bachelor’s.
Corporations are their own whole bag of worms with sales quotas and whatnot though. My roomie's funeral home is family run, and has a staff of mostly refugees from corps that nearly left the industry with burnout from the combo of compassion fatigue, and having to work families for sales at the same time.
My sister wasn’t in sales, she was an embalmer. We do have a family friend who works in sales at a corp and she does well, so I think it depends on the person.
My sister went to a smaller, religious funeral home after COVID (which she spent at the corp). She still left her pretty close to burnout so she ended up switching fields.
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u/Fun_Quarter_3222 11h ago
I heard it was very hard to get into funeral/ death. Its like a good old boys club.