Full time personal trainer?

joehempel

Okay, so I just passed my NASM-CPT certification (on Saturday) and am looking for a job at the moment. I'm not going to kid myself and think I'll land some full time job making $40,000 a year right away.

As a beginner in this field, what do others suggest as a way to start the journey to becoming a fitness professional and has anyone used any lead generating services like thumbtack.com?

Right now, I'm thinking about part time at a box gym like Fitworks or LA Fitness or something like that.

With zero actual work experience my resume just basically will have that I've gotten the certification and have about 15 years of engineering experience.

Thoughts from anyone?

ninerbuff

I started at a small gym and with just 2 clients. Part time along with another full time job. Most people will look for PT's in their personal gym and not online (unless they are just verifying credentials).
One great thing I learned to do well is learn first names of as many people in the gym. Getting on a first name basis (even if they don't end up being a client) shows that you're genuinely interested in them as people. Old saying one of my mentors taught me:
"People don't how much you know until they know how much you care".

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Cherimoose

Chain gyms are a good place to start because they often don't require experience, and prospective clients are all around you (as opposed to on the web). If you're likeable, you'll be successful. After a few months, you might decide to move to a better gym.. Or maybe you'll want to go in a different direction, like group sessions, or physical therapy. See where it takes you.

LernRach

I have used personal trainers quite a few times in my life and I often watch the different trainers before i choose one. I look at those who will offer a helping hand if they are just walking through the gym and see someone struggling with an exercise, I watch to see if they check their phone etc whilst training a client, I watch when they work out themselves and most of all I watch to see if allow clients to stop when they say they are tired (!!!) I haven't ever looked at credentials... we all know people who are highly experienced, yet rubbish at their job...

Good luck

joehempel

Thanks everyone!! I appreciate the feedback!

Anyone able to help me construct a decent resume with zero experience? LOL.

I've been shadowing a guy at a gym for a bit, a couple days here and there for a couple hours or so while I was studying for the NASM, and for some reason I feel weird about dropping a resume off to that place for some reason, like, okay, you helped me get this thing, now give me a job LOL.

I've not had to do a resume in over 10 years so this is all kind of crazy and scary to me

rybo

Besides any trainer knowledge or experience to include on your resume, include any selling or dealing with people experience you may have.

joehempel

Thanks! I don't have much experience selling I've been an engineer all my life, so that'll be tough, but I think I can muck up something about interpersonal relations and a positive attitude.