Communication of Professional Readiness in Dietetics and Human Nutrition Undergraduates: A Pilot Study

Learning experiences within the dietetics and human nutrition undergraduate curricula develop knowledge and skills pertinent to student career goals. Core competency requirements are extensively assessed in these programs, yet the communication of transferable skills gained and student professional readiness are rarely examined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate undergraduate students\u27 perceived professional readiness following six professional development workshops on transferable skills and career preparedness communicated through resumes and personal statements. In this pilot study, twelve upper-level dietetics and human nutrition students self-assessed their resumes and personal statements with rubrics and completed surveys before and after the intervention. Following the workshops, four professionals in the students\u27 respective career field of interest assessed the resumes and personal statements using the same rubrics. Trends toward improvements were seen in three of 15 transferable skills and in six out of 10 skills assessing confidence in career preparedness. Four out of seven resume components saw trends toward improvements, and all items on the personal statements improved after the intervention. No differences were observed between the student and professional assessments. Providing structured time for student reflection to effectively articulate professional readiness may better prepare students for success in future professional endeavors