Month: June 2020

  • Dietitian Career Advice, How to Become a Dietitian

    Writing a Resume for an Entry-Level Dietitian Job

    Congratulations! You’ve made it this far in your nutrition career, and now it’s time to revise your resume as a dietitian!

    Hopefully, you still have your resume from when you applied to the dietetic internship since this will be our base. If you would like to start from scratch or revise it, check out this blog, The Resume Checklist You Must Use Before You Submit DICAS, for an excellent guide for basic formatting.

    Where do you format the dietetic internship into the resume?

    Your internship should go under the experience section. The program’s name, number of overall hours, and time frame should be included as well. In the next couple of lines following, list the rotations and the number of corresponding hours.

    How do you format the dietetic internship?

    Prioritize your accomplishments from the dietetic internship, as well as sharing where and for how long you were at each rotation site. Below are a few other pointers to think about.

    Don’t add every detail about your internship.

    Employers will know that you completed the required supervised practice requirements when you’re an RD/RDN. They will have a good understanding of the standard rotations that you’ve completed. Rather than listing every detail about your internship experience, keep it relevant to the job description and talk about your most unique experiences and accomplishments (such as having a NICU rotation or working in a dialysis center!). Remember, you only have one page to fill out your information, don’t waste it.

    Tailoring is key

    Like any job or internship, you need to tailor your resume to the position you are applying to. For example, suppose you are using it for a clinical situation. In that case, it may not make sense to have a lengthy description of the projects you have previously done in your community rotation. Using the resume you already have, duplicate the file, and tailor each resume accordingly to the job you are applying for.

    “The Overflow File”

    As you are growing your nutrition career, it would be a good idea to have a file that lists every nutrition-related experience with descriptions and dates. When it is time for you to take the next step into your career, you can revise your resume by simply copying and pasting. Easy peasy, right?

    Think about your self-worth

    You can also think about this advice when practicing interviewing skills, but think about this when you are revising your resume. Employers want to know how you can add value to THEIR organization. What have you done so far that would make you a great asset to their team? Your resume should demonstrate what sets you apart from other candidates.

    Formatting

    Heading: Include your name, credentials, and contact information (current address, email, and telephone)

    Education: As entry-level dietitians, your education should be at the top since it is the most recent. As you build your career, this section will go to the bottom.

    Additional Resume Tools:

    From other blogs:

    Resume Writing Tips for Registered Dietitians

    Resume Secrets From A Dietitian Recruiter

    From EatRight PRO:

    Reinvent Your Resume

    Resume Writing Tips for Entry-Level RDs and DTRs

    PS. If you want to land your dream job check out our FREE get-hired samples! 

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs

    Clinical Preceptor for Dietetic Internships

    Clinical preceptors can be found for your dietetic internship in a few places. One of the most dreaded missions as a distance intern is always finding clinical preceptors. There are a few tips to make the searching process more accessible. ACEND also has a preceptors database for you, which you can check out here

    Seeking Hospital sites

    Clinical dietitians are highly associated with working in hospitals. Give it your best shot to get into one. If you happen to be a DTR working in a hospital setting, this can benefit you when trying to secure a hospital for a clinical rotation. 

    Consider LTC

    Long-term care (LTC) is an excellent option for clinical rotations. Completing clinical hours in an LTC facility is a perfect opportunity to build relationships with patients and their families. Some internships do not accept LTC for clinical, so check your program requirements before reaching out to preceptors.

    Outpatient optional

    Most internships require you to complete your full clinical rotation in LTC or a hospital. Some programs will allow for the outpatient setting to also fulfill the clinical requirement. Splitting clinical hours between two sites is an excellent way to gain clinical nutrition experience in various locations. 

    Clinical dietitians work in more than just hospitals. Look for opportunities to practice clinical nutrition in a setting other than a hospital environment. Remember, it’s never too soon to start looking for preceptors. Check out this blog post on why Everyone Needs to Be Looking For Preceptors. Start making a list and contacting RDs who are working in hospitals, LTC, or outpatient clinics. Some internships require preceptors to be secured before acceptance to their program, so check the program requirements before contacting preceptors. Following little details like this can help you get matched to your top choice.

