Do you have a passion for fitness? Is this something that you think about every day and almost build your life around. For example, does your day revolve around going to the gym or working out? Will you plan different things around your exercise sessions to be sure you always manage to have them? If so, perhaps your passion for fitness is too great to ignore. You might have been thinking this lately, wondering if it’s worth pursuing a career in the fitness industry. There are different paths to take, but you’re wondering if a personal trainer role would be good for you. After all, you love training and feel like you give good advice. So, is this job right for you?
Do you like working with others?
How do you feel about working closely with other people? If you hate being around people and dealing with members of the public, this probably isn’t a great idea for you. Being a personal trainer means you have to be…well…personal! You need great people skills and social communication skills, or else you can’t hope to make it in the industry. If you don’t like working closely with other people or on a 1-to-1 basis, maybe you should think about a different fitness career?
Do you know how much it costs to be a personal trainer?
Contrary to what many people believe, you can’t just decide to be a personal trainer and start training people. Well, you technically could, but you’d really need to find clients and train them yourself in a private place. No gym will hire you if you don’t have the right qualifications, but how much does it cost to be a personal trainer? According to the ASFA, personal trainer courses start at around $199. It’s your job to go out and compare the different course prices to see what the total cost will be and if you can afford it.
Are you aware of how competitive it is?
Loads of fitness junkies want to be personal trainers and get all excited about it. Then, later down the line, they realize that it was a mistake. Why? Because they had no idea how competitive the industry is. As an example, any commercial gym can have a handful of personal trainers employed all the time. Already, in your own workplace, you’re competing with maybe 5 other people. Not to mention all the trainers in other gyms or working privately. You can still compete and make it as a personal trainer, you just need to be prepared for the competition. Keep this in mind if this is something you want to do.
Should you become a personal trainer if you’re passionate about fitness? Well, it largely depends on you. Being in love with the gym isn’t a good enough reason to become a coach. It’s something you should do if you can financially afford it, have a clear business plan to handle the competition, and actively enjoy working with other people on a personal level.
