Melissa Croyl - Distance Option

I’m Melissa Croyl, a Sodexo dietetic intern in the distance cohort. I want to share with current interns, future interns, and even the RDs who have gone through it all, my thoughts on networking, because I believe it is the greatest tool for succeeding in this profession. By utilizing some of the tips below, I’ve met some phenomenal people in the past 5 months and each of them has had a positive impact.

Quick tips for networking effectively:

• Get started! Practice talking with everyone around you; ask questions. There is never a bad time to start networking. This can be done at college with classmates, professors, and organizations, at a library or coffee shop, and in every single area of your internship. Make your voice heard! Internship orientation is a fantastic time to get to know your fellow interns who will share several experiences with you.  Take advantage of the time you have to get to know the directors. They will guide you throughout your journey with helpful ideas and insight.
  
• Cut to the chase. Dive right in and have a real conversation, if small talk is not your strength. This will show whom you are talking to that you have a genuine interest in the discussion. Different people have different experiences and often times are willing to share them. This can be an advantage to you. Also, make an effort to engage with those working in different departments, as their work often intertwines with ours in the dietetic field and you may learn something new or find opportunities to enhance your own skills.
• Maintain your reputation. Leave others with a positive impression by being respectful and engaging. People are more likely to give you a great recommendation down the road if they can recall having had a positive interaction with you. These recommendations can help make you a much more competitive applicant when applying for jobs and internships, so always put your best foot forward.
• Be gracious. Showing appreciation to preceptors, coworkers and anyone else that has helped you along your dietetic journey (or life in general) will also leave a positive impact on others. Everybody likes to be valued, and being generous by helping out when others are in need and by demonstrating appreciation, you can be more well-received and trusted by others. When others trust you, they’re more likely to continue helping you out in the future as well.
  

Let your conversations be meaningful and make connections with whomever you can, because you never know who will lead you to the next opportunity!