The best way to prepare for life in any field of work is to start getting your feet wet early on. Luckily, this can be accomplished in various work roles for the world of dietetics – some don’t even have to be exclusively nutrition-related! There are countless opportunities under the umbrella of dietetics; for an idea of what’s available and how to pave your way to success, check out our resource on 7 Ways to Be an Awesome Dietetics Student.
While you’re still working on your degree or internship, though, here’s a few examples of positions to help you cultivate valuable skills in the field!
For those looking for jobs that are directly related to the dietetics field, look for positions as:
Dietetic Technicians
As a dietetic technician, you work as an interdisciplinary team to provide ultimate nutrition care for patients. This includes assuring that patient meal selections are appropriate for their diets, notifying the registered dietitian of any new and relevant nutrition concerns, and screening for any instances of malnutrition.
Food Service Workers
Whether the position calls for work as dietary hosts or kitchen workers, both provide significant experience in the world of foodservice. Both positions offer extensive experience in understanding the importance of temperature control, while dietary hosts earn the ability to learn more about various diets and their respective restrictions.
WIC Nutritionists
As a WIC nutritionist, you work directly with clients eligible for program benefits to help them gauge their supplemental food needs, as well as helping out with nutritional planning and other provisions provided by the program.
Wellness Coaches
If clinical settings aren’t for you, but you want to work directly with people, wellness coaching may be for you! This role allows you to use your knowledge of nutrition to provide insight, education, and motivation to various people.
In these positions, you are likely to work directly with individuals regarding their nutritional status, intake, or behaviors. Since these positions require you to work under the guidance of a registered dietitian or senior nutritionist, you are also allowed to ask them questions about their journey or even shadow them for a day!
You don’t have to work in a strictly dietetic field to gain relevant experience, though.
Some other jobs that can be great teaching lessons for dietetics students include:
- Waitressing/Serving
- Personal Training
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Volunteering at Food Banks or Soup Kitchens
These positions cover many facets of health that are directly tied to nutrition, food service, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Don’t see your job listed above, or do you work in a different field entirely? That’s okay! Most jobs provide experiences that can be transferred over to the dietetics field. Whether it’s paid or unpaid experience, our coaches can help you figure out what skills your experience has provided helpful in dietetics.
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About the author:
My name is Tanisha Amaral, a dietetic intern with Wellness Workdays currently completing my community rotation with All Access Dietetics! This list wasn’t just randomly generated through a series of Google searches, but rather through my personal experience working in most of them on my journey to becoming an RD! As a dietetic intern, I am also working as a dietetic technician and restaurant server – the best of both the clinical and foodservice worlds! For more help, feel free to reach out for tips on navigating the RD path!
PS. Applying to dietetics programs in the future? Check out Dietetics Admissions!
