Finding a Personal Training Job
After getting the education, training and certification that you need, you’ll be ready to find your first job as a personal trainer. In most areas, personal trainers are in high demand. Entry-level positions are especially easy to come by, since more experienced personal trainers tend to strike out on their own. Fitness centers and corporate gyms usually hire beginners, since they are eager to pay lower salaries. Don’t look at this slow start as a setback, though – look at it as an opportunity to hone your skills before moving on to bigger and better things.
Steps in Finding a Personal Training Job
Like most other careers, there are certain steps that you should take when looking for work as a personal trainer. The following steps serve as a basic guide for getting the job of your dreams.
1. Do Your Research – You should never go looking for work as a personal trainer without knowing what the average salary for one is in your area. If you go out there without this key information, you could end up getting the short end of the salary stick. There are plenty of websites out there that allow you to view reports about salary ranges in a specific area and industry; put them to good use.
2. Hit the Pavement – First things first: Visit gyms in your local area; ask them if they are currently hiring personal trainers. This is the logical first step in any serious job hunt. If you’re lucky, a gym that’s right in your immediate area will be actively looking for personal trainers. Remember to keep the information that you learned in step one in mind so that you don’t inadvertently take a job for ridiculously low pay.
3. Post Your Resume – If hitting the streets doesn’t garner you any hits – or if you have to wait to hear back from prospects – don’t waste any time. Instead, create a topnotch personal trainer resume and post it on the most popular job websites on the Internet. CareerBuilder, Monster and Yahoo! Jobs are all great places to begin. Cast as wide of a net as possible; you never know what you will reel in by doing so!
4. Ask Around – During your training and schooling, you probably met plenty of people in the personal training industry. Ask them if they have heard about any job opportunities. It never hurts to network!
5. Get the Job! – As you look for a job as a personal trainer, always remember that you are highly in demand. Never sell yourself short and stay as optimistic as possible. Before you know it, you will have landed your very first job as a personal trainer – and you’ll be on your way to a very satisfying and lucrative career!

