How do I get in to working with the dead?

[Hoohaahoo]

It’s something that has interested me for a while but I’ve lacked confidence after being a sahm for so long. I’m in a good place now and looking to find a career in something I find interesting.

For anyone that works in this industry, how did you get in to it? Would it be worth doing an open university course in access to science?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

What sort of work do you want to do with the dead? Funeral director or Pathologist are completely different in terms of entry requirements.

Not calling it working with the dead could come over quite disrespectful so better not to use that expression. What sort of thing would you be interested in doing.

I’d like to say pathologist but I’m not sure how clever you have to be, do you have to be at doctor level?

Yes I can see that Happy but wasn’t sure how else to word it. Genuinely don’t mean it disrespectfully.

Not calling it working with the dead could come over quite disrespectful so better not to use that expression.

This. A pathologist is a doctor.

Id suggest a quick google tbh, it doesnt seem like you've researched this much.

To be a pathologist you have to be a Dr, do your foundation years in a hospital then move into pathology. There are loads of different areas of pathology.

Likewise, there are loads of different areas within 'working with the dead'. What exactly do you want to do?

My friend who works in a mortuary wrote to all the local ones (this is c 20-25 years ago) and asked if they had any positions. She got lucky with one and has worked there ever since. She loves it. No prior experience/ relevant qualifications

A pathologist is a medical doctor first and foremost so you’d need a medical degree followed by specific further qualifications.

Why do you want to “work with the dead”? What interests you about it? What skills do you have or could bring? That would help shape potential career paths.

Yes a Pathologist is a qualified Doctor who undergoes extra training. What qualifications do you have.

Ps. She preps the bodies for post mortems and works alongside the pathologists. Particularly interesting when it's a forensic case

You mean like Emilia Fox in Witless Silence? Or more like Stuart and Callum on Eastenders?

Echoing everyone who says that you need an idea of what you'd like to do... a pathologist is a doctor, so you'd need to do medical training, and then your foundation years, and then specialise in pathology.

Funeral directors and that type of thing have much less strict requirements, and you can probably get a foot in the door as an apprentice or trainee so you're earning on the job.

Have you considered becoming a psychic medium?

There are other mortuary jobs that require less time/fewer qualifications than being a pathologist

You can work in NHS mortuaries as a technician. They sometimes advertise train be positions like this one www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/915987327
Might be worth looking on the NHS jobs website🙂

My DM works at a funeral directors. She did a CV drop a few years back and one contacted when they had a vacancy.

Grave robbing?

www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/jobs-working-with-the-dead/

American but will give you an idea

www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/jobs-working-with-the-dead/

I think it’s clear from my op I haven’t researched it much yet, I’ve just started looking in to it. I’m not sure which route I want to go down so I thought asking for advice might be a good place to start. I’m not some troll, and like I said I’ve been a sahm since I was very young so don’t have tons of experience in job searching.

I’m interested in it because I find bodies interesting. I’ve had personal experience of someone very close to me dying and their body not being treated with the respect they deserved. I think people often overlook the process someone goes through after death, to me it’s as important as treating someone who is alive. I’m curious as to how death works and I have a strong stomach.

I will keep looking for opportunities on the NHS website thank you.

I've a friend who works at a funeral directors.
She isn't qualified in anything particular but is the most empathetic and sympathetic person I know.
I think you have to be tactful, polite, non judgemental, and respectful.

Working in pathology helps doctors to understand why someone has died. Working in a funeral directors helps the deceased loved ones and cares for someone after they have died. What do you mean by the process someone goes through.

I will keep looking for opportunities on the NHS website thank you.

Why not work for a funeral director? TBH, from the tone of yours posts I wouldn't want someone with your attitude around my deceased loved ones; you come across as one of those true crime freaks who finds other peoples' torturous and miserable end some sort of entertainment (under the pretext of finding it 'interesting').

Much work with deceased individuals is skilled, what qualifications do you have?

Deceased people do not exist to test your stomach or for those who are curious or find the decomposition of their remains interesting .

What about a death doula, a midwife to the dying?