As someone who has worked with thousands of candidates over the past 25 years as a UK-based career coach, I know just how crucial it is to create a CV that stands out. If you are aiming for a career as an NHS Dietetic Assistant, your CV needs to highlight not only your skills but also your commitment to patient care and your ability to support dietitians in delivering nutritional advice and interventions. Let’s begin by breaking down the role itself, before guiding you through a complete structure for creating an interview-winning NHS Dietetic Assistant CV template example.
The importance of the NHS Dietetic Assistant role
A Dietetic Assistant in the NHS plays a vital role in supporting dietitians to deliver evidence-based nutritional care to patients. This involves preparing resources, assisting in patient education, gathering dietary information, and providing administrative support. The role ensures that patients receive practical advice and that dietitians can focus on delivering high-quality specialist care. On average, NHS Dietetic Assistants in the UK can expect a starting salary of around £22,000 per year under Agenda for Change Band 3, with opportunities to progress to higher bands with experience and additional training.
Your CV needs to reflect this blend of clinical support, patient interaction, and administrative reliability. To compete for such roles, you must demonstrate both compassion and organisation in your CV example, while ensuring you showcase transferable skills from previous employment.
Why your CV matters
Recruiters and hiring managers in the NHS are inundated with applications. Your CV is often the very first impression they receive. If it is not structured clearly, keyword optimised, and reflective of the competencies required for a Dietetic Assistant, your application risks being overlooked. This is why having a strong cv template tailored to the NHS is a must.
How to structure your NHS Dietetic Assistant CV template
An excellent cv template for a Dietetic Assistant role should follow a clear structure:
Personal profile: A short and impactful paragraph at the top summarising your passion for dietetics, your commitment to the NHS, and your key strengths.
Key skills: A bullet-pointed section outlining skills such as patient communication, nutritional knowledge, administrative accuracy, IT skills, and teamwork.
Professional experience: Detailed descriptions of your previous roles, tailored to show your transferable skills in dietetics, healthcare, or related industries.
Education & training: Include relevant qualifications, GCSEs, A-levels, or degrees, and highlight any training related to healthcare, nutrition, or patient support.
Achievements: Examples of how you have gone above and beyond in your role, such as improving patient resources, contributing to audits, or streamlining admin processes.
Interests: A short optional section that can reflect personal interest in health, wellbeing, nutrition, or community service.
Personal profile example for an NHS Dietetic Assistant CV
“Dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional with a passion for supporting patients through evidence-based nutritional advice and lifestyle guidance. Experienced in providing administrative and clinical support to multidisciplinary teams within the NHS. Adept at delivering patient education resources, recording dietary information, and ensuring efficient service delivery. Seeking to contribute my strong communication skills and patient-focused approach in a Dietetic Assistant role within the NHS.”
Key skills to highlight
Excellent patient communication and empathetic listening
Strong organisational and administrative capabilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and NHS patient record systems
Knowledge of dietary planning and nutrition basics
Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
Attention to detail and accuracy in recording information
Commitment to confidentiality and data protection standards
Professional experience section – what to include
In this section, detail your work history in reverse chronological order. Use active language and focus on achievements, not just duties. Always tie back responsibilities to dietetic care, nutrition, and patient support.
For example:
Healthcare Assistant | NHS Trust, London | 2021 – Present
Assisted dietitians in collecting dietary histories and monitoring patient progress.
Supported the development of patient nutrition packs and educational resources.
Collaborated with nurses, doctors, and dietitians to ensure effective multidisciplinary care.
Handled administrative tasks including appointment bookings and patient record updates.
Administrative Assistant | Private GP Practice | 2019 – 2021
Provided patient-facing support including scheduling and appointment preparation.
Prepared and maintained confidential health records.
Gained knowledge of clinical nutrition through exposure to patient dietetic consultations.
Education & training
BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Health – University of Leeds – 2018
A Levels: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology – 2014
Ongoing CPD: NHS Trust Training in Dietetic Support
Achievements section example
Successfully developed a patient information leaflet on balanced diets, adopted by the Trust.
Contributed to a service improvement project which reduced appointment waiting times by 15%.
Recognised with a staff award for compassionate patient support.
Advice for graduates applying for NHS Dietetic Assistant roles
If you are a graduate, don’t worry if you lack direct NHS experience. Your cv example can still shine by highlighting transferable skills from part-time jobs, university projects, or volunteering. Showcase organisational skills from retail work, communication skills from hospitality, and team working from group assignments. Always tailor your cv template to emphasise your motivation to work in dietetics and your eagerness to learn.
Advice for middle-level professionals
For those with some experience, focus on evidence of progression and additional responsibility. Demonstrate how you have supported service improvements, trained new staff, or taken initiative in patient care. Your cv template should reflect ambition and readiness to step up within the NHS structure.
Advice for senior professionals or career changers
If you are more experienced or considering a career change, your CV should highlight leadership, training, and project contributions. Perhaps you have managed staff, overseen quality improvements, or introduced efficiency in dietetic services. Be sure to position yourself as someone who adds value not only through patient care but also through team leadership and innovation.
The do’s and don’ts of an NHS Dietetic Assistant CV
Do’s:
Do tailor every cv template to the NHS Dietetic Assistant role you are applying for.
Do include quantifiable achievements that show impact.
Do keep your CV concise (2 pages maximum) and easy to read.
Do use strong action verbs like “delivered,” “assisted,” “developed,” and “supported.”
Do include relevant NHS keywords to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Don’ts:
Don’t include irrelevant details such as primary school education or unrelated hobbies.
Don’t use generic CV templates without tailoring them.
Don’t exaggerate your experience – NHS employers value honesty.
Don’t make your CV too text-heavy – white space is key for readability.
Don’t forget to proofread – spelling and grammar errors can cost you an interview.
Final thoughts
Crafting an interview-winning NHS Dietetic Assistant CV is about balance. You need to highlight your caring and compassionate nature while also showing efficiency, accuracy, and the ability to work in a team. Remember, your CV is not just a list of jobs – it is your personal marketing document, designed to secure interviews.
I encourage you to invest the right amount of time and energy into getting your CV right. With a professional cv template and a carefully tailored cv example, you will significantly increase your chances of landing an interview and starting or advancing your NHS career.
Ready to make your CV shine?
If you would like expert help in transforming your CV and LinkedIn profile, I warmly invite you to book an appointment with me. Together, we can ensure your application truly stands out to NHS recruiters. Book your appointment here and let’s create a powerful, career-winning CV today.
