Being a registered dietician is a top career path since you can impact people’s lifestyles and health. You can use your expertise in nutrition to provide dietary advice that can help people manage health conditions.
As an aspiring dietitian, completing a dietetic internship is a necessary step, as it gives you a glimpse of the environment you’ll immerse in as a full-fledged professional. And with the hands-on experience you’ll get, you will know the actual skills and pressures involved in the field.
However, internships for aspiring dietitians can be competitive, and only the most deserving and well-suited candidates can fill the slots. Therefore, it’s necessary to know which skills to highlight in your application to increase your chances. Read on as we explore the top must-have skills.
1. Nutritional Knowledge
One of the most important skills to underscore in an internship application is nutritional knowledge. In your curriculum vitae, cite your coursework in physiology, nutritional science, and biochemistry. Moreover, during the interview or in a written personal essay or portfolio, highlight your understanding of nutritional science, including food composition, metabolism, dietary guidelines, and macronutrients/micronutrients.
Additionally, include your knowledge of the current and latest dietary regulations outlined by relevant regulatory bodies, such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Asserting that you possess a deep understanding of relevant concepts and other aspects of the field will increase your chances. It enhances your credibility, communicates your dedication to the field, and, most importantly, differentiates your application.
2. Clinical Skills
Clinical skills are essential for any dietetic intern especially since they’ll be working in different clinical settings and patients. One of the core clinical skills is conducting a thorough nutritional assessment. This involves gathering information about a patient’s medical history and lifestyle practices. Interns are also responsible for interpreting these records to gather the necessary information.
Another important skill to develop is the ability to plan a patient’s nutritional goals. This includes dietary recommendations and any interventions needed. The care plan should be tailored to a patient’s specific needs and should be updated regularly.
To increase your chances of securing a slot in any facility offering a dietetic or nutritionist internship, include these skills and demonstrate your competency.
3. Communication Skills
Effective communication is a cornerstone for dietetic internships. Dieticians should know how to convey complex nutritional information to patients, healthcare professionals, and the public in a way that’s easily understandable yet in a professional manner. They must also listen attentively to patients and understand their concerns and needs.
It’s also imperative to demonstrate your proficiency in verbal and written communication. This includes writing reports, documentation, and educational materials.
4. Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills and relationships are also essential for all aspiring dieticians. For one, you’ll interact with patients, their families, and other professionals. As such, you need to have the soft skills needed to build rapport with patients and collaborate with healthcare professionals.
If you want to talk about your people skills in your resume, you can mention specific examples of times when you used your skills to achieve a positive outcome. For example, you can talk about how you build rapport with a patient who was initially resistant to following a nutritional plan. You can also talk about your ability to listen emphatically, your patience, and other characteristics that make you a good communicator.
You can develop and further boost your skills through attending and completing workshops and getting feedback from peers or supervisors. If these programs offer certifications, it will be a plus as it’s proof of your interpersonal skills.
5. Research Skills
Research is crucial in the field of nutrition to advance knowledge and shape evidence-based practice. Your research skills can demonstrate your ability to critically evaluate information, synthesize findings, and use evidence in your practice.
Therefore, highlight your proficiency in conducting thorough literature reviews, utilizing academic studies, and assessing the relevance of these studies. You should also showcase your ability to extract key findings, such as potential bias from your research and draw sound conclusions. These skills show that you’re not only ready to be an intern but also to be a successful dietitian.
Final Thoughts
Dietetic internships are very competitive, and only the best can get the cut. This emphasizes the importance of showing that you have what it takes to be selected. That said, highlight your top skills and explain how you can demonstrate them as a dietician.
Besides improving your chances of securing an internship, your skills show your commitment to lifelong learning, dedication to helping others, and a passion for healthy lifestyles. So, confidently present your skills during the application and kickstart a successful career in dietetics.