    PS. Get Matched Coaching can help make a perfect first impression, have accountability throughout the process from start to finish, and increase your matches of having a happy Match Day. 

    CONTINUE READING

  • How to Become a Dietitian

    How To Become A Canadian Registered Dietitian

    Registered Dietitians (RDs) are recognized as trained food and nutrition experts in Canada. They can translate complex nutritional sciences into simple terms that the public can understand. These individuals can be found working with patients or managing food systems in healthcare facilities, aiding in nutrition policies for the government, collaborating with manufacturers in the food industry, and more.

    Below we break down the academic and practical education steps necessary to become a Canadian RD.

    * Note: Nutritionists, health coaches, holistic nutritionists do not have the same education, training, and responsibilities as RDs.

    Step 1: Complete a Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) accredited four-year undergraduate nutrition degree.

     In these programs, students complete classes in various subject areas ranging from:

    ·   Sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology)

    ·   Social sciences

    ·   Nutrition (clinical, community, food service)

    If you are applying to these programs from high school, pre-requisite courses may include math, biology, and chemistry. Alternatively, if you are using with a non-dietetic degree, some of your previous studies may be transferred. As a result, you will then spend a minimum of two years pursuing a nutrition degree.

    Step 2: Complete a Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) accredited dietetic internship/practicum.

     The dietetic internship consists of a minimum of 1,250 hours (approximately 35 hours/week for 35 weeks) in practical experience for students that RDs supervise. Students will practice clinical nutrition care, nutrition management, and population and public health, leading them to meet the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP). The ICDEP sets a standard for all RDs in Canada, in which, upon completion of training, students should be able to practice safely, effectively, and ethically at entry-level.

    Nationally, there are three different types of internship routes students can enroll in:

    1. Fully integrated internship/practicum with the undergraduate degree

    Eight available | Duration: 5 years

    o   Internship placements are throughout the degree or after in-class courses are completed

    o   Students will receive their nutrition degree and training required to become a dietitian

    1. Partially integrated internship/practicum with the undergraduate degree

    Four available | Duration: 5 years, or four years undergraduate degree + 1 to 2 years post-degree internship program

    o   The 5-year stream is similar to the fully integrated internships/practicums, except there are limited spots of enrollment for internship

    o   Students that were unsuccessful in securing an internship will have the option to apply to post-degree internship programs

    1. Not integrated undergraduate degrees

    Four available | Duration: 4 years undergraduate degree + 1 to 2 years post-degree internship program

    o   Consists of academic education only. As such, students will need to apply to a post-degree internship program

    o   There are two different types of post-degree internship programs:

    1. Post Degree Practicum

    12 available | Duration: 1 year

    §  Offered by hospitals and healthcare facilities and can be affiliated with universities

    §  Students will receive practical training required to become a dietitian

    §  If affiliated with a university, students will complete graduate course work and receive a graduate diploma

    1. Combined Masters Practicum

    Six available | Duration: 2 years

    §  Offered through universities

    §  Students will receive practical training required to become a dietitian

    §  Students will complete graduate course work and receive a Master’s degree

     To apply to post-degree internship programs, students need to have competitive grades, references and present an application (usually consisting of a resume and cover letter) conveying the student’s readiness for practical training through acquired nutrition-related work/volunteer experiences. If successful, students will be invited for an interview by the hospital or university. Each post-degree internship program has limited enrollment. As such, the application process can be pretty competitive.

    Step 3: Pass the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE)

    The CDRE is a four-hour, computerized, 185 multiple-choice, pass/fail exam administered twice a year by the Alliance of Canadian Dietetic Regulatory Bodies. The CDRE is required for all provinces except Quebec.

    Students are tested on knowledge, comprehension, and critical thinking. The questions are associated with the five ICDEP practice competencies (professional practice, communication and collaboration, nutrition care, population and public health, and management).

