Home » Personal Training » New Certified Personal Trainer – What are my options?

Entering the fitness industry is easier than ever, but finding experience can be the hardest part of growing as a fitness instructor. Gaining experience as a personal trainer can help you find your rhythm as an instructor and learn how to work with different demographics.

But how do you gain experience when the gyms looking to hire new personal trainers require experience? In this video, Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), goes over your options as a new personal trainer and all the nuances to consider.

Applying to Gyms With No Experience

When applying to gyms, handling a lack of experience can be challenging, but the recommended approach emphasizes your willingness to learn from your manager and your desire to gain knowledge by working in a gym. Do not focus on being passed over at other interviews; instead, do your best to show your willingness to accept a challenge.

Managers in a gym environment often want to impart knowledge and shape new employees to meet their needs. Managers will view this lack of experience as an opportunity to help shape a new employee and have someone who follows their protocol to the T. Managers are usually in their position because they are great communicators, and a personal trainer who wants to learn the ropes can benefit from a manager who shares their fitness industry wisdom.

Understanding Different Gym Tiers

Not all gyms are created equal. Pay tiers differ, and the quality of members willing to buy personal training varies.

• Members who pay $100+ per month will most likely have the funds to buy personal training packages compared to those with a $9.99 per month membership.
• Gyms with higher membership costs will likely pay higher per-hour wages for personal trainers, but they will be harder to get hired at.
• Tyler discusses the benefits of gyms with high membership costs in this video, but new personal trainers should consider value-based gym membership options.
• Gyms with lower membership costs can be great to gain experience training clients and finding your own style as an instructor.
• The hourly wage will likely be less at a gym with cost-efficient membership costs, but the opportunity for experience is a bonus.
• These opportunities to hone your coaching style can prepare you for your next career move and enhance your resume.

Leveraging Group Fitness to Build Your Client Base

The vast majority of people who sign up for a gym are not looking for personal training but rather group fitness. According to LesMills.com, “59% of gym members do fitness class activities”. This number is even higher according to American Spa, which states that “85% of class members visit their facility twice a week specifically to engage in group classes. And 43% of members visit their facility four times per week for this purpose”.

New personal trainers need to understand that the overwhelming majority of gym members participate in group fitness, and there are more opportunities to get in front of them. Because there is a smaller group of members looking for personal training, teaching classes allows you to expand your opportunities to showcase your expertise to regular gym members. More opportunities to showcase your knowledge within health & fitness is positive, and there is a group fitness format for everyone to teach.

While some personal trainers are reluctant to do group fitness for fear of public speaking or because they believe there is a negative stigma associated with it, teaching classes is one of the best pieces of advice you will ever get. Try finding a group fitness format that fits your style, whether that is Bootcamp, HIIT, or boxing.

Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), as a young personal trainer.

Going the Independent Route

If you choose to bypass commercial gym employment and go the independent route, there are several vital business items you will need to consider:

Finding a Location: You must evaluate their fee structure to determine whether you are paying per client or a flat monthly rate.

Marketing Your Services: Independent trainers must actively drive client acquisition by leveraging social media, running promotions, and seeking referrals.

Accelerated Skill Development: Going independent means you will need to develop your sales & style much quicker. Because there are fewer built-in opportunities to get reps, you will need to maximize them. Ultimately, independent coaching is a numbers game of how many leads you get and how many you can close.

Ultimately, there is not one single way to become a personal trainer, and there are excellent career options for everyone.

Career Path Comparison for New Trainers