Staffing Tips for Success | Nov 16 2017

Five dietitian hiring practices to avoid

Interviewees lined up

If you want to hire the best dietitian, don’t do these

When it comes to hiring really good registered dietitians, we have to admit, we know a few tricks of the trade. After more than 18 years of honing our skills, we figured it was time we share a few tips! These are the top five hiring practices to be avoided at all costs if you want to hire a great registered dietitian.

Using a recruiter who isn’t familiar with the position

Hiring a dietitian is about more than schedule, salary and checking off the boxes on a job description. Assessing clinical competency, quality and delivery of recommendations, and comfort level with eternal and parenteral nutrition are all skills that not every recruiter knows how to assess. Using an experienced dietitian recruiter will save you time while also delivering a better candidate.

A cumbersome application process

Long application processes are the No. 1 reason applicants lose interest in a position, according to an article by Healthcare Dive. To test your application process, apply for one of your own jobs and see if the software is easy to navigate.

Brushing off a new grad

Most positions list “1 year experience” as a qualification for a dietitian position. Many new grads get stuck in tight spot with 9 to 13 months of internship experience, but little “real-world” experience. If you’re working with a recruiter who knows the ins and outs of dietitian work, they will ask the right questions, talk to the right references and learn what the candidate’s internship rotations entailed.

Armed with this information it’s easy for an experienced dietitian recruiter to know if a new grad is qualified. Often their enthusiasm & motivation coupled with strong internship experience can lead to a stronger candidate than someone with even a few years of experience.

Hiring a consultant dietitian as an independent contractor

In almost every case, hiring a clinical dietitian as an independent contractor is considered misclassification. Because of the nature of the work done in a clinical setting, a registered dietitian should be paid as a W2 employee, not a 1099 independent contractor. We actually wrote an entire white paper dedicated to this topic. Read it here.

Dominating the conversation

As the employer, you should generally lead the conversation, but remember to let the candidate speak, without interruption. When a room goes quiet, people tend to want to fill that silence. Wait a few seconds longer than normal and the candidate may share some additional helpful information (good or bad) that may not have been shared based on standard interview questions.

Steering clear of these practices will help ensure you hire an awesome dietitian! Remember, if you’re unsure how to navigate nutrition staffing and recruitment, Dietitians On Demand can help. With more than 18 years of experience specializing in hiring exclusively registered dietitians, we know a thing or two!

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Dietitians On Demand is a nationwide staffing and recruitment company for registered dietitians, specializing in short-term, temporary and permanent-hire positions in acute care, long term care and food service positions. Check out our job openings, or request your coverage today!

Who we are

Dietitians On Demand is the nationwide leader in dietitian staffing. We streamline the clunky recruiting and hiring process. When you submit a coverage request, you’re immediately connected to our experienced team who take the time to understand exactly what your facility needs. Your personalized Regional Account Manager finds the ideal candidate for your situation and workplace culture.

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