How Do I Reach Out to a Genetic Counselor for Shadowing?

How Do I Reach Out to a Genetic Counselor for Shadowing?

Gaining firsthand experience in genetic counseling is a key prerequisite for graduate programs. Conducting informational interviews and shadowing top genetic counselors is one of the best ways to gain such exposure. However, many applicants feel apprehensive approaching GCs they find online and become dejected if they don't receive a response. This article provides everything you need to make contact confidently and an email template that will maximize the likelihood of eliciting a response.

Most genetic counselors appreciate the chance to provide exposure to students seeking entry into the field of genetic counseling and are amenable to contact from such hopefuls. However, as professional clinicians, genetic counselors must budget their time in order to accommodate student interactions. Despite this, they are usually delighted to help whenever possible, although it is helpful when a student expresses gratitude, appears engaged, has relevant questions prepared for discussion, and exhibits an awareness of the time commitment required for such engagements.

Seeking Guidance - Request to Shadow a Professional Genetic Counselor

Use the following email template to craft personalized messages for the genetic counselors you wish to shadow or interview. Taking some extra time to incorporate individual details pertinent to your inquiry into each email can greatly increase your chances of receiving a response.

When GC hopefuls send a flurry of emails inquiring about opportunities, those on the receiving end are more likely to respond to students who acknowledge their request for time and effort as well as demonstrate an understanding of their addressee. In contrast, one-sentence emails offering a mere "Would you be open to me shadowing you for GC exposure?" will likely fall flat.

Draft

Hi (Insert Name),

My name is (Insert Your Name) and I am interested in pursuing a career in genetic counseling. After researching different GCs, I came across your contact on X and it prompted me to reach out in hopes of organizing an informational conversation. Specifically, I would love to discuss your professional journey within the field, your expertise in (insert specialty) genetic counseling (insert specialty/company/something that sparks your interest about this Genetic Counselor and try to be specific), and your insights into the future of the profession. For instance, (Insert an example, but state why you want to learn more or allude to what you'd like to ask about).

I have already completed all the required prerequisite courses and acquired some relevant experience, yet I remain eager to cultivate a deeper comprehension of the role of a genetic counselor in X setting before applying to school. Your time in responding to this email will be much appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

XXX

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My suggestion: before requesting to shadow the GC, meet with them first over video, coffee or even at their workplace. With learning opportunities, it's typically preferable to acquire knowledge from someone you feel at ease with. Your choices might be constrained depending on your locale; however, with so many GCs embracing virtual settings, there could be your ideal mentor just a click away.

Where Do I Find a Genetic Counselor?

Three straightforward ways to identify genetic counselors with ease:

• To gain insight into Genetic Counseling, join webinars and follow GCs on social media. Listening to lectures is informative. Peruse the Journal of Genetic Counseling for relevant papers. Persistently search for content produced by GCs that piques your curiosity and contact them directly. To craft an impressive introduction, reference a paper or conversation they conducted to ignite a meaningful dialogue.

• The National Society of Genetic Counselors provides a Find a Genetic Counselor page that enables you to locate GCs with specialized areas of expertise and localized to particular cities. This is an ideal resource to obtain contact information for genetic counselors.

• Seek out potential connections- Reach out to family, friends, or healthcare professionals who are connected with a genetic counselor and inquire about potential referrals.

Once you have identified the genetic counselors that best suit your requirements, revise my enclosed email template as needed, scrutinize it for any mistakes, and send it out! In no time at all, you will be engaging in conversation with a genetic counselor.