Your Path to Careers in Nutrition and Food

Location: POD 60Phone: (416) 979 – 5177Website | Email: ryerson.ca/career | career@ryerson.caHours: Mon – Thu 8:30 am – 6:30 pm/Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Agenda

1. Discovering yourself:

• Values, Skills, Personality, Interests/Goals

2. Discovering the labour market

• Networking

3. Identifying gaps in skills/experience

4. Finding ways to fill these gaps:

• Education and volunteering opportunities

5. Summary

“Most job-hunters who fail to find their dream job,

fail not because they lack information about the job market,

but because they lack information about themselves.”

~ Richard Bolles, Author of What Colour Is Your Parachute?

Increasing Your Self-Awareness

Values What is important/core to you

E.g.) Altruism, work-life balance, independence, job security, etc.

SkillsWhat you are good at

E.g.) Knowledge in Nutrition, public speaking, 1:1 interactions, program

management, etc.

Personality

Your individual traits, needs, attitudes and work styles

E.g.) Extraverted, prefer to follow structure and directions, etc.

Interests/GoalsWhat you enjoy doing or want to

do/learn more about

E.g.) Taking photos, playing basketball, socializing, etc.

• Make informed career decisions

• Construct strong resumes with relevant information

• Better prepare for interviews

• Present yourself authentically in networking situations

An increased sense of self-awareness will help you:

What Are YOUR Values?

Ethical WorkplaceIndependence

Work-Life BalanceIncome/Job Security

RelationshipsStructured Environment

Work Locations

Lifelong LearningProfessional Status

Community InvolvementCreativity and Flexibility

Others……

Skills

Technical Skills:• Measurable• Factual knowledge • Specific processes/

procedures• Learned during formal

training, at school or on the job

• E.g. Food preparation techniques, knowledge of nutrition and balanced diets

Transferable Skills: • Talent that can “transfer”

from one field of study, job, leisure activity to another

• Acquired throughout entire life: school, work, volunteering, hobbies

• E.g. Communication and team work, research, project management

What are YOUR Skills?

Public SpeakingEvent Planning

Research and Analysis

Sales and Marketing

Client Counselling/Coaching Cooking/Food Preparation

Administration Writing and Editing

Community/Team BuildingBudgeting

Curriculum DevelopmentOthers……

Personality

Sociable Extravert Independent Introvert

Structured and Logical Creative and Spontaneous

Competitive Leader Community/Team Builder

Big-Picture Thinker Detail-Oriented Implementer

Being able to article your styles can help you determine if you are a good fit for your organization/team.

In the professional context, your personality is your traits, needs, attitudes, and work styles:

Interests/Goals• Employers appreciate university graduates who are

willing and prepared to learn

• Ask yourself the following questions as you continue with your studies and embark on your career journey:• What do I enjoy doing? • What skills can I further develop? • How can I do these things and apply these skills in

this career field/organization?

To discover a career that is suitable for you, and seek and maintain meaningful professional relationships, it is important that you know and can articulate your:

VALUESSKILLS

INTERESTSPERSONALITY

http://ryerson.ca/nutritionandfood/professional_pathways/careers.html

School of Nutrition Alumni CareersPosition Title Company

Food Services Supervisor Mount Sinai Hospital

Nutrition Consultant Ambrosia Natural Foods

Nutrition Assistant North York General Hospital

Nutrition & Health Communications Associate Kraft Foods

Recipe Developer Veg-Pak Produce

Senior Food Scientist E.D. Smith Foods, Ltd.

Technical and Regulatory Affairs Specialist WILD Flavours, Canada

Product Developer Loblaws

Program Officer Health Canada

Nutrition Marketing Jamieson Laboratories

Projector Coordinator Canadian Diabetes Association

Food Safety Coordinator Embassy Flavours

Regulatory Affairs Specialist Maple Leaf Foods, Inc.

Dietary Technician CAMH

Labour Market Information Research

Do you have what it takes to enter and succeed in a particular occupation? Is it really your dream job?

Consider the following:

• Education requirements • Work environments• Salary & benefits

• Duties & responsibilities• Skills required• Occupational outlook

There are many tools that can help you learn more about these things…

National Occupational Classification (NOC)

• Occupational information tool developed by HRSDC• Extensive list of job titles, duties and requirements• Web address: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/

You can search for a particular job title to find more information about that occupation or other related positions.

Job Bank

• Web address: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

Career Cruising

4 Main Sections:

• Complete Self-Assessments• Explore Sample Career Paths• Find Education and Training• Employment Search

• Log-in Username: ryersoncruise • Password: 00ru01f

http://www.careercruising.com

NetworkingOnline research is a good start, but it cannot replace in-person connections and networking:

• Involve in on- and off-campus groups• Attend networking events and career fairs organized by

Ryerson and professional associations in your field• Conduct informational interviews with professionals

(consider using LinkedIn to find potential interviewees)

LinkedIn • LinkedIn is a powerful professional social networking

tool with many useful functions: • Add Connections• Find Alumni • Search for Jobs• Join Groups

• Check out the Ryerson School of Nutrition Alumni Profession Network group on LinkedIn

• Attend the LinkedIn Essentials workshop offered by the Career Centre to learn more

Identifying Skills Gap

You have done the homework: You’ve learned what you have to offer, and gathered information about a career path. Now what?

Requirements for position

Skills you can offer

Skills Gap!

Filling the Gap: Volunteering• Develop new skills (e.g. time management), your maturity and

sense of self-awareness.

• Build your network and expose yourself to various career paths and work environments.

• Be strategic when seeking volunteering opportunities:

• What skills will you develop in this position, and how will these skills help you in your future career?

• Is there room to grow in that organization?

• Challenge yourself and find a volunteer position that has a high level of accountability and responsibility (e.g. serving on boards).

Filling the Gap: Education

Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc)

Minor CE CertificateDC Academic

Eligibility

Work & Volunteer Experience

Education

Food Service

Science

Promotion

Registered Dietitian

Research/Sustainabili

ty

Align to Professional Pathways

Summary

Start Planning Early Stay Open-Minded

Connect With the Career Centre!

@RyersonCareer

www.youtube.com/RyersonCareer

Ryerson University Career Centre

www.ryerson.ca/career

Contact Information:

Location: POD 60

Phone: (416) 979 – 5177

Email: career@ryerson.ca

Fall/Winter Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am – 6:30 pmFriday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

instagram.com/ryersoncareer