The fitness industry is booming at the moment and it simply continues to grow. There is over 200,000 fitness club around the world and the industry is worth over 83.15 billion dollars, according to Statista. Planet Fitness alone makes over 1.5 billion in revenue each year. In the United States, there are around 36,000 fitness clubs, and over 57 million people currently belong to one of these clubs. As you can see, the fitness industry has quite a lot of potential and, for those who really enjoy physical exercise and feel they can contribute to this industry, there is a lot of opportunities available.
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to enter the fitness industry, then this article is perfect for you. We are about to share six helpful tips that will help you get started with a career in this industry. We will cover all of the aspects that you need to know before you make a decision to transcend into the fitness industry so that you can make an informed decisions - and know whether or not a career in this particular industry is right for you. Note that, while our article focuses on those who wishes to become a personal trainer, the article is also appropriate for those who wishes to enter the fitness industry in a career other than a personal trainer.
1. Don't Enter The Fitness Industry Blindly
After considering the potential opportunities that may await you in the fitness industry, you may be tempted to quit your job and enter the industry without first considering some of the most important factors there are to consider when building a career in this industry. This is not the most appropriate way to transcend towards a career in fitness. To become a personal trainer, you need to do some initial planning, consider your options, realize what it takes and then decide whether a career in this particular industry is suitable for you.
2. Full Time Versus Part Time
While some people enter the fitness industry full time when they get started, others rather like to enter the industry by first becoming a part time personal trainer or instructor. This gives them the opportunity to build up some experience before they quit their existing job, and also offers them an opportunity to determine whether they would actually enjoy a career as a personal trainer. This is an important decision that you need to make when you consider a career in the fitness industry. Both full time and part time careers as a personal trainer has their own benefits and drawbacks, so consider these two options carefully and then make a decision based upon your personal findings.
3. Be An Expert In Fitness
If you wish to become a personal trainer, then you need to become an expert in fitness first. You will need to offer expert advice and guidance to your customers, and if you are not experience in this particular industry, you will not be able to offer your customers any real value. Know what benefits your customers can gain from becoming fit and adopting an active lifestyle. For example, physical activity can enhance your sex drive. If you search for information about arthritis, you'll also notice that being physically active is beneficial for patients suffering from this disease.
4. Be Sure That You Meet The Requirements
To become a personal trainer, you cannot simply quite your job and start advertising your services. This is against the law as you need to become a certified personal trainer before you can offer your services to clients - even if you plan on becoming a private personal training, an ACE certification is still essential. While there are other certifications available to help you enter the fitness industry, an ACE certification has set certain standards that people now consider important in the health and fitness industry; thus obtaining this particular certification may be more beneficial than opting for a cheaper or easier-to-obtain option.
Before you obtain your ACE certification, you need to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements. Firstly, you need to be at least 18 years of age and have an official identity document that was issued by your government. Furthermore, you need to have an adult AED certification and an adult CPR certification if you wish to obtain your ACE certification. Once you meet these requirements, you can register at an accredited educational center, where you can complete the ACE exams and obtain your certificate.
5. Join A Fitness Center Or Go Private
Another important decision that you will have to make before you can declare yourself an official personal trainer is whether you would like to join a team at a fitness center in your local area, or rather offer your personal training services to clients privately. There are benefits and some drawbacks to both of these choices. Some people tend to start out by joining a team at a fitness center first, and then later on they might decide to move over to becoming a private personal trainer. The most significant benefit that coaching privately has is the fact that you are able to set your own hours and rates.
6. Customer Services Is Important
Becoming a personal trainer means you will be working with customers all the time - and these customers may be unmotivated obese people who are trying to lose weight. As their personal trainer, you will be required to help get them motivated and to keep them motivated throughout the course of their training program; thus you need to ensure that you know how to deal with customers if you intend to become a personal trainer. This is a very important step as not being able to deal with difficult customers or unmotivated people will get you a bad rep, which means you may not be able to succeed as a personal trainer.
Conclusion
Becoming a personal trainer is an exciting change of career that could not only lead to an increase in your monthly income, but it can also help you change the lives of many people for the better. As a personal trainer, you will help people become fit and lead healthier lives, which contributes towards a higher quality of life and a happier lifestyle for your customers. Not only will this be beneficial for your bank account, but it will also help you feel better about yourself, knowing that you are bringing positive aspects to the lives of your customers.
This guest post was authored by Brian Adam
Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.
