Fitness jobs are among today's most in-demand professions. But how do you know if a career as a personal trainer or health and wellness professional is right for you? These six questions can give you a nudge in the right direction.
1. Do you enjoy working with other people? This is one of the most important aspects of working as a personal trainer or nutritional expert. These fitness professionals work closely with clients to understand their goals and help them reach them. The more satisfaction you derive from interacting with others, the more fulfillment you'll find in working as a personal trainer. One related note? Implicit in strong interpersonal skills -- particularly in a leadership capacity -- is the ability to communicate.
2. Do you exercise often and eat well? Personal trainers lead by example. While you don't have to be a fitness superstar with a 100 percent commitment to clean eating to succeed as a personal trainer, it is helpful to exemplify the lifestyle behaviors you advocate to your clients. Being in good shape and understanding and applying basic nutritional knowledge goes with the territory. Many people who go onto personal training careers are identified by others for these characteristics long before they earn their credentials.
3. Are you open to learning? Are you excited each month for your copy of Fitness or Shape to arrive in the mail? Do you keep up with healthy eating and recipe blogs? Are you tuned into your favorite fitness trainers on social media? Knowledge about effective exercise techniques and nutrition is not static. Enthusiasm for keeping up with the latest news and trends is an important part of becoming a personal trainer. While no one knows everything about these subjects, a commitment to ongoing learning is essential.
4. Are you eager to share your passion for fitness with others? If your goal in becoming a personal trainer is merely to satisfy your own passion for working out, that's only a small part of the equation. The bigger picture? Sharing that passion with others.
5. Are you open to a career that's not a typical 9 to 5 job? Fitness training involves anything but sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 every day. If you're looking for a job where you just punch the clock, you're looking in the wrong place. But if you're looking to apply your enthusiasm for fitness in a variety of setting for a diversity of clients and schedules, fitness careers offer all of this and more.
6. Have you looked into any personal training programs? Not all physical therapy schools are created equal. Choosing a school with the right program can give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to gain employment as a fitness trainer in this competitive field. Not only that, but some schools like SOCHi go a step further by preparing students to sit for voluntary certifications exams. The result? SOCHi grads are even more desirable for employers looking to hire qualified personal fitness trainers and nutrition specialists.
If you answered "yes" to most or all of these questions, a career in fitness could be in your future. Request information from our school today to take the next step.