By Madeleine Wong

Arranging and organising services related to funerals are generally left in charge of undertakers, who are also known as funeral directors. Some of the critical qualities and traits that are needed by people who are in this profession are listed below.

As he may be required at any hour of the day, an undertaker should be ready to work at odd hours also. He should be ready to spend most of his time outdoors because of the nature of the job.

The undertaker must be able to understand the feelings of clients, listen and comprehend their needs and communicate lucidly. With clients hailing from many religions, traditions and cultures, he must be able to communicate with and handle each one of them efficiently. He must be compassionate and should understand others' feelings. But he will have to offer support to the grieving family and must stay strong and emotionally detached to be able to do so.

As an undertaker, an individual should project a dignified and calm personality, while taking care that his behaviour doesn't intensify the sorrow of the bereaved family members and relatives.

Knowledge of various religious beliefs, practices and sentiments, and due respect for these helps undertakers in succeeding in their profession. They must be conscious of different customs and rituals followed by various sects during the funeral service.

An undertaker should have good organisational and management skills. Making arrangements for necessary services like flowers, hearse etc will entail coordination with several providers and will require leadership and guidance skills.

As the undertaker will shoulder the responsibility of obtaining all clearances and adhering to all regulations related to the ceremony, he will need to be well versed in such procedures and legal formalities. The necessary rules and formalities to be followed to get a death certificate or to file insurance claims must also be known to him.

Lastly, an undertaker should ensure that his driver's licence is updated and that he can drive the funeral vehicle during the service.

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