Thinking of a Career in Nutrition?

Note:  A recording of this seminar is available. Click here for more information.

Several times a month, I get emails from readers asking for advice about careers in nutrition. Typically, they’ve started to do some research and run into a maze of confusing options: Should they pursue  a degree or a different sort of certification? Are online programs any good? What are the advantages of the R.D. credential?  After corresponding with several of you about this, I’ve decided to offer a webinar on the topic.

During this interactive session, we’ll explore questions that anyone thinking about a career in nutrition needs to consider, including:

  • What kind of a career in nutrition are you seeking?
  • How much income do you want to generate?
  • What kind of skills and background do you already have?
  • What additional education and credentials will you need to be competitive?
  • What kind of school and/or program is the best fit?

What makes me a good person to offer this course?

As you may know, nutrition is a second career for me. (I started my professional life as an opera singer!) About ten years ago, I returned to school part-time, earned a graduate degree in nutrition and became a licensed nutritionist. I now make my living giving advice on health, diet, and nutrition. Although everyone’s path will be different, I’ll share my experience and offer guidance on where on how to find information and answers as you consider your options.

What you can expect

This will be a discussion, not a lecture! You’ll have a chance to ask questions and I’ll limit the class size to be sure that everyone can participate. Obviously, we will not have time for extensive one-on-one career coaching: You’ll still have some research to do and decisions to make on your own. But by the end of the 75-minute session, you’ll have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead and be empowered to take the next steps toward launching your career in nutrition.

Cost: $27.99

When:  January 8th, 2014.

Note:  A recording of this seminar is available. Click here for more information.

19 thoughts on “Thinking of a Career in Nutrition?

  1. I am interested but am not available at the time of event. I do not want to register and take up a spot away from someone else who is indeed available to attend. Is there any other way to get this information?

    1. Stephanie, I may offer an additional section of this at another time. What day/time period would generally work best for you? We’re also recording the session and may be able to offer it that way afterward.

      1. I also would love to participate, unfortunately I probably will be over the Atlantic @ that date and time 🙁 . Anyway a recording will be also good.

      2. Thanks Monica! I’ve signed up and will hopefully be able to rearranged schedule to attend the webinar. If I miss it though, please let me know how I can access the information. Thanks!

  2. Please offer the recording after the session. I am not available on 1/8 at that time but would love to hear what you have to say. I am very interested and was not sure how or where to start. Thank you!

  3. I have been a long time fan of you Monica and I am currently in school for dietetics. I have to say that I cannot believe you are charging people $ 27.50 for info on becoming a nutritionist. Have you no shame? This totally changes my opinion of your professionalism.

    1. Dear Barb,

      I am sorry to hear that. When you finish your training, are you planning to donate your services–or were you hoping to be compensated for your time and expertise?

      I am not charging for information, but for my time. This information is freely available to anyone who wants to take the time to search it out. Yet I regularly get requests from people who want me to take time away from my other work to help them sort it all out and provide personal guidance.

      I am not a career counselor by profession. I spend the bulk of my time providing information about diet and nutrition to consumers via my podcast, blog, magazine articles, Facebook, Twitter, radio and television–free of charge to all. (And if you think I’m getting wealthy on internet advertising, podcast sponsorships, and editorial fees, I can assure you that this is not the case!)

      All of this is more than a full-time job. And yet I also feel pulled to respond to the dozens of people who write asking for career advice. Unfortunately, engaging in one-on-one correspondence with each of them has become unsustainable. It was actually one of these correspondents who suggested that I gather folks looking for this kind of information into small groups and offer a webinar for a nominal fee.

      Believe me, the business model is not a good one. Even if the course “sells-out”, my hourly wage for the time I have put into designing and hosting it will be quite low. It’s simply an attempt to find a way to respond to these requests in a way that doesn’t leave me stretched too thin.

      There’s one other aspect to this. If your career path ever takes you in a similar direction as mine–putting you in a position where you have some degree of visibility and authority and the public has easy and unlimited access to you, you will probably also find yourself in search of mechanisms to manage people’s demands on you. Quite frankly, asking people to pony up a small fee helps weed out those who simply want others to do their work without investing any of their own time and energy.

      I hope that gives you some additional perspective on my decision. It’s really an experiment. I’m trying to find a new way to help people in a way that they perceive to be valuable and that I find sustainable. I’ll be very eager after the webinar to solicit feedback from those who attended to see whether the experience met their expectations.

      1. If you can provide this info as concisely as you offer nutritional advice in your podcasts, websites, and books I’d consider 27.50 a bargain to help me sort this out. Unfortunately, I’ve been called for jury duty that week and I’m not sure I’ll be able to attend at that time (4 pm for me on the west coast). Add me to the others requesting access to a recording (of which I’ll be happy to pay for).

      2. Monica, $27.50 for a webinar is actually cheap, so too bad I can’t make it (seems it’s sold out anyway). So I’d be interested if you do put together another webinar. I’m actually very surprised that someone is questioning your professionalism by charging for a webinar. Apparently they think that setting up and doing a webinar is free, or that your should pay out of pocket for giving valuable information to people. Your time is just as valuable as anyone else’s, so if paying $27.50 to get your information, if it saves me my time Googling and getting bad or out of date information (which I may or may not know the accuracy of), I say it’s a bargain. Look forward to your next webinar.

  4. Hello Monica, It’s wonderful for me to this online session offered and wish I could attend. I would be very happy to pay for a recording if and when available. Thanks so much for being available on so many levels of media!!

  5. Hi Monica, I just learned about this webinar and am bummed that it’s sold out. Please offer the recording session and I’m willing also pay for it.

  6. Hi Monica,
    I love your columns and expertise and would have loved to attend the now sold-out webinar. Please add me to the list of folks who would be happy to pay for the webinar recording and/or keep us posted on the date of your next webinar!

    Thanks so much!

  7. Monica, I would also be interested in purchasing a recording of this information or attending a future webinar. Thank you!

  8. Yes, please do offer a recording of this event for those of us who could not attend. I’m sure we all would appreciate it. Thanks!

  9. Monica, Please add me to the list of people who would pay for the recording of this webinar. I am also a second-career nutrition student and would love to hear your perspective!

  10. Hi Monica,

    I would LOVE to listen to a recorded copy of your webinar if you have that available & I would GLADLY pay $27.50. I have my B.S. in nutrition & dietetics and am debating going back to pursue my masters in nutrition or doing a dietetic internship… I would really appreciate any insight you have on the field! Thank you so much, Monica.

    Best,
    Laura

  11. Have there been any options made available to purchase the recording of the webinar? Or will there be another one in the near future? I am very interested!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.