“I have sixty people apply for a job”: A qualitative exploration of how recruiters approach employment decisions about new graduate dietitians

AIMS: The increasing number of new graduates in recent decades has intensified competition for dietetics positions in Australia. While literature is emerging on the job-seeking experiences of new graduates, the voices of those recruiting and employing dietitians have been under-researched. This study explored recruiter views and attitudes towards the employability (employment potential) of new graduate dietitians, including use of tools such as ePortfolios and their impact on employment decision-making. METHODS: A qualitative design was utilised, based on the theory of descriptive phenomenology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with employers/recruiters of Australian dietetics graduates. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded inductively and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, then interpreted within a graduate employability framework. RESULTS: Twenty-one recruiters of dietitians from a variety of work settings in three Australian states participated. Three themes were identified: (i) applicants need career development skills to succeed in the recruitment process; (ii) recruiters consider applicant work and life experience prior to graduation; and (iii) recruiters differentiate on generic skills and emotional intelligence of applicants rather than on degree subject knowledge to optimise team fit. ePortfolios are currently under-utilised in recruitment of dietitians. CONCLUSION: This study shows recruiters of graduate dietitians differentiate applicants on all but the degree subject knowledge component of the graduate employability framework. The findings highlight the need for universities to co-design career development curriculum with recruiters and students.