Dietitian Job Spotlight on Julia Zakrzewski, The Freelance Dietitian
Meet Julia Zakrzewski, RD, who turned her dietetic side hustle into a career. She started making money writing and realized there’s a niche for dietetic writers. She now helps other dietitians build their own freelance writing career. Check out her inspiring story. - Sarah
If you are thinking about getting a new dietitian job, check out this article. If you need your LinkedIn profile to stand out as a dietitian, download this checklist.
What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
I love eating and I love food! I wanted to share this passion with others and dietetics felt like the right choice.
Your Job Title?
Full Time Clinical Dietitian and Freelance Dietitian Solopreneur
Company you are with now?
I work full time at a Family Health Team in Ontario.
My Freelance Business is called Freelance Dietitian, which I founded in March 2020, and it is my baby!
Website: www.freelancedietitian.com
Podcast: - Freelance Dietitian Podcast
Instagram: @freelance.dietitian
LinkedIn: Julia Zakrzewski
Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
I primarily work on my freelance projects early in the mornings before I start my regular 9-5 job. I find that I am very creative first thing in the morning which serves my freelance projects well. It took some trial and error to figure out a way that I could balance everything but I have found a way to stay organized, complete my work, and enjoy having a life too!
I now spend my evenings working on educational material that I plan to present to other RDs: I want to teach others how they can also start a successful freelance career!
How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I was inspired to create my own freelance business after having successfully made 3 grand in one month while working less than part time hours! It felt like a side-hustle that had the potential to become quite profitable and it also allowed me to apply my clinical knowledge without opening a 1:1 private practice.
What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I think I was born as a natural leader. I’m quite independent. I also have learned to appreciate my stubborn streak because I do believe it helps me stay committed to my goals even when they feel impossible to accomplish.
Over the years I have developed thicker skin and I no longer take criticism and rejection personally. When I first started my career, I was very sensitive which prevented me from growing.
It’s not flattering to admit but I think my pride played a big role in those moments. I take my RD role very seriously, so whenever I got less than perfect feedback I would feel really upset. I have matured so much over the years and I am so much happier after developing my thick skin!
What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Don’t listen to what other people think. Seriously. Nutrition and Dietetics is evolving, there is so much space for creativity and imagination in this field. The sky truly is the limit.
I remember feeling so unhappy in my career when I tried to mold myself into an RD that other people expected me to be. It’s always draining to maintain a version of yourself that isn’t authentic. Eventually, I grew more confident in myself and I stopped trying to please others…I haven’t looked back since!
If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what
would it be?
I love this question! I would want travel tickets and all expenses paid trips around the globe!
Here's how to travel more and learn a strategy for getting cheap airline tickets*.
Thank you for participating in our Dietitian Career Spotlight interview!
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About the Author
Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN, is the Founder Owner of NutritionJobs and an established dietetic career expert. She helps steer dietetic and nutrition professionals to a successful job search process with the top-ranked dietetic job board platform, NUTRITIONJOBS. Stacey is the author of The Dietetic Resume Guide and numerous dietetic career action-ables. She gives the tools to create a modern standout dietetic resume to land that job interview, help with job interview prep, and with creating All-Star LinkedIn profiles. Stacey has interviewed and hired many dietitians and in running NutritionJobs since 2000, she has reviewed thousands of dietetic resumes. She works closely with dietetic hiring managers and recruiters to know what standout resume elements land a job interview.
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