Funeral Director Resume Examples & Guide

Landing a Funeral Director position can be challenging. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filter out many resumes, and fierce competition means you need a standout application. This guide provides Funeral Director resume examples for every experience level, equipping you with the tools to succeed.

• Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to showcase the impact you’ve made in previous roles.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasize skills like grief counseling, embalming techniques, and regulatory navigation.
• Tailor to Job Description: Customize your resume to match the specific requirements of each job posting.
• Optimize for ATS: Use keywords from the job description and a clean, ATS-friendly format.
• Use Action Verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments.
• Showcase Compassion: Demonstrate your ability to empathize with grieving families.

Let’s explore some Funeral Director resume examples to see these tips in action.

Entry-Level Funeral Director Resume (0-2 Years Experience)

This entry-level resume focuses on transferable skills, academic achievements, and a strong objective statement to compensate for limited professional experience. It highlights relevant coursework and volunteer experience to showcase a passion for the field.

Candidate Snapshot:

• Name: Jane Doe
• Education: Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science
• Top 3 Soft Skills: Empathy, Communication, Organization

Why this works:

• Academic Focus: For a Funeral Director, relevant coursework like Mortuary Law and Grief Counseling helps prove theoretical knowledge despite a lack of practical experience.
• Transferable Soft Skills: Patience is a vital skill for a Funeral Director because you need to be able to guide grieving families through difficult decisions, and maintain composure during stressful situations.
• Keyword Integration: The resume includes entry-level keywords like “Funeral Arrangements,” “Grief Support,” and “Embalming” to pass ATS scans.

Mid-Level Funeral Director Resume (3-7 Years Experience)

This mid-level resume emphasizes quantifiable achievements, industry-specific skills, and a proven track record of success. It highlights experience in funeral arrangements, embalming, and grief counseling, showcasing the candidate’s ability to handle a variety of responsibilities.

Candidate Snapshot:

• Name: John Smith
• Key Achievement: Increased pre-need funeral arrangements by 15% in the last year.
• Core Hard Skills: Embalming, Funeral Planning, Grief Counseling

Why this works:

• Industry-Specific Metrics: Showing a 15% increase in pre-need arrangements is the gold standard for a Funeral Director because it proves you can generate revenue and build lasting relationships with families.
• Tool Proficiency: Listing specific software like ‘Funeral Home Management Software’ proves the candidate is ‘plug-and-play’ ready for a Funeral Director role.
• Problem-Solution Format: The bullet points demonstrate the ability to solve common Funeral Director problems like increasing revenue and improving customer satisfaction.

Senior Funeral Director Resume (8+ Years / Management)

This senior-level resume highlights leadership experience, strategic planning abilities, and a proven track record of managing teams and budgets. It emphasizes accomplishments in areas such as increasing revenue, improving customer satisfaction, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Candidate Snapshot:

• Name: Robert Jones
• Teams Managed: 5+ Funeral Directors & Support Staff
• Budget Size: $1M+ Annual Budget
• Certifications: Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP)

Why this works:

• Strategic Leadership: The summary shifts focus from ‘doing tasks’ to ‘leading strategy’ which is required for a Senior Funeral Director, overseeing operations and driving growth.
• Scale & Scope: Explicitly stating a $1M+ Budget Size and 5+ Team Count proves the candidate can handle the high-stakes environment of senior Funeral Director roles.
• Elite Certifications: Listing advanced credentials like Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) acts as a trust signal for executive-level Funeral Director hiring managers.

How to Write a Funeral Director Resume

The Resume Summary

The resume summary is your first chance to make a strong impression. It should be a concise overview of your skills, experience, and career goals. Tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for, highlighting the qualifications that make you a perfect fit.

Formula: Compassionate [Adjective] Funeral Director with [Number] years of experience in [Area of Expertise]. Proven ability to [Key Achievement] and [Key Skill]. Seeking a [Type of] position at [Company Name] to leverage my skills in [Relevant Skill] and [Relevant Skill] to [Desired Outcome].

Entry-Level Example: Compassionate and detail-oriented Funeral Director with a recent Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science. Eager to apply academic knowledge and strong interpersonal skills to provide support and guidance to grieving families. Seeking an entry-level position to contribute to a reputable funeral home and further develop professional expertise.

Mid-Level Example: Dedicated and experienced Funeral Director with 5+ years of experience providing compassionate and professional funeral services to grieving families. Proven ability to manage all aspects of funeral arrangements, from initial consultation to final disposition. Skilled in embalming, grief counseling, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations. Seeking a challenging and rewarding position.

Senior-Level Example: Results-oriented and highly experienced Senior Funeral Director with 10+ years of experience in managing funeral home operations, leading teams, and driving revenue growth. Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans to improve customer satisfaction, ensure regulatory compliance, and increase profitability. Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) with a strong commitment to providing compassionate and professional service to grieving families.

Work Experience & Action Verbs

Instead of just listing your duties, focus on your achievements and the impact you made in each role. Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and quantify your results whenever possible.