    The purpose of this exam is to differentiate between competent and non-competent practitioners; the CDRE is not to be an “exit” exam from internship/practicum. Students have three attempts to pass the CDRE. As of March 2020, the examination fee was $525.

    Step 4: Register with the provincial regulatory body

    Upon completing the nutrition degree, internship training, and passing the CDRE, students can register with the regulatory body in the Canadian jurisdiction that they plan on practicing in. Dietitians may now use the protected titles in their province. Usually, this includes a Registered Dietitian; however, other titles may also be saved in specific areas.

    There are ten provincial regulatory bodies in Canada – see a list.

    Due to the Health Professions Act, all dietitians must participate in the Continuing Competency Program (CCP) held by their regulatory body. Participation in the CCP occurs annually. The program usually requires dietitians to assess themselves relative to standards of practice, create learning goals, record and track learning activities, and log their learning outcomes. A certain percentage of these reports will be randomly audited by the regulatory body to ensure quality assurance.

    Summary:

     A visual summary of the different routes and individual can pursue to become a Registered Dietitian in Canada.

    The requirements to become a dietitian in Canada are relatively comprehensive. The rate-limiting step is securing a spot in a dietetic internship program. Gaining nutrition-related work and volunteer experience, early application preparation, and coaching are factors that can advance an individual’s odds in attaining an internship offer.

    PS. All Access Dietetics is currently offering dietetic internship coaching for Canadian nutrition students! Make sure to check out one of our free resources and Get Matched Coaching for more details.

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs

    How to Write a Resume for the Dietetic Internship

    Your resume can be the FIRST impression to a dietetic internship or RD program director; make it count! Apply these essential tips to your resume before submitting DICAS.

    Formatting

    You want to make your resume look as professional as possible. DI directors have a lot of applications to go through, meaning you need your resume to be organized in a way where your content is concise and easy to read. They only have a few minutes and don’t have time to be searching back and forth to find more information about you.

    Here are our basic tips to format your resume:

    • – 1 page ONLY – nothing more, nothing less
    • – Use a readable font with 10-12 point font size 
    • – Make your margins an appropriate length; we suggest 0.5″ margins 
    • – Use headers and bullet points (no periods in the end!)

    Header

    This includes your full name, address, email, and phone number

    Here is additional information:

    • – Don’t add unnecessary information such as age, height, weight 
    • – Use a professional email. For example, use Jennifer.westerkamp@gmail.com, not jennyloveslife817@hotmail.com
    • – Make sure your voicemail is professional
    • – Use your current address
    • – If you have one, add your online portfolio as well (some internships require you to make one)

    Sections to include

    Education

    • – This section should be at the top of the resume
    • – It’s not mandatory to add in your GPA, but if it’s >3.0, consider adding it
    • – Include the anticipated graduation date

    Experiences

    • – Include experiences that are relevant to the internship, such as dietetics-related volunteer positions and unpaid internships
      • -Work experience such as being a waitress at a restaurant or a cashier at your local grocery store is worth noting, too as customer service is a great skill to have 
    • – Use different action verbs at the beginning of each bullet point
    • – Speak in the past tense in past experiences and present tense in present experiences
    • – Quantify your descriptions when possible
      • For example, I developed and maintained a computerized system for tracking the production of six dietitians in a 550,000/year practice. 
    • – Organize the experiences into chronological order; don’t forget to add dates
    • – Do not add class projects or labs to the resume

    Certification

    • – Add certification or training that is nutrition-related, such as ServSafe Food Handler

    Skills

    • – Remove Microsoft Office skill; this is assumed
    • – Focus on skills that relate to the internship you are applying to
      • Add skills that interns are taught that you have already been exposed to

    Finalizing

    Grammar

    • – No periods at the end of bullet points
    • – Remove abbreviations
    • – None of the following: /, Etc., Ie. 
    • – Spell dietitian correctly 
    • – Don’tcapitalize general titles 
    • – Do not capitalize nutrition or dietetics unless in a program name 

    Editing

    • – Ask someone to look over your resumes such as your peers, professor, or advisor
    • – Use your college resources (look to see if there is an upcoming resume workshop!) 

