Nutritionist CV Guide

What to include in a Nutritionist CV

A CV is a personal marketing tool, so you want to include the most relevant aspects of your academic, professional and personal background and make it unique to you. Knowing where to start, whether you are writing a CV for the first time or refreshing an existing one, can feel overwhelming. However, you can make the process easier by understanding the job description and employer’s needs and breaking it down into manageable steps.

Firstly, study the job posting carefully and jot down all of the qualifications, skills, experience and attributes mentioned; this will help you focus on the most relevant areas of your background to ensure you tailor your CV to the specific nutritionist job.

After analysing the job description, you should then structure your CV into clear sections. Those common to most CVs include contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references. You may also come across examples with additional sections for training, volunteering, professional memberships and hobbies/interests. Focus on one section at a time to make it easier.

To help you decide what to include in your CV, we will now look at the common sections, starting with the contact information section.

Contact information

The first section, and probably easiest to begin with, is your contact information, which goes at the very top of your CV. Some add it in the centre or at the side, and it is down to your preference as to which you choose.

Your contact information should be clear, concise and accurate to allow potential employers to reach you for interviews or follow-up discussions. If your contact details are incomplete or incorrect, you could miss out on job opportunities.

Here is what to include in this section:

• Full name – add your first and last names, but avoid nicknames.
• Professional title – optional, but you can add your current or previous job title under your name.
• Location – include where you are based, i.e. town, city and/or county.
• Phone number – add one number and ensure it is up-to-date and professional, including a voicemail.
• Email address – use a professional email format, preferably with your name. Avoid any too casual or silly, e.g. [email protected].
• LinkedIn profile – add the link if relevant and current.
• Website or portfolio – if relevant, provide the links, e.g. for roles requiring examples of your work, such as nutrition blogs or consultations.

You should avoid including your full home address, photos, personal social media links and personal information, such as marital status, date of birth, national insurance number and religion. It can increase privacy risks and lead to discrimination or bias.

Professional summary

The next section, after your contact information, is typically your professional summary, also known as a personal statement, career summary, professional profile or executive summary. It is a brief, impactful 3-5 line paragraph that highlights your key qualifications, experience, skills, achievements, career goals and passion for the field. It provides a snapshot of your background, helping employers quickly understand why you are a strong candidate.

Having a strong professional summary is crucial, as it is usually the first thing employers will read, and it also sets the tone for the rest of your CV. If it is professional, engaging and tailored to the specific nutritionist role, employers are more likely to notice you and will want to read through the rest of your CV. Here are some elements you can include in your summary:

• Professional job title – include your current or previous role, e.g. “Nutritionist”. Start your paragraph using strong action verbs, such as “Registered” and “Experienced”.
• Years of experience – mention how long you have been a nutritionist or in a related role, e.g. “5+ years of experience”.
• Qualifications, training and certifications – you can mention specific aspects of your education in nutrition and detail your registration, e.g. MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics and AfN registration.
• Specialisations – detail any specialist areas of nutrition, such as sports nutrition, clinical nutrition, public health, etc.
• Key skills – include skills relevant to the role, e.g. dietary planning, nutritional assessments and client education.
• Achievements and impact – highlight measurable successes, such as “Developed personalised nutrition plans that improved client health outcomes by 20%”.
• Career goals – highlight your aspirations, especially if you see the job as part of your career journey.
• Passion for health and wellness – you can show a genuine interest in promoting better nutrition and well-being.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a nutritionist:

“Registered Nutritionist with MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics and AfN registration. 5+ years of experience in public health and clinical nutrition, specialising in dietary assessments. Skilled in personalised nutrition plans, client education and evidence-based nutritional guidance. Currently specialising in sports nutrition to support athlete performance and recovery. Seeking opportunities to collaborate with healthcare professionals to drive impactful initiatives.”

Education

The next section in your CV can be your education or work experience. You may want to add the former first if you have limited direct experience in the nutritionist role, i.e. you have recently qualified.

The education section is where you highlight your academic qualifications, relevant training and certifications. It is a crucial part of your CV, as the role requires specific qualifications. Therefore, it demonstrates your knowledge and expertise and that you meet the job requirements.

When writing this section, you should emphasise the most relevant aspects of your academic background in reverse chronological order, i.e. most recent first. Here are some examples of the information to include:

• Degree(s) in nutrition or related fields – mention any degrees, such as BSc (Hons) in Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Science or Public Health Nutrition. If you have achieved a master’s degree or PhD, include them.
• Relevant certifications –  if you have completed industry-recognised certifications, such as Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) status from the Association for Nutrition (AfN), include them.
• Additional training and short courses – highlight any courses you have attended, such as sports nutrition, clinical nutrition or weight management, to showcase specialised knowledge.
• Institution and dates – include the school, college, university or training provider and the years you attended.
• Achievements – you can mention any honours or distinctions.
• Key modules and research projects (if relevant) – if you are early in your career, listing key coursework such as biochemistry, dietary assessment or food policy can demonstrate expertise.
• Professional memberships – if you belong to professional bodies, such as the Association for Nutrition (AfN) or the British Dietetic Association (BDA), you can include this in your education section or a separate professional section.

If you possess higher qualifications, you do not include lower qualifications, such as GCSEs and A-Levels (or equivalent). However, you can add them if you have space and the job posting details them.

Work experience/employment history

One of the most crucial sections of a CV is the work experience (employment history) section, where you list your previous jobs and any apprenticeships, internships and relevant work placements. Employers use this section to assess your ability to perform the nutritionist role based on your past roles and responsibilities.