Here are some examples of how to transform duties into achievements:

• Before: Responsible for funeral arrangements.
  After: Managed all aspects of funeral arrangements, ensuring seamless execution and exceeding family expectations.
• Before: Provided grief counseling to families.
  After: Provided compassionate grief counseling to over 100 families, helping them navigate their loss and find solace.
• Before: Assisted with embalming procedures.
  After: Assisted with embalming procedures, ensuring the dignified preparation of deceased individuals.
• Before: Maintained records and ensured compliance.
  After: Maintained meticulous records and ensured 100% compliance with all relevant regulations and licensing requirements.
• Before: Handled customer inquiries and complaints.
  After: Resolved customer inquiries and complaints effectively, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate.

Top Skills for Funeral Directors

Here are some of the top skills that Funeral Directors should highlight on their resumes:

• Hard Skills:
• Embalming
• Funeral Planning
• Grief Counseling
• Regulatory Compliance
• Funeral Home Management
• Soft Skills:
• Compassion
• Empathy
• Communication
• Organization
• Problem-Solving
• Tools/Software:
• Funeral Home Management Software
• Microsoft Office Suite
• QuickBooks

Education & Certifications

List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. If you have limited work experience, highlight relevant coursework and academic achievements. If you’re a seasoned professional, simply list your degree and the institution you attended.

Here are some required or recommended certifications for Funeral Directors:

• Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
• Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP)
• National Board Examination in Funeral Service

10 Common Funeral Director Resume Mistakes

1. Generic Objective Statement: Using a generic objective statement that doesn’t highlight your unique skills and experience. This shows a lack of personalization and fails to capture the recruiter’s attention. Quick Fix: Craft a compelling summary that showcases your key qualifications and career goals, tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.
2. Listing Duties Instead of Impact: Recruiters know what a Funeral Director does; they want to know how well you did it. Replace passive phrases like ‘Responsible for sales’ with quantified wins like ‘Increased pre-need funeral arrangements by 15% through proactive outreach and community engagement.’.
3. Lack of Quantifiable Achievements: Failing to quantify your accomplishments with numbers. This makes it difficult for recruiters to assess your impact and value. Quick Fix: Use metrics to showcase your achievements, such as increased revenue, improved customer satisfaction, or reduced costs.
4. Poorly Formatted Resume: Using a cluttered or unprofessional resume format. This makes it difficult for recruiters to read and scan your resume. Quick Fix: Use a clean and modern resume template with clear headings, bullet points, and white space.
5. Grammar and Spelling Errors: Making grammar and spelling errors. This shows a lack of attention to detail and can damage your credibility. Quick Fix: Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it, or ask a friend or colleague to review it for you.
6. Irrelevant Information: Including irrelevant information, such as hobbies or personal interests that are not related to the job. This wastes valuable space and distracts from your qualifications. Quick Fix: Focus on including only information that is relevant to the job and showcases your skills and experience.
7. Not Tailoring to the Job Description: Failing to tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the job description. This shows a lack of effort and makes it less likely that your resume will be selected for an interview. Quick Fix: Carefully review the job description and customize your resume to match the skills, experience, and qualifications listed.
8. Ignoring Keywords: Failing to include relevant keywords from the job description. This can prevent your resume from being selected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Quick Fix: Research relevant keywords and incorporate them naturally throughout your resume.
9. Inconsistent Formatting: Using inconsistent formatting throughout your resume. This can make your resume look unprofessional and disorganized. Quick Fix: Use a consistent font, font size, and bullet point style throughout your resume.
10. Too Long or Too Short: Making your resume too long or too short. A resume that is too long can be overwhelming and difficult to read, while a resume that is too short may not provide enough information about your qualifications. Quick Fix: Aim for a one- to two-page resume that is concise and focused on your most relevant skills and experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I include in my Funeral Director resume? You should include a summary, work experience, skills, education, and certifications. Tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, highlighting the qualifications that make you a perfect fit.
2. How long should my Funeral Director resume be? Aim for a one- to two-page resume that is concise and focused on your most relevant skills and experience.
3. What skills should I highlight on my Funeral Director resume? Highlight skills such as embalming, funeral planning, grief counseling, regulatory compliance, and customer service.
4. What action verbs should I use on my Funeral Director resume? Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments, such as managed, increased, improved, and resolved.
5. Should I include a cover letter with my Funeral Director resume? Yes, a cover letter is a great way to introduce yourself and explain why you’re a good fit for the job.
6. How can I make my Funeral Director resume stand out? Quantify your achievements, tailor your resume to the job description, and use a clean and modern resume format.
7. What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? An ATS is a software system used by employers to screen and filter resumes.
8. How can I optimize my resume for ATS? Use relevant keywords, a clean format, and avoid using tables or graphics.
9. What certifications should I include on my Funeral Director resume? Include certifications such as Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP).
10. Where can I find Funeral Director resume examples? You can find Funeral Director resume examples online, including in this guide!

Crafting a compelling Funeral Director resume requires attention to detail, a focus on achievements, and a clear understanding of the industry. By following the tips and examples in this guide, you can create a resume that showcases your skills and experience and helps you land your dream job.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Search more Funeral Director resources on our site to discover more tips, templates, and career advice.