New Personal Trainer

R

Rav6962

0
I'm a new personal trainer and I have no hands on experience. So I figured the best place to start is at a commercialized gym. I've applied at a few gyms and I'm assuming because of my lack of experience and my age (46) they're pushing that I lean towards a Sales Manager position. I've never worked in sales at all before and I'm not sure if that would be a good fit for me. However it is a based salary plus commission and it might be a good place to start since I'm new (this is what they're telling me). However my passion is to train and to help people. While the money sounds good I'm afraid if I take a Managers position I will not get a the experience needed as a trainer.

Any input or pros and cons on a Sales Manager position opposed to a Trainer position? I feel like I may be trapped in the managers position and will never get the experience I need to train.

Appreciate any input from experience trainers or Managers.

Thanks,
Rob
 
A personal trainer and sales manager are, obviously, two very different positions. After undergoing the certification process to become a trainer, I likely wouldn't accept a desk and paperwork job, but that's just me.

If you to start lower and make a pathway up to a personal trainer with an organization, you could perhaps try for a job as a weightroom attendant. Not quite personalized help with clients, but it could show employers that you have experience with the practical work.
 
You never really know how jobs will turn out, but if you are passionate about the training part, then there's a pretty good chance that you won't enjoy a sales position. I know I wouldn't...
 
Congrats on your certification! Have you tried your local YMCA's? I've worked at one for a while now, I have not applied to more commercialized gyms yet because my passion lies more in having my own business. I think it is a good idea and helpful to have experience in a gym first but that's not the only way.

That being said they way I started off was talking to the group fitness instructor at a YMCA and asking if I could teach a boot camp style class. She was opened to it, at the time I didn't even have a PT cert or group fitness cert (still don't have group fitness cert) but she let me demo the class and I've been teaching it ever since 2008. From their I got my PT cert. The YMCA will take you in one way or another and then you can move on up the chain to a PT position. Keep in mind the YMCA does not pay a lot of money for a PT position but it will get you experience.

Bottom line experience in fitness, any way, any how will help you out. Try volunteering for a sports event or race like a 5K for example. Get involved with anything fitness locally for experience.

A Sales management position although yes it's different, it's still a part of fitness. You get a job in management while working on building your own PT business for example. There are so many ways to go about it. Look into your local hospitals that have wellness clubs, maybe even the schools, colleges and universities.

Whatever you do, do what makes you happy!
 
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