By Mark M. Deutsch, MBA
Regardless if you are fresh to the field of dietetics or a veteran, it will always be wise to pay attention to opportunities that may be your ideal career. Nutritional professionals continue to be in high demand in the clinical, community, and private practice settings; as well as in the roles of Food Service/Certified Dietary Managers, Nursing Home Administrators, and Hospital Executives. Tomorrow is indeed bright, but which path is best for you?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average U.S. worker changes careers 3-5 times during their life-time and will have had 11 jobs before they reach the age of 42. If you haven’t presently had many different jobs in nutrition, chances are that you will.
Thanks to the considerable academic and practical training nutritional professionals undergo, you have the luxury and expertise to make a selection of jobs in dietetics viable, though some may be a better fit in your case than others. You’re working in a growth industry that offers different solutions to work toward the same goal of assisting people get and stay in good health through nutrition.
Here are some profiles of character traits to determine which kind of career in dietetics may best suit you.
1) The Planner … You are perceptive and sensitive to how other people are feeling and you also take pleasure in bringing structure and order to your world. Your talent for organization helps you develop structured programs to assist individuals reach their nutrition goals.
If this describes you, you may well be an excellent clinical dietitian, community nutritionist, private in-person or tele-health counselor. The abilities discussed above can also be the makings for a culinary nutritionist working in an upscale restaurant.
2) The Visionary … You’ve got a talent for taking the sophisticated and making it simple. You like being social, networking, and leading a team. While you are very social, you likewise require alone time for you to process information and develop 40,000 foot solutions.
Your ideal work environment might be one that allows you freedom in your daily activities. You may make an excellent business owner, manager, supermarket/pharmacy dietitian, or independent consultant.
3) The Artist … You like a tough project that can take advantage of your creativity, you’ve outstanding communication expertise, and you are proficient at whatever interests you or ignites your passion. Some may even describe you as an artist. You’re self-reliant and independent, so although you like working with others, you may choose to work solo. You most likely dislike detail-oriented work or structured work environments.
This project-oriented, independent working implies that you’ve got a great deal of career options. You may enjoy being a traveling RD, juggling a dozen consulting projects, creating recipes, or perhaps writing a blog.
4) The Entrepreneur … You are your work. You are self-motivated, lead by example, committed, and also you don’t accept things as they are. Your passion and charisma draw in those surrounding you, and you are usually a mentor to others. You wouldn’t prosper in the military – you need to do things your way.
Your job options are wide-open, so long as you can run the show. So it doesn’t matter what path you take, make sure you’re the boss!
If not one bucket above describes you perfectly, fret not, you may find that you’re a composite of qualities described in more than one category. The conclusion from the hundreds of nutrition professionals I work with every year to find their “dream” career, is that they are employed in an environment where their professional interests, favored working environment, and skill sets are all in alignment. So whether you are a Planner, Visionary, Artist, or Entrepreneur, find the path that gets you excited when you wake up each morning, and your future in dietetics will still be bright.
About the Author
Mark M. Deutsch, MBA is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Dietitians On Demand. Dietitians On Demand was founded by a Registered Dietitian to match Dietitians and Certified Dietary Managers with hospitals, nursing homes, and other organizations who need their services. Dietitians On Demand has over 3,500 nutrition professionals who have registered with our network and every Registered Dietitian east of the Mississippi in our database.
For more information about Dietitians On Demand, visit http://www.dietitiansondemand.com. Mark can be reached at (800) 545-1208 or mark@dietitiansondemand.com.