Dietitian

In this role you could:

• assess the nutritional needs of adults, children, families or groups
•  create treatment plans to improve nutrition and overall health
•  give practical and sensitive dietary advice, tailored to people's needs
•  monitor people's progress towards healthy eating targets
•  create and update confidential clinical records

In a hospital, you could:

• specialise in an area like children's health, renal dietetics or cancer care
•  run clinics for people with diabetes or eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia
•  work with catering services to create menus for patients with a range of dietary needs

In the community, you may:

• raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating
•  run health promotion workshops
•  advise people who lack confidence, are experiencing mental illness, or are on a low income

• active listening skills
• knowledge of biology
• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work on your own
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

With experience you could become a team leader or department manager. You could also become self-employed.

You might take further training to use your skills in education, manufacturing, research, journalism, marketing, advertising or public relations.