10 Tricks to Ace Your Dietetic Internship Interview

Within the pursuit of your dietetics diploma, you labored arduous. Actually arduous. You earned good grades, volunteered, shadowed Registered Dietitian Nutritionists – checked each additional curricular and educational field to raised your possibilities of matching to a dietetic internship.

Then, after submitting your DICAS utility, you discover out you made it to the subsequent spherical. You bought a dietetic internship interview! The feelings you’re feeling are equally thrilling and terrifying (or a minimum of it was for me).

Now you’ve the daunting activity of getting ready for the unknown – what are they going to ask, what do I put on, is there something I can do now to be a stronger candidate? Go into your dietetic internship interview with a strategic plan!

This publish consists of 10 ideas for earlier than, throughout, and after your dietetic internship interview. Each internship is completely different and no two interviews are alike. However I do know these dietetic interview ideas and methods will provide help to be an excellent candidate and enhance your possibilities of matching to a dietetic internship! Simply hold your eye on the RDN prize and take a look at my ideas under.

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Earlier than your dietetic internship interview

1. 易 Brainstorm conditions that spotlight your expertise

Assume of some, stellar conditions that spotlight your finest qualities and will be utilized to many interview questions.

On notice playing cards, write down a number of conditions the place you:

• Resolved a battle


• Confirmed management


• Got duty


• A weak spot you might be engaged on


• Practiced time administration/met a tough deadline


• Labored with a memorable affected person or neighborhood program


• Efficiently labored in a workforce


• Needed to make a fast resolution or reply to a disaster


• Went above and past

For every of those conditions, use the STAR methodology to stipulate the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Having a number of practiced conditions, available and memorized masking a variety of interview questions will provide help to suppose much less on the fly and be extra ready.

They could ask for a weak spot of yours, and though it could be tempting to say, ‘nothing, I am excellent’ or ‘I research too arduous’, attempt to actually give you one thing that you would be able to flip right into a optimistic. Steer your weak spot right into a studying state of affairs from which you want to develop.

Figuring out a weak spot can be a superb time to deal with one thing that’s missing in your resume. Perhaps you can say “I remorse not being extra concerned in my undergrad and I plan to be extra lively with the native dietetic affiliation sooner or later”, or “I haven’t got lots of affected person expertise however I actually loved my medical vitamin remedy courses. I additionally tutored excessive college college students a number of instances a month and I really feel like that communication talent may assist me when explaining meals and nutrient treatment interactions to a affected person.” Weak point do not need to be dangerous!

2. Observe your elevator pitch each morning within the mirror

The dreaded first interview query can been the scariest and most unnerving. It is your first interplay with the dietetic internship program director and is the primary ice breaker.

The primary query will most definitely be one thing very open ended and obscure, like “Inform me a bit of about your self”. Working towards your ‘about me’ 30 second pitch will forestall you from fumbling your phrases, provide help to hone in in your message, and supply a sophisticated reply.

And say it out loud! It is one factor to suppose by means of the phrases then it’s to really verbalize them. The primary few instances you observe out loud within the mirror can be awkward however it’ll construct confidence, cut back the ‘likes, um’s, and hums’, and offer you time to work in your excellent opening assertion.

3.  Analysis key phrases and observe utilizing them

Discover a number of normal phrases and phrases that can provide help to not solely ‘stroll the stroll’ however ‘discuss the RDN discuss’. Write down a number of phrases, like evidenced primarily based observe, dietary pointers, analysis, and so on. and be sure you perceive the which means and the way/when to make use of the time period. In the course of the interview, attempt to incorporate these key phrases into your interview responses.

As a substitute of claiming “I’ve learn what works for folks ..” you can phrase it with “Analysis reveals sufferers/populations reply positively to ..”. Nailing down the vocabulary and utilizing it fluidly within the right manner will assist the internship program director see you as a future Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, simply by tweaking your vocabulary.

Additionally, if the internship is concentrated on wellness, analysis, or meals service, incorporate that vocabulary into your solutions! It can present them that you just not solely researched their program (one thing it’s best to at all times do) however you are also comfy and concerned with their terminology. Utilizing their frequent phrases and specialty vocabulary will assist the dietetic internship see you in their program, all since you verbalized your pursuits to match their program’s emphasis.

Throughout your dietetic internship interview

In the course of the interview, the dietetic internship program director can be assessing your professionalism, independence, and skill to suppose critically. The dietetic internship is structured in a manner that requires interns to be out within the discipline, typically instances completely on their personal with a preceptor.

They need to be assured that an intern representing their program is a self-starter, respectful, and never somebody who wants their hand-held by means of each rotation. When answering your dietetic internship interview questions, hold these traits in thoughts.

4. ‍♀️ Concentrate on your physique language and interactions

Make sure you shake the interviewers hand earlier than and after the interview. Sit up in your chair together with your shoulders again, hold your toes firmly planted on the ground, and attempt to hold from shaking your leg or tapping your foot.

When talking to the interviewer, mission your phrases, make eye contact, and be assured in your solutions! You need your physique language to appear like you might be self-confident and assertive, not uncertain and hunched over. Your physique language will make an enormous distinction in how your solutions are introduced and acquired.

5. ✋ Do not be afraid of a pause

Take your time answering every query. A protracted pause would possibly really feel actually awkward however to the interviewer, it is not bizarre in any respect. Take the time to gather your ideas, then communicate slowly and clearly if you find yourself able to reply. No have to rush it! That is your one-on-one time to ace the dietetic internship interview!

6. ‍♀️ Concentrate on repeat filler phrases

Concentrate on filler phrases you could be overly utilizing. When it occurs, simply take a deep breath, pause, gather your ideas, and depart the filler phrases on the door.

