I am an intern at a funeral home in the Pittsburgh area, and will be finished with my term in about a month. However my advice to any mortuary Science student is to get out in the field and seek out intern opportunities long before the time comes. It took me 11 months to secure a position. I dont know what the delay was, since i was a Mu Sigma Alpha Award recipient, and was recomended by the faculty at school. If it is the fact that i am female, then i guess that there are many employers that need to open their eyes and look at the graduating classes~ There are a lot of women entering the industry. We have much to offer to the field.

My biggest frustration with the mortuary school was that there was not any assistance nor placement opportunities available from the school.

If there were, i think that these frustrations would have been lessened.

I had no idea it was that difficult to get placed in a secure position. Most up and coming funeral directors are second, third or even fourth generation...so their future is already set. I am a first generation funeral director and was fortunate to walk into a firm needing someone.

I think many of the families I meet with would feel so much more comfortable meeting with a female. As we all know through experience, women are the decision makers, especially during a funeral arrangement conference. To have a female director would be beneficial to any firm. Just my thoughts.

Although It took me a while to obtain a secure position, I have had many favorable responses from the families that i have guided through the funeral process. I agree that people respond differently to women, and that makes me a valuable employee.

Thanks for the input.

Good Luck in the funeral industry.