Ways To Become Indispensable At Work As a Dietitian

Apr 6

Ways To Become Indispensable At Work As a Dietitian

Sarah Koszyk, MA RDN and Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN

The average length of time an employee works for an employer is 4.1 years, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This low length of time can result in feelings of job insecurity as an employee and job fragility as an employer.

Finding your sense of security can be empowering both for you, your employer, and your fellow co-workers.

More importantly though, feeling secure in your position at work can give you a feeling of job satisfaction and job happiness.

As a dietitian, you play a critical role in promoting good health and well-being. You are an important part of the healthcare team, and your skills and knowledge are essential to helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Dietitians can ensure their worth and value to their bosses to keep their positions and remain assets to the company. We reached out to fellow dietitian experts and asked them to share their tips on How to be Indispensable to Your Dietetic Employer. There are many ways that you can become indispensable at work.

How to be Indispensable to Your Dietetic Employer

Team Player. - Being a dietitian is not a solo job. You are part of a team of healthcare professionals who all have an important role to play. As such, it is important that you be a team player and work well with others. “Be a team player and help your co-workers when they're in a bind. Not only will your employer see that he/she can count on you, but the good karma will come back to you when you're in a tough situation,” instructs Lindsey Pine, MS, RDN, CLT, Founder of TastyBalance Nutrition, Twitter: @tastybalance.
Be the “Yes” Person. “Be ready to say yes even if a task is beyond your experience and scares the living daylights out of you. Growth happens when you put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Be the go-to problem solver,” advises Joanne Larsen, MS, RD, LD, Founder of Dietitian.com, Twitter: @AsktheDietitian.
Think Outside the Box. “The best thing to do is to think outside the box and provide value-added services or be on the cutting edge professionally. These contributions will help the employer be a step ahead of the competition and contribute to an environment where you are an asset and not a liability,” informs Linda Eck Mills, MBA, RDN, LDN, FADA, Career Coach and International Speaker.
Open to Change. “Be open, flexible, and adaptable. Employees who are open to change and can adapt to different situations, scenarios, and work environments are indispensable to employers. Tell your boss that you are open to learning. Ask for new and different opportunities, or be vocal about your ideas,” informs Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, CDN, CSCS, Founder of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness and the Dietitian Entrepreneur Mastermind Retreat, Instagram: @alissarumseyRD, alissarumsey.com.
Forward-Thinking Technology. “Be an early adopter, especially with technology. If your employer knows that you are always ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, you will be the go-to on new projects, team collaboration, and team education. Don’t be afraid to pitch new/efficient way for tasks to get done,” explains Lauri Egan, RD, CPT, Nutrition Entrepreneurs Executive Director.
Anticipate the needs of the business.“Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. Be proactive and keep a running list of ideas that can help the business and discuss them to your boss,” updates Pine.
Communication Skills - Good communication skills are essential for dietitians. You need to be able to communicate effectively with your patients, as well as with other members of the healthcare team.
Organizational Skills - Dietitians need to be organized and efficient in their work. This includes being able to keep track of patient records, diet plans, and other important information.
Adaptability - Another key characteristic of successful dietitians is adaptability. With the ever-changing field of healthcare, dietitians need to be able to adapt to new changes and demands.
Passion for Helping Others - We dietitians have a genuine passion for helping others. This includes having a desire to help people achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Showing this at work can help solidify your value. Also documenting patient or client testimonials can help show your passion for your job.

Become indispensable to your employer. You may even get a raise or promotion when they realize the company cannot function as efficiently or effectively without you.

About the Authors

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of MIJA, a superfood supplement company, and Haumea Health, a fertility wellness clinic. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

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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