    Additional resume tools

    Check out our other blogs for more tips:

    Taking Your Resume from Average to AWESOME

    The Resume Checklist You Must Use Before You Submit DICAS

    P.S. Your resume is only one piece of the puzzle for your dietetic internship application. Work with a coach through Get Matched Coaching to make your ENTIRE application MATCH-worthy!

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs, Dietitian Career Advice, How to Become a Dietitian, Student Life

    What is a Coordinated Program in Dietetics?

    Curious about a coordinated program in dietetics? Here are the most frequently asked questions we get about coordinated programs for dietetic students!

    Truthfully, finding a program that will allow you to take all of your didactic classes and hopefully help you successfully become placed with a dietetic internship is hard. Not to mention, finding a dietetic internship can be even more challenging, especially if you went to an undergraduate university where nutrition programs are slim to none.

    Now imagine doing all of your didactic coursework AND your internship at the same time! Coordinated Programs offer a unique experience for future dietitians to study and experience a dietetic internship. Here are some frequent questions I get asked about coordinated programs in dietetics.

    What is a Coordinated Program in Dietetics?

    Coordinated programs are popping up all over the country. A coordinated program in dietetics enrolls and places students in their didactic coursework and dietetic internship.

    Each program tends to be shorter than the traditional DPD than the DI route. They typically last about two and a half years. Coordinated programs challenge students to complete their coursework and supervised practice simultaneously. Though they are shorter, coordinated programs leave students with the same experience and education as every other program without the stress of applying to a dietetic internship!

    Coordinated Programs are becoming more popular. Their shorter timeframe allows students to start their careers as dietitians sooner than traditional programs. They take away the stress of applying to DICAS and enable students to practice while learning about nutrition and the field of dietetics.

    Coordinated programs can be found both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Since a master’s degree will soon be required for upcoming dietitians in 2024, coordinated programs are an excellent option for students who are currently getting an undergraduate education but will miss the timeframe to sit for the RD exam without a master’s degree. 

    Are There any Prerequisites Required for a Coordinated Program at the Master’s Level?

    Many master’s programs will require students to have taken some coursework before enrolling in their coordinated program. Many of the classes required are biology or chemistry-related that typically are completed in undergraduate didactic studies. Some programs allow students to complete these courses throughout their master’s studies. Be sure to reach out to the director of each program you are looking at to understand better what is required.

    Click here to see the typical prerequisite courses for dietetics programs!

    Can I Work While Enrolled in a Coordinated Program in Dietetics?

    YES! Though these programs tend to be more time-consuming, it is possible to work while getting your degree. 

    Time management skills are critical while enrolled in a coordinated program. If you plan your internship hours, classes, and study times appropriately, it is possible to work, enjoy life, and be enrolled in a coordinated program! 

    Coordinated programs allow you to gain experience and become closer to doing the work that you are passionate about when you start the journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian. You can find a list of all schools offering a Coordinated Program here. 

    PS. If you aren’t sure which path to take on your dietetics journey, please do not worry! You will find what works best for you.

     

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietitian Career Advice, Productivity

    Jenny’s Best Advice for Starting a Business

    Ready to create your own business but have no idea where to start? Here are Jenny’s top tips on how to turn your dream business into reality!

    Jenny Westerkamp, RD, CSSD, is the founder of All Access Dietetics and Chicago Bulls, Nutritionist. She is a very successful entrepreneur who loves sharing her business tips with dietetic students and registered dietitians to help them reach their dream jobs.

    Commit to yourself and your business!

    Taking the first step is always the hardest. It can be scary to start a business but move past that fear. Find your niche and start planning exactly what you want to do and what you wish the goal of your business to be. Commit to turning this plan into action. Discovering what your goal is will help you to set the foundation for your business. Check out my Life-Changing Books to read for inspiration.

    Put in the time and manage your time wisely.

