One question many trainers ask is whether you should work in a gym to gain experience when you first become a trainer, or if you can just skip this step and go straight to being independent. In general, you should try your best to get out of the toxic work environment of the big box-gyms. However, it turns out that working at one of these gyms may serve a purpose after all. They’ll help you gain some quick experience before you make the jump to doing things privately, outside of one of these “fitness factories”.
Sure, you could get this experience “in the field” by getting and training your own private clients … but if you want more of a structured environment to practice, the gym is OK for a short time.
And add to that the fact that practically every successful trainer did start out in a big gym, at least for a little while. If you’re into that “success leaves clues” stuff, then there might be something to this.
So here’s how I feel about the subject – if you’re going to do the time, you might as well do it right.
This article is here to help – it’s your health-club survival guide. If you’re slaving in a gym right now or just getting started in training, this post will help you make the most out of the health-club experience so you can exit with the skills necessary to conquer your area once you’re out.
Rule 1: Lead Your Platoon
Let’s face the facts – major health-clubs are unscrupulous sales factories, and the people that choose to work here aren’t really in a good place in their lives. Yes there are certainly some high quality people in these gyms, but they seem to be few and far between.
Keep that in mind when you go in – that you’re looking for experience, not a social circle. Do not believe or buy into anybody else’s negative influence. Everyone here is convinced that you can’t make it on your own, and for good reason – that’s why they keep working there! So keep your plans of going solo to yourself, and in the meantime, be the leader. Show them what being a pro is about.
Rule 2: Master Your People Skills
While a base of technical knowledge is necessary in personal training, the most important thing you can do is master your skills in dealing with and training people. I’m a big believer that the fastest way to learn something is to actually do it.
Do whatever you can in order to get the word out about your service.
· Offer Free Body Fat Promotions and Fitness Assessments
· Try to Offer Special “Trial Packages” to get clients in the door.
· Become known as a specialist (ie fat loss, elderly clients, bodybuilding)
Using these tricks will get you out in front of people and get them talking about you. This is what you want as a personal trainer.
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