A well-detailed work experience section can differentiate you from other candidates, especially if you showcase your achievements and career progression. You also want to tailor this section and add your most relevant roles. Here are some pointers on what to include:

• Job titles – list your current and past roles, such as ” Registered Nutritionist”, in reverse chronological order.
• Employers and locations – include the names of the organisations you worked for and where they were based. If you have completed any freelance or private practice work, include it.
• Employment dates – mention the start and end dates (month and year) for each role.
• Key responsibilities – using 3-5 bullet points, include your primary duties, such as conducting dietary assessments, developing meal plans, advising clients on nutrition, delivering workshops and collaborating with healthcare professionals. Start each example with a strong action verb.
• Achievements – you can weave your accomplishments, i.e. measurable successes, into your duties, e.g. helping clients achieve health goals, implementing new dietary programs or contributing to research.

Here is an example of how you can add your work experience to your CV:

Registered Nutritionist. ABC Wellness Clinic, March 2021 – Present.

• Provided personalised nutrition counselling to clients, assessing dietary habits and developing tailored meal plans.
• Led monthly wellness workshops, educating the public on nutrition and sustainable eating habits.
• Collaborated with healthcare professionals to support patients, managing chronic conditions through diet.
• Spearheaded a workplace nutrition program, reducing employee absenteeism by 20% and improving overall well-being.

If you are early in your career, you can include roles where you have gained transferable experience or relevant voluntary work, placements, apprenticeships, or internships.

Key skills and achievements

Your CV should include key skills relevant to the nutritionist position you are applying for, which are your abilities and strengths that enable you to perform tasks effectively. Employers will typically detail the essential and desirable skills they want in the job posting, so it is crucial to focus on these in your CV. They may also use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for keywords. Therefore, including relevant skills can increase your chances of passing these filters.

Look at the job description and identify the key skills mentioned. Then reflect on your abilities and include a blend of hard and soft skills in your CV, for example:

• Hard skills (technical and industry-specific) are measurable skills that demonstrate your knowledge and ability to perform your role, learned through education, practical experience and on-the-job training. Some examples for a nutritionist include nutritional assessment, diet formulation, meal planning, food science, weight management, coaching, research, data analysis and regulatory knowledge.
• Soft skills (interpersonal and transferable) help you communicate effectively, build relationships and influence behaviour. Some examples for a nutritionist include communication, empathy, active listening, problem-solving, teamwork, collaboration, adaptability, attention to detail, time management, organisation, etc.

You can include your skills in various sections of your CV. You can integrate them into your work experience, have a dedicated section (“Key Skills” or “Core Competencies”) or combine them with your achievements. The latter are specific successes and contributions you have made in previous roles, and we will look at how to focus on them later.

Other information

The main sections in most CVs include the ones we have covered so far, along with a references section. That does not mean you have to stick to these sections; your CV is unique to you, so you can add, remove and move them where needed.

You may want to consider including other information where something does not quite fit into one of the main sections, or you want certain aspects of your background to stand out in its own section. Here are some examples of additional ones you may want to add:

• Certifications and training – you may want to keep your education section for formal qualifications, such as degrees, and have a separate section for any additional training and continuing professional development you have undertaken, e.g. online courses, webinars, seminars, conferences and workshops.
• Registration and professional memberships – include a section detailing your registration status and whether you are a member of bodies, such as the Association for Nutrition (AfN) or the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
• Publications, projects and research – include a specific section for any academic papers, articles or blogs you have contributed to. You could also include any nutrition-related programs, wellness campaigns or research studies you have led or participated in.
• Volunteering experience – you can include any volunteering in your work experience section if you have limited experience in the nutritionist role. Alternatively, you may want to have a standalone section for relevant volunteer work, e.g. with charities, food banks or health initiatives, demonstrating your commitment beyond paid roles. Add the name of your volunteering role, the organisation, dates and your responsibilities (in bullet point form).
• Languages – if you speak multiple languages, it can be an asset, especially when working in diverse environments. You can add them to your skills section or have a separate one. Add the language and proficiency level, e.g. basic, conversational or fluent.
• Hobbies and interests – this section does not tend to be included in professional CVs. However, you may want to include it if you are early in your career and/or you have sufficient space, as it can make your CV more engaging and relatable. List 3-5 relevant personal interests, such as healthy cooking, fitness, wellness, advocacy, community involvement or sustainability.
• Testimonials – if you have worked as a freelance nutritionist or in private practice, you could add positive feedback from clients.

Ensure you only add sections that are relevant to the nutritionist role and not too many separate ones. It can make the document look cluttered, disjointed and difficult to read. Any other sections should add value to your CV and make it more engaging.

References

The last section in a CV is usually for references, where you provide details of 2-3 people (referees) who can vouch for your skills, experience and character. These individuals, often previous employers, mentors or colleagues, provide insights into your work ethic and suitability for a role when contacted by potential employers.

While it is usually a smaller section compared to the others in your CV, it is still crucial, as it provides a way for potential employers to verify the claims you have made and confirm your past roles and achievements. It can differentiate you from others and make you a more credible candidate.

In some cases, you will not need to provide referee’s details on your CV. You can add “References available upon request” if the job posting has not mentioned including this information at this stage of the recruitment process. If you are required to add these details or think it will increase your chances of success, you can include the following information for each referee.

• Full name – your referee’s name.
• Job title – their professional role (e.g. “Senior Nutritionist at XYZ Clinic”).
• Company/organisation – where they work or worked.
• Contact information – their email and/or phone number.
• Your relationship – how you know them (e.g. “Former Manager at ABC Health Centre”).

Always ask permission before adding your referee’s contact information to your CV. You can also provide them with details of the job you are applying for so they can tailor their references accordingly.