    Once you pinpoint your niche, it’s time to get to work. Starting a business is a lot of work. Schedule time daily to work on your business plan and learn more about building a business’s logistical side. Write to-do lists or plan one thing to work on each day. See how you can best fill your time to be productive. If you currently operate a nine-to-five job, find time in your day where you can focus only on building your business. Explore different career options that might offer a more flexible schedule so that you can put more time into your business. Your business is a commitment, and it is your responsibility to find time to put it together.

    Grow your social media.

    Social media plays a significant role in businesses today. It is helpful in both marketing and setting a tone for your brand. Social media also helps you to network. Take a class on building social media. The lesson I took to grow my social media was Beat the Algorithm by the College Nutritionist. Check it out here!

    Take a business course.

    Registered dietitians build significant business courses to help guide new businesses through the starting process. Rise to the Top is a virtual business course created by Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, and Mary Ellen Phipps, MS, RDN that helps dietitians grow their social media, stand out as an expert, and create a profitable business. It focuses on everything from marketing to billing and taxes, making it great for entrepreneurs.

    DietitianHQ is another excellent program that offers both membership training and a 4-day symposium for entrepreneurs. A seminar is an online event offering masterclasses from successfully registered dietitians who have been in your shoes.

    The Unconventional RD business Bootcamp offers three courses about content building, making income, and email marketing. Finding dietitians who help dietitians build businesses is a great way to start your brand while supporting the profession!

    Get a business coach.

    Starting a business is complicated and confusing, especially if you have never done it before. Get a business coach to help guide you. They created a company by helping others to develop a business. Cultivate Advisors is one example to check out!

    Business coaches genuinely want to help you and your business to succeed. They can offer great tips to help get you off the ground. They can give insight into the parts of building a business you did not expect to have. Investing in your business early will help you to make it with fewer setbacks.

    Don’t reinvent the wheel.

    There are so many resources already out there to help entrepreneurs make their businesses thrive. Teachable allows you to create beautiful online courses, so you can share your knowledge without worrying about creating a new platform.

    The Better Nutrition Program offers dietitians an easy way to gain information from their patients and clients. Their nutrition assessment tools are easy to use and analyze, which help you to make recommendations for your patient’s health efficiently.

    Surround yourself with people who support your business.

    Never be afraid to ask for help! Surround yourself with people who encourage your vision and plan. There will be bumps in the road, and having people to lean on or talk about these challenges will be crucial as you continue to build. Your support system may offer different perspectives or be your best listener. Let yourself have a cheerleader! You do not have to do this alone.

    Get Excited!

    This is your business! It is your passion. Get excited about it! The more excited you are about your business, the easier it will be to put in the tireless time and effort to get it off the ground. The feeling you get when you put in the work and create your passion, knowing the success is truly your own, is unlike any other. Have fun building your business, knowing it is YOURS.

    PS. If becoming a successful and very knowledgeable registered dietitian is in your future, grab one of our FREE toolkits! 

     

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs, RD2Be Fun, Student Life

    Remaining Motivated For Dietetic Internship and Exam

    From undergrad through the dietetic internship and RD exam, it can be tough to remain motivated and sustain a positive outlook. The road to becoming an RD can feel long, often confusing, and only a little bit (ok, a lot of bits) stressful.

    I’ve worked with dozens of students, interns, and new dietitians throughout my almost seven years as a dietitian, so I’ve 100% been there myself.

    Here are some lessons I wish I had known back when I was an intern and new RD.

    THE INTERNSHIP

    Leave your perfectionism at the door.

    The fear of making a mistake is normal, but it can paralyze you from taking action if you aren’t careful. And taking action (yup, even if it involves an error!) is how you learn and grow. Embrace those mistakes and imperfections because they are going to teach you so much.

    Then there’s that pesky fear of not being ready or good enough (sometimes referred to as “imposter syndrome”), which will knock at your confidence and probably have you overthinking every piece of feedback a preceptor gives you. (Anyone else a chronic overthinker? Yup, me too.) Reject that. Reframe the self-critical thoughts that crop up into positive and productive ones. Repeat.

    Learn how to sit with discomfort without judgment.

