Guest post by: Lauren LeRoy, Little Miss Funeral
Lauren LeRoy, also known as Little Miss Funeral, is a twenty four year old licensed funeral director in New York State. Little Miss Funeral was started in March 2012 as a platform for Lauren to share her thoughts and ideas on the funeral industry.
So you just graduated from Mortuary School and now it’s time to hunt for that dream job. You’ve spent the last 2-4 years eating, breathing and living funeral services and now you want the opportunity to show what you’re made of. It’s exciting, but it’s also overwhelming, especially if you’re a women. You’ve heard it said time and time again. The funeral industry is a man’s world. And to an extent, that’s correct. But things change.
Being a women in the funeral industry can be a great asset. Women are strong and compassionate. I remember when I was fourteen and my first ever boyfriend (and obviously, the only love of my life) broke up with me. I found comfort in the words and actions of one particular girlfriend. She listened to me, consoled me and talked me through my grief. Her actions were a tad different than some of my guy friends, who offered a hug and a solid, “you’ll be okay.” I’m not saying that my guy friends lead me wrong, it’s just that there was something special and comforting in the specific actions of my girlfriend. To this day I believe she would have made a great funeral director.
But sometimes, being a women is hard. How do we dress and present ourselves for a job that we want? What is the message that we want to come across? For the interview itself, I have a few rules; keep it simple. Keep it classy. Be yourself. After all, you’re selling you.
Let’s be honest. You’re looking to work for a funeral home, so for the interview itself, you really should wear a suit. This is where you want to invest your money. I have one gray suit that my mother bought me after I graduated and five years later it’s still in mint condition. It has seen 90 degree heat and below freezing weather and I can still pull it out and wear it like it’s new. Go classic here. Stay away from the blazer with trendy details. Over time, it will age itself. And you can never go wrong with black or gray. I myself am partial to dresses and skirts, but a pant suit would be fine as well! If you are wearing a skirt, make sure it hits you right at the knee. Too much leg can be distracting and give your outfit a negative connotation. Below, I have two examples from my favorite go-to store, Ann Taylor. For under the suit, you cannot go wrong with a white button up. Clean and simple, it’s a piece that has lasted over the years. It also makes you look put-together without trying too hard.
Now, I am very much a heel lady. When you’re five foot two, you do everything in your power to give yourself some more height. But this is where you want to be careful. If you rarely wear heels you will have problems walking in them and there is nothing worse than going to shake your interviewers hand and tripping over your shoes. Remember, even if you’re a pro, higher does not always mean better. If the shoes look like you’re going out for a night on the town, leave them at home. Once again, go classic. A little black heel will give you enough lift and spice up your outfit in a good way.
When you look good, you feel good and your true self can radiate through. Never forget that old saying; you only have one chance to make a first impression. If you keep your outfit simple and classy, people have no distractions to keep them from seeing the true you. After all, you want to shine during the interview, not your flashy outfit. Once you land the job, there will be other times when you can have more fun with your wardrobe. But first things first, here.
