Is a Personal Training Career Right for You?

So you think you want to be a …  It’s definitely a great career choice for a lot of people, but many who decide to start down this path discover that it’s not what they expect.  It takes more than a love of fitness to succeed as a personal trainer.  If you’re considering running down this career path, then do a little preliminary research to make sure that you have what it takes.

Are you a People Person?

Personal training is not the right job for someone who doesn’t love working with people.  Because so much of the job involves encouraging and inspiring your clients, it is important that you are able to maintain a high level of energy and excitement even when you’re having a bad day.  The ability to smile no matter how you’re feeling is a major component of the job.

You also have to be willing to learn how to train people who aren’t exactly like you.  Do you know how to help someone recovering from an overuse injury?  How about a cross-country skier?  Or a senior citizen?  Different people will require different training routines, and learning how to tailor schedules and exercises for unique bodies is part of the job.  Finding the right routine requires good communication skills as well as knowledge about the human body.

The Business Side

There’s more to personal training than helping clients improve their marathon times—this is a business after all.  Personal trainers need to know how to market themselves, how to manage schedules and how to make sure their clients pay the bills.  If you plan on working as an independent trainer, you’ll also need to know how to do your business taxes.  Many trainers find it beneficial to take a few business classes to complement their.

Pay and Hours

Depending on where you work, the pay and time commitment involved in being a personal trainer can vary.  Most trainers, especially those just beginning their career, are part-time workers.  This means that pay and hours can often vary from month to month.  Depending on your lifestyle, this can be a deal breaker.  You also need to work around your clients’ schedules, meaning work in the early morning, evenings and weekends.

Go For It!

If you still think this career path is the right one for you, then you should pursue it.  Pursuing a is an extremely satisfying choice, one that allows you to help other people while also maintaining and active and healthy lifestyle of your own.  Good luck!