Please read before posting: FAQs and frequent answers

#Please read before posting.   This is a loose collection of very frequently asked questions, and the corresponding general answers.

If your question fall under one of these questions listed below, it is likely to be removed as it has probably already been answered to death in previous threads.

If there is something you feel is worth adding to any of the answers, please mention so in the comment section below.

Additional questions and answers may be added in the future.

 

Frequently asked questions:

 

Tattoos and piercings:

Yes they will have a negative impact on your chances of employment if you can't cover them with a formal suit.

This industry requires a conservative professional appearance (yes, that also includes if you only work in the prep room).

If you feel your "personal expression" thru fashion is more important than the sensibilities and respect of those we serve, then this is not the industry for you.

 

How do I become a death care professional?

Requirements vary between jurisdictions, however the basic steps are:

• Enroll in the appropriate training program or school, and allow them to show you the specific requirements relevant to your jurisdiction.

• Gain employment/apprenticeship in a funeral home in the capacity in which you want to achieve professionally. (As in: do not accepts a "funeral attendant" position if you want to be a funeral director, and do not "volunteer" in hopes of being granted a position.

 

Is pot a problem if its legal for recreation in my area? What if its medical use?

Often yes. Pot can be a problem for employment.

Most corporate Funeral Homes do drug test as a condition of employment and you can be excluded from duties and employment if you test positive for pot or other drugs.

Smaller or "family" Funeral homes may care less or not at all, or they may have an in-house zero tolerance policy towards drug use.

It depends on the funeral home.

 

I have a social or mental disability that makes it uncomfortable to work with "people", can I just work in the prep room?

Unlikely.

Most Funeral homes heavily prefer to hire or train someone who is capable of preforming all roles and tasks between the bereaved and deceased as required.

It its incredibly difficult to get a "prep room only" position, especially if you are new to the industry, and even in that kind of targeted position you are still required to deal with living people on a regular basis (Yes. That does mean consulting with the bereaved occasionally.)

 

Do I have to work an unstable schedule? Do I have to do on-call hours? Do I have to miss time with my family and friends?

Yes. More likely than not.

This profession is built on sacrifice, and one of the common sacrifices we have to make in this profession is our time with friends and family to look after the bereaved and deceased when they require our care regardless if it is convenient or not for "us".

you will miss special events, you will miss out on special moments, you will have your time-off interrupted.

Some places (Like corporate Funeral homes) may have a more stable rotation or closer to stable hours, but overall this is not a 9-5 industry and the dead come first.

 

Can I just do the makeup on the deceased? What if I'm already a cosmetologist?

No.

The cosmetic work required in the preparation of the deceased is overall a minor part of the whole process, and its not worth the tine of a Funeral home in question to hire someone with such a narrow role that is already preformed by a Funeral director or Embalmer as part of the course of their duties already.

It would be very similar to hiring someone to only lick stamps on outgoing mail.

It is also a completely differing goal in terms of what is aimed for as far as appearance is concerned (Making someone look "lifelike" or removing injuries/trauma/discoloration/etc) rather than making someone look "done up", as well as the use of completely dissimilar techniques and products.

If you want to to apply cosmetics to the deceased, get the schooling and do the training to become an actual Embalmer.