You can too observe eradicating filler phrases out of your on a regular basis interactions and conversations. It takes lots of observe to take away the “um’s, likes, and you understand’s” however it’ll tremendously enhance your skilled look and confidence tremendously!

I bear in mind the primary few sentences I stated throughout my dietetic internship interview had been full with fillers similar to “like” and “That is superb!” – and that was earlier than they even requested a single query! I blame my nerves however I instantly realized what I used to be doing and shortly modified up my wording.

7. ❓ Ask 1-2 questions on the finish of the interview

Have a number of questions ready going into the dietetic internship interview that you would be able to’t discover by going instantly to the internship web site. There may be nothing worse than exhibiting the dietetic internship you did not do your homework on their program!

Attempt to discover questions that additionally accompany the expertise you propose to spotlight through the interview. Perhaps your background is analysis and you understand this specific program has a number of analysis research going. You may ask if interns get to take part within the analysis course of throughout an enrichment week or can help their analysis in different methods.

However a superb query can repay and when you select the appropriate inquiries to ask, the solutions they offer you can additional emphasize why you’re a good match to their dietetic internship (like within the analysis instance above).

8. ‍ Put on one thing that is not distracting or poorly matchted

In the event you do not feel comfy in your garments, you will not look comfy. Your dietetic internship interview is just not the time to put on a style assertion shirt or strive strolling in heels for the primary time. Put on one thing skilled and impartial. The very last thing you need to fear about through the interview is how tight your waste band is or that your footwear do not match.

This tip additionally applies to digital interviews or cellphone interviews. In the event you gown in enterprise skilled apparel, you usually tend to really feel assured and are available throughout as an expert. In the event you put on pajamas from the waist down, you might not really feel as skilled and it may well come throughout that manner in your responses.

Beneath are a number of outfit choices I wore throughout a my dietetic internship rotations that would present some inspiration.

After your dietetic internship interview

9.  Write a hand written thanks card

Convey a clean thanks card and envelope with you to your dietetic internship interview. After the interview, embody the interviewer’s identify and a personalised message inside thanking them for taking the time to contemplate you as a candidate for his or her dietetic internship.

Writing the thanks message after your interview helps you embody particular moments or particulars concerning the interview so it does not really feel like a generic, impersonal thanks card. Depart the cardboard with the constructing secretary or workplace supervisor, or ship the cardboard by mail dropping it off within the closest mailbox to the interview location. You need the cardboard to reach inside a day or two after your dietetic internship interview, so you’ll want to hand it off or ship it straight away.

Additionally, deliver a number of thanks playing cards. I used to be interviewed by a panel of 4 dietitians, so be ready for something!

Try my article, what to do when you did not match to a dietetic internship

This step might be probably the most underutilized however strongest tip of all. Construct a bridge, do not burn one! Contacting the internship program director after match day is the right time to open the door for a second spherical match alternative or to turn into a precedence applicant for subsequent yr.

Proper after not matching, write a pleasant and professional e mail to the dietetic internship director to allow them to know you didn’t match to any of your applications and that you just plan on making use of to their program subsequent yr. That is additionally a superb alternative to ask for suggestions in your utility and discover out what you are able to do to enhance subsequent yr’s utility.

Contacting this system director helps set you up for matching to an internship in three methods:

#1: Generally accepted interns drop from their internship a number of days after match day or perhaps a few days earlier than this system begins (gasp, I do know! However it truly occurs greater than you suppose). If this system director preferred you as an applicant they usually know you can be found and did not match wherever, they’re extra more likely to contact you to see if you would like that newly opened spot of their program.

#2: Program administrators discuss after match day. If an internship did not fill all of their spots (which does occur imagine it or not) generally program administrators will attain out to different program administrators to see in the event that they will help with their internship vacancies. Improve the possibilities of your identify being tossed round since you allow them to know you might be free and did not match.

#3: Letting this system director know you’ll be making use of to their dietetic internship subsequent yr will assist them hold your identify in thoughts. In the event you had been a prime applicant that did not fairly make the reduce, subsequent yr you could be a extra favored applicant. Additionally, telling them you’ll apply to their program once more subsequent yr lets them know you actually imagine their program is the appropriate match for you, one thing they search for when deciding on interns.

Keep in mind, the dietetic internship program director does not know who matched exterior of their program, so allow them to know you might be free! Shout it from the roof tops. Give them the chance to snag you up in the event that they ever want an intern or know of one other program that does – whether or not it is the day after match day or the next yr while you apply once more.

✨ Bonus Tip: Get skilled assist

One of many worst emotions is just not matching to a dietetic internship – belief me, I have been there! Generally it is arduous to see the massive crimson flags hiding in your utility, private assertion or interview preparation.

I’m an affiliate for All Entry Dietetics, which has teaching companies designed particularly for dietetic internship hopefuls get matched to a dietetic internship. Let the specialists assist and make you the most effective applicant attainable!

Use my affiliate code I-WILL-BE-A-RD to get 20% off your Get Matched Course!

I personally did not learn about All Entry Dietetics after I was making use of for internships however I did closely depend on my College’s profession heart, which was a game-changer. Having a useful resource service like All Entry Dietetics, which focuses on getting you into the dietetic internship, is an unimaginable useful resource and I can not suggest it sufficient!

The image above was from my dietetic internship’s medical rotation, a spot I do know you’re going to get to expertise too! You simply have to visualise it, see it, imagine it, and work in the direction of it on a regular basis.

The highway to turning into a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist is just not straightforward, however you’ve labored so arduous to get thus far, do not run out of steam! In your interview, be assured and be your superior self, all the things else will fall into place.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL DIETETIC INTERNSHIP INTERVIEW TIPS, COMMENT BELOW! I WOULD LOVE HEAR FROM RD’S 2 BE AND START THE CONVERSATION.

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