Planning your career path
Looking to the future
Maree Ferguson, PAH/UQ, Dietitian Connection
Liz Isenring, Bond University
Rhiannon Barnes, PAH
Overview
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Introduction
Our stories
Strengths
Emerging areas
Marketing brand YOU
Interview, CV, Networking & Mentoring
Words of wisdom
Summary
Maree’s Story
Liz’s Story
• Pharmacy – not for me but good background
• Dietetics – this is me!
• Clinical dietetics – The Wesley Hospital (1998-2000) - love this but
surprised by lack of evidence in some areas
• How is the dietetics evidence base generated? Great mentors,
encouraged quality improvement and clinical research projects
• Phd, Completed in 2000-2003
• Conjoint position between QUT and Wesley 2004-2005
• NHMRC Post doc, 2005-2009 Adelaide (Flinders) & Brisbane (QUT)
• Academic – Senior Lecturer 2009 UQ, 2010 – Clinical Academic
Fellow UQ- PAH
• 2014 – Professor Nutrition & Dietetics, Bond University
• Chair of International Nutrition & Cachexia group (MASCC),
Nutrition Editor for Current Oncology.
• Maggie Beer Foundation, Board of Directors.
Rhiannon’s Story
• Passion for education and developing others
from a young age
• Loves a good challenge 
• Dietitian, The Park Centre for Mental Health
• Senior Dietitian, TPCH
• Senior Dietitian, Rockhampton Hospital
• Private Practice (Brisbane, Rockhampton)
• Senior Dietitian (CE), PAH
• A/Director Dietetics, Bayside (secondment)
• A/Team Leader, PAH
Common themes…
• Self reflection
• Mentors
• Insight into strengths and weaknesses
Strengths Activity
• Via 120 Survey
• StandOut Report
Liz’s results
• Via 120 Survey – love of learning,
judgement, curiosity, love, leadership
• StandOut Report – Advisor / Provider
• Matching my strengths: Academia: love of
learning (reading/writing)
• Judgement & curiosity : research
Emerging Areas
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Aged care
Schools
Corporate health
Wellness programs e.g. cancer survivors
Food companies, PR, communications
Going green, food miles, environmental
Group Education
Academia, management
Emerging Areas: skills required
• Entrepreneurial, marketing, social media
• Leadership
• Psychology, behaviour change, client
centred
• Nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics
• Expanded scope of practice: Prescribing
rights – TPN, insulin, statins
Future Proofing
• Processes, critical thinking, advocating,
life long learning (rather than just specific
knowledge)
• Dietitian Connection – Live chat on forum
“What will dietitians be doing in 10 years
time?”
• Future: 3D printing of food, nutrition “pill”
• Social aspects, motivation, support.
Activity: Emerging Areas
• Look at the results of your Via Survey and
Standout
• What are your strengths?
• What current aspects of dietetics do you
think your strengths align with?
• With your strengths, what are the emerging
areas of dietetics that might suit you?
YOU Inc.
• Think of your career as a business
• Think of running your career like a business
• Think of yourself as CEO of brand YOU
– Your employer is your “customer”
– Market your “brand” to your employer
Brand
• Message about a product
– What product has to offer (value)
– What sets the product apart from others
(uniqueness)
• “A brand is nothing less than everything
everyone thinks of when they see or hear
your name” (K. Ferrazzi)
“Brand YOU”
• Define your product/brand
– Unique strengths/experiences/qualifications/
accomplishments
– How are you different from others?
– How can you add value to organisation?
• Create elevator speech
Activity – Brand YOU
Mentoring
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Mentoring at work…
Identify what support you receive
Identify any gaps in your practice
Seek out a mentor to fill those gaps
Mentors will change as you do!
Networking
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Who you know  so let people know you!
Opportunities galore
Professional Development Days
DAA (IG’s, Branch, APD Mentors)
Dietitian Connection (forums,
contributions)
• Volunteer as a student
• Conferences
On the job hunt…
• If only getting a job was this easy…
Curriculum Vitae
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No more than 4 pages
Vision
Personal contact information
Education history
Employment history  SKILLS
‘Extracurricular’  OUTCOMES
Research/publications  OUTPUTS
Referees x 2
Interview
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Be prepared – know the KSR
Be yourself
Answer the question
Manage your time
Have a framework or structure for responses
Provide evidence of knowledge, skills and attributes
Talk
Use ‘I’ not ‘WE’ – own the response
Practice makes perfect 
Seek feedback and apply it for next time!
Top 10 Tips
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Look for positions within organisations that suit you!
Give your written application the time it deserves
Follow instructions and maximise your opportunity!
Choose your referees carefully
Request feedback on your application from peers, mentors prior to
submitting
6. Provide evidence for your statements (application & interview)
7. Prepare for your interview (eg. What do you want to get across)
8. Keep your responses simple! You can always add higher level statements
or examples later!
9. Be aware of how you present at interview
10. Request feedback and use this to your advantage!
Workshop Activity
“Tell me about a time you have had conflict. How
did you respond and what was the outcome?”
What do you think are the
positive indicators (desired
responses) to above question?
Rhiannon’s words of wisdom
• Surround yourself with those that inspire
you
• Be open to feedback
• Strengths based approach  you will be
more satisfied with your job and will
perform like a superstar
• Don’t pigeonhole yourself too early
• Initiative, initiative, initiative
Liz’s words of wisdom
• Give it a go!! You learn from your experiences
and mistakes. Work to your strengths.
• Say “YES”, especially at the beginning of your
career (later it becomes about saying “NO”).
• Make the most of opportunities.
• Seek great mentors and give back - continue to
mentor the younger generations!!
Maree’s words of wisdom
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Be yourself
Identify and capitalise on your unique strengths
Seek out the advice of many mentors
Seize opportunities
Dream big
Live in the moment and enjoy the here and now