Registered Dietitian Screening Interviews: What You Need To Know
As a registered dietitian (RD) navigating the job market, understanding the differences between a screening interview and a full interview can set you up for success. Each stage of the interview process serves a distinct purpose, and tailoring your preparation to the specific interview type can make all the difference. Here’s how to approach a screening interview with confidence and professionalism.
What is a screening interview?
A screening interview is a preliminary conversation designed to quickly assess whether you meet the basic qualifications for a position. These interviews are typically brief (15–30 minutes) and often conducted by a recruiter or HR representative.
It is important to note that the recruiter or HR representative may not be very familiar with the scope of practice for registered dietitians. They might be able to answer basic questions about the role, but any nuanced or scope-specific questions should be saved for the hiring manager or supervisor.
Many of my clients have received inaccurate information from recruiters who don’t understand the vast role of RDs, so make sure that you consider this during your interview.
What to Expect for a Screening Interview
A screening interview typically takes place over the phone, but it can also take place on a video call. It very rarely takes place in person.
While it is most common for this type of interview to be scheduled, some recruiters and hiring managers may just cold call you and ask you questions on the spot.
If it’s not a convenient time for you, do not feel bad about asking to reschedule the call.
As a side note, if you are currently applying for dietitian jobs, make sure that your voicemail isn’t full and that you have an appropriate greeting set up! Many recruiter friends have said that they are surprised by how often they cannot get ahold of a candidate.
If you’re not sure who will be conducting the screening interview, don’t be afraid to ask! This is information that will help you better tailor your interview preparation.
How to Prepare for a Screening Interview for RDs
Now that you have learned that screening interviews are typically short and not always conducted by the hiring manager, you might be tempted to wing it!
Don’t do this!
I recommend treating the interview seriously. A little bit of preparation goes a long way and makes a strong first impression. Consider this as the first hurdle to landing the job offer. What you say in this screening interview can make or break your opportunity.
Here are my top tips for preparing for a screening interview. You might also want to check out my blog on How to Prepare for Your Next Dietitian Interview.
Understand the Job Requirements
Review the job description and highlight how your skills and experience align with the core qualifications.
Be ready to discuss your certifications (like the RD or CNSC) and relevant specialties (e.g., clinical nutrition, public health, or food service management).
Remember, the recruiter may not be familiar with all of the credentials that you carry, so some of the questions may feel obvious to you, but make sure to be cordial and patient.
Many job descriptions are very vague (especially clinical roles!) so it’s okay if you need clarification during the screening interview.
Craft a Strong Elevator Pitch:
Prepare a concise introduction summarizing your career highlights, such as your experience in medical nutrition therapy (MNT), motivational interviewing, or community nutrition.
Your elevator pitch should be 30-60 seconds long and highlight your experience and your interest in the role.
You’ll see this question being asked as “tell us about yourself” or “walk us through your resume”.
Make sure that you practice this answer- it can be tempting to ramble and overshare personal details that aren’t relevant.
Check out my interview guide for more tips!
Anticipate Common Interview Questions for RDs
You can expect to be asked a few questions related to your experience and the position. You can anticipate these questions based on the nature of the role.
For example, if it’s a project management role, you’ll likely be asked about your experience in project management.
It it’s a clinical role, you’ll likely be asked about your experience with MNT and specific disease states.
If it’s a telehealth counseling company that provides counseling for patients with on weight loss drugs, you’ll likely be asked about your philosophy on weight loss medications.
If it’s a role that requires technical expertise with a specific platform, you can anticipate questions related to the software.
I recommend preparing 1-2 solid examples for the following types of questions:
Teamwork
Leadership
Communication
Conflict Management
Knowledge
Know your Salary Requirements.
You should be prepared to answer the question “what are your salary expectations?”.
More and more of my clients have reported that recruiters are asking them about their salary expectations or confirming that they are okay with the posted job range.
When possible, I always recommend dodging the salary expectation question. You can use responses like “I would like to learn more about the scope of the role and the position requirements first”.
However, it’s not uncommon for the recruiter to pressure you to state a range. If they do, you can always try to flip it back on them and ask them to confirm their range first.
If all else fails, you should know your desired and well-researched salary range. I always recommend stating a range versus a single number.
You can learn more about salary negotiation strategies for dietitians in my complete salary negotiation guide for RDs.
Be Ready for Logistics Questions.
These are very basic questions and may include your availability, preferred work hours, and willingness to relocate.
The questions might also be “screen-out” questions, meaning that if you answer a certain way, it may eliminate you from the role. These could be questions like “are you willing to work evenings and weekends?”. If this is essential to the role and you say “no”, don’t be surprised if you aren’t offered a second interview.
Ask Basic Questions.
This is a good time to inquire about the timeline for the hiring process or clarify any details about the role.
However, this isn’t the time for questions about benefits, pay or nuanced questions about the role. You can get all of this once you move on to the next round.
Etiquette Tips for Screening Interviews
Practice Non-Verbal Communication: It can be really challenging to follow pacing with phone interviews. Make sure to add in extra pauses to allow the recruiter to finish their thoughts or follow up with more questions.
Prepare Your Environment: Ensure a quiet, professional setting for remote interviews. Test your technology in advance. If you’ll be taking the screening interview by phone, make sure that you have good service and aren’t in a loud environment. I always recommend using headphones or earbuds.
Follow Up: Send a thank-you email after the interview if possible. Reiterate your interest in the role. (I will note that it’s not always possible to send an email to a recruiter, nor are they likely to respond. But if you do have an email, it never hurts to send a quick email).
Conclusion
By tailoring your preparation to the type of interview, you can confidently showcase your skills and stand out as a strong candidate. Whether you’re applying for a clinical dietitian position, a community nutrition role, or a management opportunity, being prepared for each stage of the process will bring you one step closer to your dream job.
About the Author
Kelan Sarnoff, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of experience in the nutrition realm. She has experience in hiring and recruitment in both the clinical and academic settings. Kelan is passionate about helping dietitians land a job that aligns with their passion, values, and skills. She also believes in raising the pay for all dietitians and empowering dietitians to negotiate for desired compensation.
