Six Networking Strategies to Secure Preceptors for a Dietetic Internship

One of the many benefits of a distance dietetic internship is the opportunity to design your own internship experience. Interns are encouraged to select rotation sites that most closely align with his or her interests. While it can be challenging to secure preceptors for a dietetic internship, we’re confident that with the right strategy and persistence, you too will be successful with designing the internship of your dreams.

Today we’ll be covering six networking strategies to secure preceptors for a dietetic internship program.

1. Put the word out to family, friends and neighbors.

Does your best friend’s dad’s sister work as a dietitian at a hospital? As obscure as the connection sounds, people are more willing to say yes if they have a personal connection. Let everyone know that you are looking for rotation sites and ask if they know anyone in the healthcare sector that might be able to help. Instead of asking for an email or phone number, request a personal introduction via email to this person. If they aren’t able to help, ask if they know anyone who might be able to.

2. Leverage your professional network.

Perhaps you worked at a long-term care facility as a diet aide 5 years ago. Consider reaching out the food service manager to see if you can complete a rotation there. Reach out to old college professors as well as any and all dietitians that you have personally met. Even if they aren’t able to serve as a preceptor, they might know the clinical nutrition manager at the local hospital or a director at the local WIC clinic. Preceptors are more likely to say yes if another dietitian or supervisor provides a personal endorsement!

3. Join local, regional and national Facebook Groups to secure preceptors for a dietetic internship.

Search Facebook to see if your local chapter of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has an active Facebook group. Ask permission to make a post requesting preceptors. Make sure that you are specific with your request. Include details such as the rotation type, the location, the number of weeks and whether it will be in person or virtual. Your post will stand out if you include a short introduction and a picture.

Other larger Facebook groups include:

RD & RD2Be Facebook Community The Unconventional RD Community

Dietitians in Private Practice

4. Reach out to recent or current dietetic interns in your area.

Knowing someone that has recently searched for their own preceptors is invaluable. Ask if they are willing to put you in direct contact with any of their past preceptors. It is likely that they also have a list of places that they have contacted as well as phone numbers and emails. Past and current interns can also tell you which places are most likely to accommodate distance interns. But note, just because a place said no in the past, doesn’t mean that they’ll say no to you. Ask for any and all places that they have contacted. You never know if staff or circumstances have changed.

5. Pursue your LinkedIn network for connections.

If you aren’t already using LinkedIn, now is the time to start. Update your profile with a professional photo and make sure that your resume is current. Befriend every professional and personal connection that you can find. Once they accept your request, send a message to let them know you are searching for dietetic preceptors. LinkedIn will also provide suggestions based on your interests and geographic region. You will easily be able to see if any mutual connections exist. Ask your network to make personal introductions on LinkedIn.

Check out our posts on how to use LinkedIn to your advantage:

4 Ways to Search for Dietetic Preceptors on LinkedIn

Finding Dietetic Preceptors Using LinkedIn

Create an All-Star LinkedIn Profile as a Dietetic Intern

6. Think beyond the field of dietetics.

Healthcare professionals other than dietitians may also be able help you secure a preceptor. For example, if you know a physical therapist or a Physician Assistant at a hospital, they might be able to get the dietitian’s direct contact information for you. Sometimes it can be hard to find the right phone number or email address for clinical dietitians. Other healthcare workers at the same facility can utilize the facility director to look up hard to find contacts.

While it can be challenging to secure preceptors for a dietetic internship, we are confident that you will be successful if you leverage your network and are persistent. Networking is an important skill that will also come in handy when you launch your own business.