Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Qualifications And Attributes Needed To Become An Undertaker

By Marjorie Wong

Undertakers, also known as Funeral Directors, are experts who manage activities and ceremonies associated with funerals. To be successful in this profession the person performing these tasks must have certain essential and unique skills and attributes.

Since an undertaker may be required at any time of day or night, the person venturing into this profession must be willing to be on call for 24 hours. He should be ready to work away from his workplace as the task requires him to be available at the place where his services are required.

To become an undertaker, a person must be able to communicate well and should accommodate the viewpoints of others. He should be able to manage and communicate with people of all ages and people having various social and ethnic backgrounds. Understanding and sympathy will be of great importance in the course of his job. As an undertaker, he is also expected to counsel the family in time of grief, and he must not allow distress or sorrow to cloud his abilities.

Undertakers must be serious and dignified by nature, but should not look sad or morose, as this may intensify the grief of the family and friends of the deceased person.

By nature, undertakers must be broad minded. They should be ready to respect the faith and beliefs of all communities and must be knowledgeable in this area. They must also be familiar with the funeral rites and customs of burial of different sects.

Excellent management and the ability to organise are essential skills an undertaker should possess. Making preparations for critical services like flowers, hearse etc will entail coordination with many providers and will need leadership and guidance skills.

An undertaker should be proficient in legal matters and must know the legal formalities to be followed, or the necessary approvals required from the State authorities before conducting funeral services. He will need to be fully aware of procedures to be followed for the purpose of collecting death certificates or insurance payments.

Lastly, an undertaker should know how to drive and should possess an appropriate driving license, as he may have to drive vehicles to transport the deceased.

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