When you're trying to land a fitness internship, it can be difficult to know where to begin. There are so many options out there and so many different places that might be hiring—it's easy to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, if you know what you're looking for and how to go about finding it, your chances of securing an amazing opportunity increase significantly. Here are five tips that will help get your foot in the door:
Make a short list of reputable training centers, gyms and sports facilities in your area and contact them directly.
- Don't just rely on job boards. You're going to get a lot of responses from these, but it's likely going to be a lot of the same thing over and over again. Instead, make a short list of reputable training centers, gyms and sports facilities in your area and contact them directly. These companies know what they want from an intern and will likely be more than willing to help you find something that suits both parties' needs.
- Don't be afraid to reach out to the company directly -- especially if there's no posted position available online yet! Most times when I've done this (and I've done this plenty), I've been able to secure myself an interview within 24 hours or less.
- Don't forget about friends and family connections either: they may know someone within one of those companies who could give you insider info on what kind of person they're looking for as well as tips on how best prepare yourself before applying.
Don't just send your resume; create a personal cover letter for each company.
A cover letter is an opportunity to show the company that you're interested in their internship program, and it's something that should not be taken lightly. You can send a resume without a cover letter, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, creating one will help your chances of securing an interview by making sure that the company knows why you're interested in working for them and what makes you unique compared to other applicants.
It's important that your cover letter focuses on why they should hire YOU specifically. It shouldn't just be generic fluff; instead, take time out of each day (even five minutes) during which time all of your energy goes into writing this document so it reflects who YOU are as an individual as well as shows off some of your skillsets or talents while highlighting how those relate specifically back onto what they need done at work during their busy days when hiring new employees!
If you have time, it's always a good idea to make an in-person visit to the facility you're applying for.
If you have time, it's always a good idea to make an in-person visit to the facility you're applying for. You can get a better idea of the culture of the place and ask questions that might not come up in an email or phone call. If there are multiple people working out at once, it's also easier to see how they interact with each other and whether or not they would be supportive of someone new joining their group.
It's never too early to start thinking about what kind of position would be right for your goals, interests and skillset; but don't worry if this isn't something that comes naturally yet! Once you do find something that appeals most strongly though (and especially if it aligns closely with more than one item on our list), then go ahead and apply!
Follow up after sending applications.
Follow up after sending applications.
- Don't be afraid to ask for feedback. If you don't hear back from the company, it's okay to send an email asking for feedback on why they didn't select you or what could be done better in future applications.
- Don't be afraid to follow up with a different person than the one who originally responded. Sometimes the hiring manager is busy and doesn't have time to respond right away (or at all), but another member of their team may be more willing to help out! And if that doesn't work...
- Don't give up! If there's one thing I've learned during my time as an intern, it's that sometimes things don't go according to plan - but there are always other opportunities out there if this one doesn't pan out like we hoped!
Be realistic about what kind of opportunities can be found in your area.
Be realistic about what kind of opportunities can be found in your area. Most internships are unpaid, but even if you do find one that pays, it may not be enough to offset the cost of living. If you live in an expensive city or have other financial obligations like student loans or rent, then an unpaid internship might not be worth it for you.
Many fitness internships are only available to college students who have completed their coursework and have been accepted into graduate programs at universities with relevant degrees (i.e., masters in kinesiology). If this is the case for your dream job and they only accept applicants from specific schools--or even just one school--then consider applying there instead!
It may take some time, but if you are patient and persistent, you can find some great internships!
As you can see, it may take some time, but if you are patient and persistent, you can find some great internships!
You will need to do some research into your local area in order to find these types of opportunities. Once that is out of the way, all that remains is to apply for them and wait for responses! Good luck!
Conclusion
If you're looking for a fitness internship, it's important to remember that there are many opportunities out there. You just need to be patient and persistent in your search. If you follow these tips and do some research on your own, then I'm sure you'll find an internship that fits your needs perfectly!
