Fast Facts for the Current and Prospective Dietetic Intern

By Dominique Symonette

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A popular question among dietetic intern hopefuls is, what do Dietetic Internship Directors look for in an applicant?

They do not just look at a specific quality, instead they seek out a number of attributes. According to Lisa Sasson , Dietetic Internship Program Director at New York University "We look at the total package. .. we not only look at grades but we also look at the applicant's work and academic experience, commitment to the profession and to their stated goals. We do look for interns who are motivated and possess good interpersonal skills. We also consider the individual?s maturity level, because Dietetic Interns constantly receive feedback and we want to be certain that our interns are able to perform as a part of a team. We really want our applicants to be an overall asset to the internship program and all of these qualities make for a successful intern."

How do they gather all of this information?

It is gathered from the interviewing process and from the resume the applicant will submit. With that in mind take a careful look at the following:

Resume Tips
When the time comes to apply to internships, you want to have a variety of experiences to include in your application. Getting involved early is the best thing you can do to build an impressive resume. While a high GPA helps, Internship Directors look at more than just your GPA!

Work Experience
When you apply, internship selection committees evaluate your work experience. Get out there and apply for paid or unpaid work to get that experience as early as possible. Work experience indicates time-management skills, and shows that you can work as part of a team.

Extracurricular Activities
Get involved. Selection committees like well-rounded individuals who are involved in activities outside of schoolwork.

Volunteer Experience
Volunteering is a reliable way to supplement limited experience, and most organizations are partial toward unpaid help.

Putting it all on paper
A resume highlights your qualifications for employment in a particular position or field. It should be up-dated, rewritten and reprinted as necessary. Look at other resume guides’ samples. Avoid using "I" throughout your resume and instead choose action oriented words to outline your qualifications.

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What Style should you Use?

Choose the chronological format if you’re staying in the same field. In a chronological resume, which is the most commonly used style, list your most current work experience first. Choose a functional format if you’re changing fields, because this format is skills-oriented and shows off your transferable skills better and takes the focus off your old job-titles. In a functional resume, list your cluster related tasks together under different skills or capability categories. At the end of the resume, briefly mention where you have worked.

Did you get your degree from a different country?

Simply state: "Degree equivalent to U.S. degree, for example, -- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics; Hell, Grand Cayman Islands."

What if you don’t have any experience in the kind of work you want to do?

Find a place that will let you do some volunteer work. Even brief periods of volunteering will afford at least some experience to put on your resume. Consider all volunteer work you’ve done in the past and determine if some of those skills can be used on your new job.

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What if you never had any "real- in - the - field - jobs- only self employment?

Create an honest job-title for yourself. You may say, 'customer references available on request" and then provide references of people you provided services for.

Headings
List your name, permanent and temporary addresses, area code and phone number. E-Mail addresses can also be included.

Objectives
A job objective unveils the intent of your resume, and focuses on skills you have that will apply to the prospective job.

How do you list your academic experiences?

Consider the example below:

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, May 2001
ABC University, New York, NY. Include a GPA of 3.0 or higher on the resume and related courses.

Mention self financing of college education if applicable.

Areas of Knowledge or Experience
List computer software knowledge, publications you have completed, foreign languages, and relevant career related experiences.

Work, Professional or Relevant Experience
Explain: Full-time employment, work study?etc. Elaborate on the responsibilities of the offices you have held.

• Include only activities which contribute to your work abilities.
• Avoid purely personal evaluations (ex. I am sociable).
• Omit height, weight, age, health and marital status.
• Omit pictures, fancy binders.
• It is optional to list willing to travel or references upon request.

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Editing

Resumes may have to be rewritten many times before they represent your full potential. Incomplete sentences are acceptable, but make sure your ideas are communicated clearly. Ask permission to use your references’ names and if you can use their work or home phone number. Use past employers first, then faculty members. Inform them of your interest in a position and job description. Place references on a separate sheet of paper; include your name and the references’ names, addresses and phone numbers. Use the same type of paper which matches the cover letter and resume. When mailing resumes and cover letters, use a matching stock of paper for the envelope or use an oversized envelope which will not fold the resume and letter. There are many internet sites that have recommendations, some will write them for a fee. Some good sites with useful advice are:

• www.resume-center.com/
• www.free-resume-tips.com/10tips.html
• www.free-resume-tips.com/resumetips/university.html
• www.accent-resume-writing.com/covertips/

Good luck and remember to keep it simple, keep it professional and always keep it honest.

Sources:

Lisa Sasson, M.S., R.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor and Dietetic Internship Director
Department of Nutrition & Food Studies
New York University
Lisa.sasson@nyu.edu

Dr. Mary D. Fredericks
Dean, College of Education
Temple University Education Annex
Philadelphia PA 19125
(215) 321-7111 (215) 327-6141
www.creighton.edu/StudentEmp/RESUME.html, CU Career Services’ Quick Resume Tips

www.dietitianexam.com
RDexam.com is the original Registered Dietitian exam review web site. The sole purpose of this site is to assist you with passing the RD exam. Although the RD exam is comprehensive in scope and nature, passing it is a very attainable goal. On the homepage is a sign-up for a free question of the week.

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