Funeral Arranger Job Application - How to get an Interview?

Ashy3224

Hi,

I am looking to see if there is anyone out there who, like me, is trying to get into the Funeral Care industry? I am finding this extremely difficult. Over the last 2 years I have applied for numerous jobs in this field with no success. I am specifically applying for jobs with the Co-Op's all other companies are small family run businesses with job opportunities few and far between. I seem to get through the first stage ok then as soon as I get to the situational strengths part they do not wish to take my application any further. This is really disheartening but I am determined to keep going.

I have today applied for another job as Funeral Arranger and was looking to see if anyone has any tips in order to get through to the interview stage at least?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

DomRavioli

Do you have any relevant experience specifically in the field? If not, you're trying to get into a very niche industry, with no experience, which is almost impossible.

I have worked over the years in Co-op Funeralcare, but I have 10 years of relevant industry experience.

Why not give your local branch a call and see what you can do to get your applications looking better and some experience (even if it is voluntary).

Ashy3224

I have worked for a large Insurance company for the past 9 years however have wanted to do this for as long as I can remember and only really tried to pursue this fairly recently. I have lots of experience in customer service etc and dealing with sometimes troubling situations however that's about it really unfortunately! I have done the online course via NAFD which I have a certificate for and is stated on my CV.

I have approached local companies for voluntary work experience but nobody is willing to do this due to health and safety reasons which I can understand.

Thank you so much for your advice and I will maybe try and talk to some family run companies too and see if I can get anywhere.

GothicStirling

Are you skills matching your work experience with what they are asking for on the job spec?


Your work for an insurance company, was it via phone, or face-to-face customer contact. If your short on face-to-face I recommend that you focus on that, even volunteering at a local charity shop would help. Have you thought about volunteering with bereavement charities like Cruse? Your job at the insurance company proves you can sell, but dealing with relatives of someone who has died suddenly and perhaps don't have the 4k to pay for a basic funeral is different to someone missing insurance payments. Employers will want to know you have the right personality, and can deal with such situations in a sensitive manner.

DomRavioli

Ashy3224 wrote: »

I have worked for a large Insurance company for the past 9 years however have wanted to do this for as long as I can remember and only really tried to pursue this fairly recently. I have lots of experience in customer service etc and dealing with sometimes troubling situations however that's about it really unfortunately! I have done the online course via NAFD which I have a certificate for and is stated on my CV.

I have approached local companies for voluntary work experience but nobody is willing to do this due to health and safety reasons which I can understand.

Thank you so much for your advice and I will maybe try and talk to some family run companies too and see if I can get anywhere.

Not sure what you mean by "health and safety reasons" - you won't be dealing with the deceased, you'll be arranging funerals (you're not a funeral director). And most will do work experience if you explain you want to get into the field, it is very much accepted practice and covered by their insurance as long as they ring them first.

Also, using the words "troubling situations" isn't going to do you any favours. People die, at a pretty rapid rate, and those people's family, friends and next of kin are your customers. There's nothing troubling about it, it is humans going through their own personal grief - I'd say your choice of language shows a lack of empathy and understanding of the situation, but that's only my opinion.

You have to show that you are very empathetic, sympathetic, and can deal with anything (some people get giddy happy, some cry buckets, others just get angry and shouty, and you have to treat them all with the same dignity and respect).

I can only echo what Gothic has posted - it is more about personality than selling, you need to be able to demonstrate that on applications.

You may even want to enquire whether a specialist bereavement counselling qualification would be beneficial (it may not, so please ask before undertaking this as they are expensive). It will show willingness to learn, a definitive effort towards skills in the industry, and some initiative.

Unfortunately, with funerals, there's nothing to hide behind when dealing with people. You have to be straight, upfront and honest, a shoulder to cry on, have infinite knowledge of benefits, forms (there's literally hundreds), customs and traditions of religious and holistic ceremonies so you don't offend anyone when they come in, non-denominational services; it is a lot of work and knowledge, and it is an industry that most never leave but is hard to get into. Oh and you may also be asked to clean limos, hearses, pick up a coffin or two, drive vans, drive pretty much everything, shine things, clean things, the list is endless - everyone chips in.

I'd schedule an informal meeting with a local FD and ask what you can do to improve your chances of gaining employment with them. It cannot hurt to do so, and the worst they say is no.

[Deleted User]

Look at feedback received from the co-operative? They do provide it, most detailed I'd ever seen to be honest. Couldn't disagree with it. You must really want to do it even after sitting the assessment, all I can say is bless. If you haven't ever had feedback why not ask for it.