You Landed a Spot in the KBDI! What Comes Next?
Get Social
Let’s start with one simple fact: your future business will need a social media presence. It doesn’t matter what type of business you create – social media is an essential piece of business marketing strategy. With more than three billion people around the world using social media every month, it’s no passing trend. Read more here.
Your internship is the perfect time to fine tune your social media acumen and create your brand voice. If you are not already on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter – get set up NOW! Dive into social from a new lense – think of who your future clients will be and create content they will love!
Do Your Homework
As you confirm your site and preceptors, take time to research the organizations that you’ll be rotating in – What is their mission? Who is the population they serve? Read their website. Follow the organization on social media. Reach out to each preceptor approximately 2 weeks prior to your start date to clarify work hours, dress code, and preferred communication style. Knowing these details ahead of time will make the transition to a new work environment easier and less stressful.
Review any notes from undergrad that you feel may be applicable during the rotations so that you can hit the ground running every time. The more confident you feel, the better off you will be. Read more from Byte Sized Nutrition.
Make Networking Work for You
Networking is one of the most important keys to business success. Just ask the KBDI Director and Founder & CEO of B.Komplete, Beryl Krinsky, who attributes networking to much of her prosperity. Networking is about relationship building and providing value for others. From Entrepreneur, “Effective networking is about building relationships with others who can refer you once they’ve come to trust you, have confidence in you and feel loyal to you. This truly is the key to networking success. And this process takes time.” As this is a long-game, start now. Start with the people you met in school and/or may have met at jobs. Reach out to them, let them know what you are up to, and ask about them. Find out if there is something that you can help them with. Let the relationship blossom from there.
Find Your Mentor
From making certain strategic decisions to fostering specific relationships, a mentor can help guide you through your professional and entrepreneurial journey. Now is the time to think about what you want in a mentor – create your list. During your internship you will meet a wide variety of Registered Dietitians, and maybe one or two of them will become your future mentor. Watch the fantastic Marie Forleo and her advice on “How To Find A Mentor: 6 Unexpected Secrets To Connect With The Best” video and guidance on finding the mentorship that will work for you. Read from NPR “How to Find a Mentor and Make it Work.”
Get Your Technology
As an intern in a Distance Dietetic Internship and as a future entrepreneur, investing in technology will enable you to go further, faster and allow you to stand-out in the crowd. Technology is rapidly changing and we recommend to check out Tech Radar for technology advice. To get you started in the KBDI you will need:
- A good Laptop. Whether you love Apple or prefer PC’s, make sure your laptop is fast and you have Microsoft Office installed.
- A Printer with a Scanner.
- A Headset. Try your phone headset first, and if that works well with your computer you may not need to purchase another one.
- Additional Google Storage. Google gives you 16 GB for free – and that goes fast! Look into additional storage options for your files.
Dress the Part
Before you say a word people are going to see how you present yourself. And the saying “you never get a second chance to give a first impression” holds some truth in the workplace. Before going to any of your rotations check in with your preceptor to understand the site dress-code policy. Make sure you understand what not to wear (and that goes for jewelry and perfume also). Before you start your internship invest in a few professional pieces of clothing; a nice blazer, button down shirt, pair of dress pants, a dress skirt that comes to the knee or below, a pair of flat dress shoes and a good watch. For more info check out Emory’s Guide to Professional Dress.
Financial Aid
The KBDI does not provide Federal, State, Private or Other financial aid. Interns may seek alternative financial aid/private funding. Interns may access the Federal Student Aid Website, the US Department of Education, the Sallie Mae Website, Affordable Colleges Online Website and Scholarship America to learn more about financial aid for graduate and professional students, the type of financial aid that is available and how to apply.