Create an All-Star LinkedIn Profile as a Dietetic Intern
If you aren’t already using LinkedIn as a future dietetic intern, now is the time to start. Your LinkedIn account is more than just a resume; it is a digital profile that allows you to showcase yourself and your expertise in more depth.
Your profile should be polished and professional before you leverage LinkedIn to find preceptors for your dietetic internship. Follow our five tips on creating a LinkedIn profile as a dietetic intern.
1. Update your Profile with a Professional Photo.
If you cannot afford headshots, have a family member or friend snap a picture of you with a clean background and good light. Avoid selfies for LinkedIn and don’t just crop out your best friend from a photo. A nice picture from traveling can also work, but make sure the background is clean and your appearance is professional.
2. Highlight Current Projects and Work Samples.
LinkedIn allows you to attach multimedia files and work samples. This is a great way to highlight your design skills, a presentation that you’re proud of, or a research paper that was above and beyond. You don’t need to upload work samples for every job- just choose a few that highlight your biggest accomplishments. This will help you stand out as a dietetic intern.
3. Ask for Recommendations.
LinkedIn allows for other people to endorse your skills and strengths. This is a great way to make your profile standout. You can ask past bosses, professors or co-workers to endorse specific skills. Simply click on “View Profile As”, click on the dropdown menu at the top of the screen and then hit the “Ask to be recommended link”. You can always return the favor, which will also give your profile even more visibility.
4. Use Action Verbs to Highlight your Accomplishments.
Aim to use verbs such as created, edited, and promoted. If your accomplishments were under the supervision of a dietitian, move the assisted the dietitian to the end of your bullet point. Instead of saying “Assisted the dietitian with patient consultations”. Try “Led interactive patient consultations under dietitian supervision”. This highlights your accomplishments instead of the work with the dietitian.
5. Build your Network.
Start networking and connecting with past supervisors, nutrition professors and any local professionals. You do not need to limit your network to only dietitians and nutritionists. Once you start ramping up your search for preceptors, you want your posts and requests to reach as many people as possible. People are more likely to help you out if you have a mutual connection.
As your start building our network, here are a few groups to join:
If you can get your LinkedIn profile in top shape, you will be ready to leverage LinkedIn as a networking tool to secure preceptors for a dietetic internship.
Stay tuned for a future blog post which will outline exactly how to utilize LinkedIn to find preceptors. In the meantime, check out our other blog posts for future distance dietetic interns.