    The internship can push the limits of your comfort zone, and you can’t do much about it except learn how to coexist with it. Mindfulness and meditation are indispensable tools for this (though I was convinced meditation would never “work” for me). I teach a lot of my dietitian clients how to embrace uncomfortable feelings using a pseudo-meditative practice called embodiment, and man, if I had known about it during my internship? It would’ve been so helpful!

    THE EXAM

    Permit yourself to fail.

    I know everyone tells you to “think positive thoughts” and keep your eye on the prize. Those are great! But sometimes, they put so much pressure on you to pass on the first try. I’m here to tell you that it does not matter whether it takes you one time to give or 10. Once you are a dietitian, you are a dietitian, and no one will ever ask.

    It’s a lot like how I talk to my nutrition clients about emotional eating. The first step to emotional eating is to have them give themselves full permission to do it. It feels counterintuitive, but it takes the pressure off. It removes the shame and judgment. It changes the narrative from “I’m a failure” to “I’m going to be ok.” And that’s a powerful thing.

    Detach from the outcome.

    We tend to put a lot of weight on outcomes in life, and that’s more pressure piled onto our shoulders. Yes, you want to pass the exam and become a dietitian; that’s what you’ve been working hard for. But when that’s the only important thing, it can be paralyzing. Instead, focus on the process. Put one foot in front of the other.

    Your worth does not hinge on this exam or any other.

    AND BEYOND

    Don’t be afraid to march to the beat of your drum. 

    There is no one “correct” way to be a dietitian. Follow your intuition. Pursue your passions. There’s nothing wrong with taking a less-than-ideal job to get your feet wet and pay the bills, and there’s also nothing wrong with deciding that you don’t want to settle for a job that doesn’t light you up with excitement. This is your life and your career.

    Speaking of…follow your intuition.

    Get so tapped into the core values that you can trust your intuition to guide you. There’s so much chatter out there about what others are doing and what their opinions are; it’s easy to lose touch with yourself. Don’t lose yourself. That’s important.

    Get support and supervision earlier than you think you need.

    I might be biased because this is my job, but as a colleague (and fellow supervisor) recently said to me, “You just don’t know what you don’t know.” Having someone who’s been through it and can offer some outside perspective can help you grow so much faster.

    I use an “intuitive living” framework (think intuitive eating but across all areas of your life) to help dietitians who come to me with one (or several) of three main goals:

    1. Manage stress, overcome perfectionism, build confidence, and reconnect to their purpose and passions to feel connected to their work.
    2. Explore their relationship with food and body image to confidently and peacefully withstand the pressures of society to look or act a certain way.
    3. Understand the nuances of intuitive eating and weight-inclusive care so that they can feel more confident incorporating these principles into their work.

    I had to piecemeal these lessons and skills together with more or less on my own, but you don’t have to. We are so much stronger as a profession when we provide safe spaces for each other to be vulnerable and imperfect and cheer from the sidelines as we find our unique path in this beautiful, full-of-potential profession.

    For more mindset support, no matter what stage of your education or career you’re at, you can connect with me on any of the following platforms:

    PS. We have many great FREE resources to help you feel confident and motivated throughout your dietetics journey; make sure to check them out!

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs, Student Life

    Reach Out to Preceptors For Dietetic Internships

    Dietetic Internships start by having a strategy for finding your preceptors. Creating a strategy is great place to begin before delving into how and who to contact. Figuring out the best way to contact preceptors can feel pretty tricky. Once you have a plan mapped out, creating a contact list will make it easy to keep track of who has already been contacted and who is interested in having you as an intern. Updating the list as you make calls will help you to not contact the same person twice.

    Cold calling

    First impressions are everything and a good first impression can definitely be made by cold calling preceptors. This can give them an idea of your communication skills. Preparation is key to properly articulate what you’re inquiring about.

    1. Have a list of preceptors to call for each rotation. 

    Research and make a list with potential preceptors’ names, phone number and email, categorized by rotation. Calling a minimum of 6 preceptors, 2 per rotation, is a great strategy to reach out to as many people as possible.

