The search for a nutrition job!
Since I finished my degree in July, 2006, I have been looking for a job. As there are so few nutrition jobs I have applied for several different positions including retail, admin, specialist (nutritional) advisor, research assistant etc. So far, it seems that I am over qualified for most of the jobs that I have gone for. This has not made it easy to get a job as companies think that if you have a degree you will leave when a better job comes up! This could be true for some but is not always the case!
My ideal job is of course a nutrition related job; these are so hard to find! There are very few nutrition jobs in the UK, and there is lots of competition. Most nutrition jobs require at least a masters or a PhD or at least 3 years experience in the field. So, if you have just graduated with a BSc in nutrition you have little chance of actually finding a job in your field.
When you look at how popular the area of nutrition has become you would not think there would be so few jobs!!! A few months ago I sent an email to my teacher asking for her careers advice and she mentioned that 1 year after graduation, none of last years nutrition graduates had yet found work as a nutritionist!
I remember the careers day that was held at the end of my second year at university. Three nutritionists each gave a 15 minute talk about their career experiences. The overall advice was this: VOLUNTEER, PERSISTENCE and CONNECTIONS! I would think that you would need to have a lot of patience as well! If you know people who work in the nutrition field you will have a better chance of being considered for a job, so really you have to try to get in there and make yourself known! Maybe offer to write a few articles for a website or volunteer to work for a health charity. I would suspect that most nutrition graduates do not do this!
Another way to have a good career in nutrition is to take a PhD; which is something that I have considered, but do not feel is right for me! I would rather be out there working! Some nutrition graduates start out on their own working as an associate nutritionist. They work for different companies such as marks and spencers and magazines, with duties that include writing articles, giving advice, creating leaflets and working on health campaigns. It seems that most associate nutritionists start out volunteering their services.
I have sent my CV to lots of organisations that may have positions for nutritionists such as food and nutrition organisations, pharmaceutical and neutraceutical companies, charities, hospitals and supermarkets. I have applied for 2 jobs advertised on the nutrition society website, one of which I had a telephone interview today, fingers crossed!
When I do finally get a nutrition job I will celebrate it like I have just won the lottery!
Until then the search continues…..
My ideal job is of course a nutrition related job; these are so hard to find! There are very few nutrition jobs in the UK, and there is lots of competition. Most nutrition jobs require at least a masters or a PhD or at least 3 years experience in the field. So, if you have just graduated with a BSc in nutrition you have little chance of actually finding a job in your field.
When you look at how popular the area of nutrition has become you would not think there would be so few jobs!!! A few months ago I sent an email to my teacher asking for her careers advice and she mentioned that 1 year after graduation, none of last years nutrition graduates had yet found work as a nutritionist!
I remember the careers day that was held at the end of my second year at university. Three nutritionists each gave a 15 minute talk about their career experiences. The overall advice was this: VOLUNTEER, PERSISTENCE and CONNECTIONS! I would think that you would need to have a lot of patience as well! If you know people who work in the nutrition field you will have a better chance of being considered for a job, so really you have to try to get in there and make yourself known! Maybe offer to write a few articles for a website or volunteer to work for a health charity. I would suspect that most nutrition graduates do not do this!
Another way to have a good career in nutrition is to take a PhD; which is something that I have considered, but do not feel is right for me! I would rather be out there working! Some nutrition graduates start out on their own working as an associate nutritionist. They work for different companies such as marks and spencers and magazines, with duties that include writing articles, giving advice, creating leaflets and working on health campaigns. It seems that most associate nutritionists start out volunteering their services.
I have sent my CV to lots of organisations that may have positions for nutritionists such as food and nutrition organisations, pharmaceutical and neutraceutical companies, charities, hospitals and supermarkets. I have applied for 2 jobs advertised on the nutrition society website, one of which I had a telephone interview today, fingers crossed!
When I do finally get a nutrition job I will celebrate it like I have just won the lottery!
Until then the search continues…..
posted by Natsophia @ 4:21 pm
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