I've been a personal trainer since 2008, but never paid for a session with one until late last year.
It's hard to say what you should look for in a PT. I guess the thing to look for is whatever it is you need. Quality instruction should always be high on the priorities list. Unfortunately, if you don't already have a firm grasp of good programming and technique, it's hard to know if they'll provide this, and if you do already have a firm grip on this stuff, well......
Some people say to go with the PT with the most business, because obviously if they're in high demand, they must be good. However, being in high demand could just mean they're good at marketing, and doesn't necessarily mean they give good results.
Some people go with the PT who appears most confident, because confidence let's you feel like the PT is competent, but there's such a thing as fool's confidence, and it runs rampant throughout the world, and especially in this industry.
One thing to look at is the PT's results -- with their clients and with themselves. But even this isn't fool-proof. There are plenty of PT's who are fit, strong and look great, and don't actually know how they got that way (they might know what routines they did to get there, but they may not know what aspects of those routines contributed to their success...80/20 rule). Likewise, a PT may have none of the results that you're after, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to get you those results. I've been the skiiny, weak trainer teaching people how to get bigger and stronger -- successfully, too, I might add -- and I've seen morbidly obese trainers teaching people how to lose weight, successfully. Sometimes a PT knows more than their body gives them credit for.
There are plenty of clients who get better results than most members of the gym when they hire a PT simply because they show up and are pushed to put in some kind of effort, rather than because the specific things they are doing are a good idea. Consistent effort and a little enthusiasm means you can do a stupid program and get great results, whereas inconsistency, a lack of effort and a lack of enthusiasm means you could do a program that looks perfect on paper and do it to the T, and get nowhere. So there are social components to hiring a PT to look out for -- you certainly want a PT who you get along with and who makes you dig in and give more than you would have otherwise.
I guess the ideal ****tail that makes up a PT in my mind is someone who:
- Knows what makes good technique for the individual and their goals (a lot of trainers trainers think they know the correct way to do an exercise when really there are many correct ways to do it) and can demonstrate this.
- Knows how to structure a program based on your needs and wants (these two factors aren't always the same, but there will always be some layer of overlap between the two) that will progres you towards your goals and can demonstrate this.
- Can give basic guidance on nutrition or refer you on to someone who can give you good nutritional advice.
- Will refer you on for appropriate medical consult if you have any health issues that need addressing.
- Is someone you can talk to.
- Is someone you trust.
