Saturday, November 14, 2009

Qualifications And Attributes Required To Become A Successful Undertaker

By Marjorie Wong

Undertakers' or funeral directors' job is to make arrangements for funeral ceremonies and other related needs and requirements. Some of the critical skills and abilities that are required by people who are in this job are listed below.

An undertaker must be active and be ready to work beyond normal schedule, as he has to be on call 24 hours a day. 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 needed.

An undertaker must be a good communicator and a patient listener. He must be able to manage and interact with people of all age groups and people having different religious and cultural backgrounds. Understanding and sympathy will be of much importance in the course of his job. As an undertaker, he is also required to comfort the family in their moment 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 gloomy or morose, as this may heighten the grief of the family and friends of the deceased person.

Knowledge of various religious beliefs, practices and sentiments, and due respect for these greatly helps undertakers in succeeding in their profession. They should also be aware of the funeral rites and burial customs of various sects.

An undertaker must have good organisational and management skills. He should also have leadership skills and must be able to interact with a wide range of people - from the clergy members to the flower seller.

As the undertaker will shoulder the responsibility of obtaining all clearances and following all regulations with respect to the event, he will have to be well versed in such procedures and legal formalities. The critical regulations and formalities to be completed to obtain a death certificate or to file insurance claims should also be known to him.

Finally, an undertaker should know driving and should possess a valid driving license, as he may have to drive vehicles to transport the deceased.

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