    1. Have a script prepared for each rotation. 

    There should be small changes between what you would say to a foodservice preceptor vs what you would say to a clinical preceptor. State your name and that you’re an intern seeking preceptors for “such and such” rotation. 

    1. Be aware of all rotation requirements for your program. 

    Being able to answer questions can demonstrate how you prepare and organize for work. The potential preceptor might have questions for you about the number of hours you’ll be at the site and most importantly what time frame you are looking to start. 

    Emailing

    Emailing preceptors can happen in two ways. After reaching out by phone, a preceptor might not have time to discuss the opportunity over the phone and will ask you to email information to them instead. The second way is making initial contact via email, where structuring the email succinctly will give them an idea of your ability to construct a professional email. 

    1. Create an email template. 

    Doing this will make it easy to send emails to multiple preceptors for the same rotation without taking time to individualize each email. 

    1. Give a minimum 2 days response time. 

    After no response for 2 days, try to reach them by phone. If you get to talk to the potential preceptor, kindly inquire about the email and briefly state your reason for getting in touch with them.

    1. Respond to decline emails. 

    This will help build rapport, especially if you think there is a chance you might apply to work as an RD at the facility in the future.

    Check out this post on why everyone needs to be looking for preceptors!

    For even more tips and helpful strategies to catch the eye of program directors check out the Get Matched Course! Click here to check out the course curriculum.

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietitian Career Advice, Webinars

    How To Become a Sports Dietitian

    All Access Dietetics Founder and Chicago Bulls sports dietitian Jenny Westerkamp is constantly asked, “How do I become a sports dietitian?” Here are a few of her top tips for future dietitians!

    Jenny Westerkamp, RD, CSSD, is the founder of All Access Dietetics and Chicago Bulls, Nutritionist. Jenny started All Access Internships in 2008 with Katie Proctor, MBA, RD. They developed the idea to provide as much info as possible in a way that was easy for other people interested in dietetics to use. They completed the Dietetic Internship full time and worked for All Access Internships in their spare time. After about two years, Katie then moved on to be a coach, and Jenny managed All Access Internships. In 2019, Jenny changed the name to All Access Dietetics to incorporate all stages of the dietetics journey, including excelling in your dietetics program, getting a dietetic internship, passing the RD exam, getting hired, and starting your own business.

    Jenny got exposure to sports nutrition the summer of her senior year of college by interning with Chicago Blackhawks dietitian Julie Burns, MS, RD, CCN. She emailed her with the subject “I want your life,” and she sold her skills to Julie. Jenny has also worked for the Chicago Cubs and now works with the Chicago Bulls.

    https://youtu.be/h7xKJg_D03k

    Get Experience Early

    Having sports nutrition experience as a student will help to boost your resume. This recent experience will help lead to new opportunities quickly so that you can be closer to your dream job! Reach out to your college dietitian or local universities’ sports dietitians and ask about involvement opportunities. See if you can gain experience from local sports nutrition programs and get that hands-on experience right away!

    If your college does not have a sports dietitian, look up local CSSDs in the area and reach out to them to see if they have any opportunities for you to become involved. Here is a list of CDs in each state that you can reach out to.

    CPSA is also a great organization to join as a student. You’ll learn so much from the listserve, and they have student immersion programs you can apply for to get your foot in the door. Join here.

    Network and Reach Out to Local Sports Dietitians

    Send an email to dietitians who you would love to work with and show them everything that you have to offer for them. Make it a win-win situation! Give dietitians insight on each of your skills – sports-related, nutrition-related, or otherwise. Mention if you are a great writer or great with creating social media content, creating handouts, or doing research. Show them that you can help make their lives easier and give them a hand while learning more about sports nutrition and the field.

    Be BOLD!

    Go after your dream job! Try to make connections with a sports dietitian who you want to be. Create relationships and keep up with them throughout the year. Send them your resume and a brief explanation of whom you are and what you do. Show them your skills, your passions, and how you can help them and see if they have any opportunities for you to get involved.

    PS. Landing your dream job is possible with our career resources; make sure to check them out!

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