You have just completed a course in your college that has earned you a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. What should be your strategy for employment? Let us take a look at prospective employers who would be interested in considering your application. Take a long hard look at these options:

• Health Centres and clinics
• Nursing homes
• Diabetes care clinics
• Dialysis centres
• Exercise and fitness centres
• Hospitals
• Speciality Hospitals

How do you prepare yourself for a career in this field? You could start by volunteering in hospitals or nursing homes to gain initial experience in working with patients or even elderly people. You could become a Registered Hospital Dietician with the experience gained. However departments like gerontology, pediatrics, sports and other critical care might call for a lot more experience and a full-fledged degree instead of a diploma.

Another option is to enter the field of Community and Public Health Nutrition. This would involve Health promotion, Education, Programme Planning as well as Implementation, Consultation, Administration, Social Service agencies, Daycare centres, Health and Recreation clubs and NGOs that deal with health issues. You have to gain intensive clinical experience and training before you pursue a career in public health. A Master's degree would certainly help in opening up more career options in this field. You would also need to improve your presentation and public speaking skills. You have to learn to interact with all kinds of people.

A third option you could consider is Food Service Management. This would involve Menu Planning, Budgeting, Purchasing, Food Preparation, Personnel Management, Hospitals, Schools, Universities, Camps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Restaurants and Hotels. In order to succeed in this field, some prior experience in any large-scale food service operation like say, a campus cafeteria would certainly help. Develop your computer skills side by side and maybe you could take some business courses too. If you can manage to get a supervisory role, it will go a long way.

You could also set yourself up as a Consultant. This would involve Diet Counselling, Writing, Private Practice, Physician's Offices, Weight loss clinics, Nursing Homes, Health clubs and Spas, Restaurants, Catering services, Sports teams, Food manufacturers, Health related internet sites and Newspapers that have special pages on health. For all these, you will definitely need to gain experience in a speciality area of Nutrition. Once you establish your niche, you will be in great demand. Additional certificates in Fitness, athletic training will help. Do your research and find a need in the community that you can fill. What you definitely require is an entrepreneurial spirit. You must also be prepared mentally to work in several areas at one time. See that you develop excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. And of course, you must learn to promote yourself!

Similar openings in Industry and Teaching are also options you could consider.
One should enjoy helping people and working with healthcare professionals and have an interest in good health, nutrition, and fitness.

General pointers

Scientific aptitude is required to successfully earn a degree in nutrition. Basic sciences play a large role in nutrition.
The ability to work independently and as part of a team is important in this field.
Effective communication skills are important.
Develop interviewing and counselling techniques.
Over half of dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing homes, or physicians' offices.

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