Long time no post

My faithful readers,

I apologize for the length of time with no post. I have been busy in the profession with a new job at Sandy Springs Funeral Directors.

Before taking the job, I revised and updated my resume. The task of working on a resume can be arduous. Sorting through accomplishments, references, work experience (or lack thereof) can be overwhelming. A well polished and written resume are essential to increasing job opportunities. Many recent graduates contact me asking what they can do to improve their chances at landing their first job in this profession. One of the most important things to do is first create a resume that communicates a level of professionalism that makes the job prospect stand out from the pack.

Firstly, make sure the type is some standard, conventional typeface that looks professional. The two typefaces/fonts that I prefer are Arial and Times New Roman.

Second, select a format for the resume that flows well. There are many variables to consider. Always include your name and contact information in the heading of the resume. Next, if you have substantial work experience, the resume should detail where you have worked including the skills you used and the dates of your employment. If you have not worked in funeral service and/or are changing professions, include transferable skills that are essential to a career in funeral service (i.e., public relations, networking, sales, inventory, etc.). If you have little employment experience, you might consider including your education before you detail your employment experience.

A good reference book for this process, that assists with all facets of job seeking including creating a resume, is called "What Color is your Parachute." I highly recommend this book.

If you have any specific questions, please contact me by leaving a comment on this page.

dailybuzz on the funeral business

Here is a dailybuzz piece on the funeral business. while this may offend some it is important to understand popular culture's take on the business. I invite your comments.

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MySpace Page for Alumi

I created a MySpace page for Pi Sigma Eta Alumni. Please check it out.

I will update with networking opportunities.

Videos of Criminal Funeral Homes/Directors

Much of the uphill climb we face as funeral service professionals comes from public perception shaped by the media and other funeral service employees. To illustrate some of the reports our consumer families are exposed to, I have posted several videos (in the event that you haven't yet seen them.

Consumer Awareness

Funeral service has been under fire lately in the headlines. The Chicago cemetery incident where corpses were exhumed and allegedly disposed of in piles in an undeveloped section of the cemetery. In Falls Church, VA an allegedly disgruntled funeral home employee supposedly took pictures of mishandled bodies causing an onslaught of lawsuits.

Consumers are increasingly wary of funeral homes and cemeteries. Ever since the publication of the scathing book "The American Way of Death," consumer families have been more discriminating in their choices. The wary consumer is not a direct result of the above mentioned outrageous actions, but supposedly results from a more subtle form of abuse that relates to pricing and other things.

A recent article in Smart Money Magazine encourages consumer families to use extreme caution when selecting funeral and crematory services. While this article gives consumer families important criteria to consider when making funeral arrangements, it fails to detail the value of a funeral and the importance of end of life care. The primary focus of this article is to find ways for families to save money. The tone of the article, while not accusatory, is not flattering of funeral service. When funeral service is viewed as nothing but a commodity, it is easy to point a finger at the industry. But this view fails to account for the intangible value of the funeral experience. Weddings on average cost near to $30,000.00 in this country. People spend tens of thousands of dollars on hair care. People routinely spend several hundred dollars on shoes. Are wedding planners, dress designers, shoe companies, salons, etc. taking advantage of peoples' vanity?

In conclusion, while there are ways for families to save money on a funeral, the average profit margin for a funeral home is not excessive (around 10%). Most funeral directors and funeral home owners, while in business to make a profit, are also in the business to help people create a meaningful experience that honors lives and memories.

Read this article. I encourage your comments.

Fraternity Dinner at Chequers in Dunwoody

Thursday, July 23, 2009, the fraternity is hosting its awards ceremony dinner at Chequers. This is a biannual dinner that celebrates membership in the fraternity and provides an opportunity to connect with alumni members as well as current student members and professors at Gupton-Jones. The reservations have already been made. If you are interested in going, Jeff Seiple at Gupton-Jones is the faculty coordinater for the fraternity and he may still have space available.

I encourage all alumni members to inquire about this special event.

At this dinner I will formally unveil the blog and provide opportunity for student members to become involved in the Alumni Association that I have created.

I hope to see you there!

WELCOME

This is the official blog for the Atlanta, GA, Pi Sigma Eta Alumni Association. I served as the Master Artist for the class of 2007 at Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. The purpose of this blog is to network and connect with other brothers and sisters who have been part of the fraternity with each other. Stay posted to this blog, because this is where you will find dates and times for social and volunteer opportunities in the Atlanta and greater Atlanta areas.

You will also find interesting material relating to the funeral service profession. Such as relevant statistical information relating to deaths, burials, cremations, traditional funeral services.

If there is enough interest, I plan to review books relating to the funeral service profession.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

P.K. Justin Alford