How to Build a Meaningful and Rewarding Career in Fitness | Many people think that a career in fitness means just hanging around the gym doing nothing. Your family and friends may even think that it’s a nonsense job, but some even get in their minds that you’re going to be one of those celebrity personal trainers who is going to sweat them out on live TV and earn tons of money.
Who knows, maybe you even do become a celebrity personal trainer, but before that, it is more likely that you want a meaningful and rewarding career in fitness. To be a personal trainer who people love and love trusting their bodies to be shaped by you. So, let’s see what you need in order to have such an inspiring career.
Set Some Goals
Before starting anything, you need to sit down and think about what’s your goal by becoming a personal trainer. If you already love exercising and sharing tips with people, do you simply want to turn your lifestyle into a career? Do you want to become a personal trainer at some of the prestige gyms? Do you want to simply help people be healthier and happier? Or do you want to have your own gym one day…? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself and see what the ultimate goal is. After that is decided, then you can move on to making a plan of how you’re going to achieve your goal and have a meaningful career in fitness. And don’t forget that you need to be passionate about your job.
Get Certified
Just like with any other career, to become a professional trainer you will have to get certified and educated. There are different ways for you to obtain a degree and certification, from various courses, college degrees and so on, but probably the most important thing is to look into associations that offer third-party accreditation. This is to ensure that their certification is recognized in the fitness industry.
However, whatever way of getting certified you chose, one thing is for sure – you will have to fully invest your time and dedicate yourself to the program. The same goes for whatever fitness profession you choose; whether it’s for a bodybuilding trainer, post-rehabilitation trainer or a sports condition specialist, all of them need your full attention so you can succeed in your career and help people.
Work on Your Qualities
To really become a successful fitness instructor and have a rewarding career, you will need a bit more than a firm body and some documents. In order to succeed in your career, you must have a passion for it. You really need to love what you’re doing and to really show it and be fully positive about embracing a healthy lifestyle.
As a personal trainer or any kind of fitness instructor, you really have to inspire others and follow your own advice in order for people to see you as a role model. All of your clients will look up to you for guidance, and you have to set a good example in order to inspire them to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This means that you will actually need to build your mental health and strength and develop a positive attitude.
Additionally, other skills you will have to possess to fully succeed are good communication skills, great organizational and planning skills, you need to be a good listener and motivator and to set a good example with your own physical fitness.
Have a Good Resume
As soon as you get certified and educated, you should know how to market yourself into getting the job you always wanted. Of course, it is recommended to find a resume builder online, and start working in some less exclusive gyms to get some experience, but after all, you will need a strong resume. Just like in other professions and careers, your resume should contain everything important about your education, your objectives, your strengths, and your experience if you have it.
Since your resume is an essential step in career-making, there are a few things that are important in order to get a well-respected job. If you don’t have any prior experience, it is a good idea to distribute your resume at local smaller gyms. All the owners will judge your passion and personality and this is a great way to show them how you can fit into their programs and be a great addition to their team.
Grow Your Relationships
When you do get the job, it is essential that you develop relationships with everyone in the gym. This includes both your colleagues and clients. As more people like the more opportunities, you may have for growing your career. Also, take any advantage you have to market your name and create a positive reputation. Your goal is for your clients to recommend you to their friends, and if they do, it means you are on the right track.
The fitness market is huge and there is a lot of competition. That is why you have to do your best a create a positive image and market your name in the best positive way in order to stand out from the crowd. So, don’t forget to always work on yourself, your attitude and all your strengths, and there is no doubt that you will create a meaningful and rewarding career as a personal trainer.
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Claire Morgan is a marketing consultant and lecturer who, thanks to her integrated approach to business, stands behind many digital strategies of renowned brands. She enjoys travelling and passionately blogs about the latest marketing and lifestyle trends.
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