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Funeral director skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Quoted experts

Cody Walker,

Barbara Kemmis

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical funeral director skills. We ranked the top skills for funeral directors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.8% of funeral director resumes contained client families as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a funeral director needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 funeral director skills for your resume and career

1. Client Families

Here's how funeral directors use client families:

Completed all documentation and ordering of goods and services related to providing funeral/memorial gatherings for client families.
Assisted client families in arranging meaningful, personalized funeral and memorial services.

2. Veterans

Here's how funeral directors use veterans:

Lectured at education events for Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America, and grief support groups.
Coordinate as required with clergy, musicians, Veterans Administration and cemetery.

3. Compassion

Here's how funeral directors use compassion:

Assisted families during calling hours and funerals by treating them with compassion and support.
Interacted with the public, peers and related professionals on a routine basis with integrity and compassion

4. Funeral Homes

Here's how funeral directors use funeral homes:

Performed Funeral Director services for both companies including multiple funeral homes.
Managed these two established funeral homes and funeral preparation services.

5. SCI

SCI stands for "sensitive compartmented information." This program maintains confidential information, often in a military or government capacity, regarding anything from analytical processing, collection methods and systems, and targeting measures. Considering the confidentiality of the information, only qualified individuals are given SCI access.

Here's how funeral directors use sci:

Ensured SOX controls were compliant and performed quarterly SOX audits for other SCI locations
Meet with clients to arrange services and discuss packages provided by SCI.

6. Removals

Here's how funeral directors use removals:

Assisted with local removals from Boulder Community Hospital.
Started my apprentice at Scarborough embalming, removals, making arrangements with families, and directing funerals.

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7. Funeral Arrangements

Here's how funeral directors use funeral arrangements:

Secured and filed burial permits and coordinated funeral arrangements with numerous city and private organization to ensure proper compliance with codes.
Performed all aspects of funeral directing including the selling of funeral merchandise and assisted with funeral ceremonies and general funeral arrangements.

8. Community Events

Community events are the events scheduled within the community.

Here's how funeral directors use community events:

Generated additional sales by improving community awareness of funeral home through community events.
Attend or make presentations at community events to promote funeral home services or build community relationships.

9. Necessary Paperwork

Here's how funeral directors use necessary paperwork:

Completed all necessary paperwork and filed paperwork as required by state and local law
Arrange and direct funerals and memorial servicesFile Necessary paperwork, documents, contract and permitsEmbalming and casketing of deceased.

10. Prep Room

Here's how funeral directors use prep room:

Ordered all supplies for the prep room, as well as inventory.
Maintained prep room and facilities.

11. Life Insurance

Here's how funeral directors use life insurance:

Assisted families and individuals with sensitive event planning, document generation, preparatory services and sales of life insurance policies.
Process and complete the Assignment of Proceeds Claims as required by Life Insurance companies and payment.

12. Insurance Claims

Here's how funeral directors use insurance claims:

Removed the deceased from the place of death, completed legal documentation, filed death certificates and filed insurance claims.
Process all insurance claims for services and informed survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible.

14. Insurance Policies

Here's how funeral directors use insurance policies:

Applied for the transfer of any pensions, insurance policies, or annuities on behalf of survivors.
Assisted families with prepaid burial policies by putting monies into insurance policies and trust accounts.

15. Cremation Services

Here's how funeral directors use cremation services:

Developed a following of heritage families generating an additional $30,000 in funeral and cremation services revenue.
Assist bereaved families in planning the details of their loved funeral and or cremation services.

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What skills help Funeral Directors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What funeral director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Cody Walker

Baccalaureate Program Director

First and foremost, one must have a genuine desire to care and serve others in their greatest time of need. Funeral service is just as much about caring for the dead and caring for the living that survive the decedent. A funeral service professional can make a truly meaningful difference in the grieving and mourning process. When asked, an overwhelming majority of funeral service professionals will say they feel they are called or meant to serve others in their time of need. Research state-specific licensing requirements for the state in which you will practice. Know in advance what license(s) you would like to earn and the processes for earning them. Also, be certain to review any background check concerns that may prevent you from earning licensure. Many states will allow candidates to apply for waivers regarding these concerns prior to beginning their education. Determine what your career goals are in the death care profession. It is important to consider this aspect while attending school, following completion of educational requirements, during any required provisional or apprenticeship period, and long-term career goals. The death care profession can, in many cases, require irregular working hours that may include nights, weekends, and holidays. This can depend on the type of position and the firm in which one is employed. I feel it is important to consider the potential work schedule requirements in advance. One should thoroughly research the job market and earning potential for the area in which they are considering to practice.

What type of skills will young funeral directors need?

Barbara Kemmis

Executive Director, Cremation Association of North America

In most states, an Associates Degree is required as well as a licensing exam to become a funeral director. However, there are entry-level administrative, sales, and transport positions available,

Do you want to know more?

List of funeral director skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a funeral director resume and required skills for a funeral director to have include:

Client Families
Veterans
Compassion
Funeral Homes
SCI
Removals
Funeral Arrangements
Community Events
Necessary Paperwork

Prep Room
Life Insurance
Insurance Claims
Social Security
Insurance Policies
Cremation Services
Religious Beliefs
PowerPoint
Emotional Support

Educate Clients
Inventory Management
MSDS
Death Notices
Cemetery Property
DVD
Death Calls
Death Benefits

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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