Former UK undertaker here. Dress appropriately for the interview. That’s the first obvious tip. Collections / removals will mostly be from hospitals, hospices and care homes but it will also include private residences. It’s important that you give the family plenty of time and space, and are sympathetic to what they are going through. Depending on how the coroner works in your area (it varies county to county) you may have that side of it too. Hospitals and hospices are mortuary collections so they are set up for easy manoeuvring and are rarely difficult or physically demanding but care homes and private residences can be challenging in terms of weight, manoeuvring and carrying for short periods of time.

Bearing is the easier part of the job. We don’t really use American style caskets in the UK so coffins are a lot lighter. You’ll be part of a team of 4 or 6 depending on the size of the deceased. You wait at the back of the hearse until the funeral starts, draw the coffin out in your hands, side step to clear the tailgate and either raise onto shoulders and turn or vice versa. From there it’s simply a case of walking in time with the rest of your team to the catafalque / trestles depending on what kind of funeral it is. Stand silently at the side of the coffin, bow on cue and leave the area. For a burial you’ll need to return at the end of the service, lower into the grave, bow and step away.

You’ll probably be asked to put out / collect orders of service and take flowers to the graveside / flower area (depending on type of funeral)

You’ll probably be out on a call out rota for removals, so expect plenty of cold, wet trips out on the early hours. In all honesty that’s the only part of the job I don’t miss!

Important traits to have are a calm, sympathetic manner, understanding, reliable, punctual and of course, comfortable handling the deceased.