- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- customer service skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to read English
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work on your own
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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 ill health, or are on a low income
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, at a research facility or at a health centre.
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.
You'll find more advice about becoming a dietitian from the British Dietetic Association and Health Careers.