Having credentials as a personal trainer in today's world, you can think of several job options other than working in health clubs, fitness centers, or your own private studio. It is an exciting time to work in this field due to today’s broad scope of career possibilities. The skills of a personal trainer are required in various other industries, such as healthcare, media, communications, and sales.
Some of these career options may require extra training or additional certifications, but for remaining all, the primary education you need is your certification as a personal trainer. Following are five types of job opportunities for personal trainers.
- Group Exercise Instructor
What gyms always require to lead groups and classes are motivated, qualified, and enthusiastic fitness professionals. Not all people who join gyms like to work individually with a personal trainer. Hiring a personal trainer may be expensive for some of them, whereas others might prefer to be part of a group.
Small fitness groups are also popular, as they get personal attention and get to work in a group at the same time. Trainers can design these semi-personalized sessions for small groups of clients. Trainers guide the group of five to ten people at a time. Being a group fitness instructor, you can also be flexible in leading your own small business or working for a health club.
- Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Coach
The growth rate of careers for nutritionists is nearly equal to the growth rate of careers for personal trainers. Clients are interested in working on their diet, weight, and their fitness goals with coaches or nutritionists. This kind of coaching is similar to and rewarding as helping people work out. Being a nutrition coach, you have to assess new clients, help them define their goals, create meal plans for them, help them learn to make healthier food choices, and also analyze their progress as they take steps to achieve their fitness goals. Although gyms hire nutrition and wellness coaches, you can also work independently. You must have a genuine interest and, of course, a certification in nutrition for this profile.
- Gym Manager
You can opt for leadership roles if you’re eager to get off the mat while still loving the gym. You have the perfect background to run a gym as a certified personal trainer. Manager’s responsibilities include hiring and training staff, daily operations, ensuring the gym is clean and safe, making schedules, and making sure the clients are happy.
You can also start working as a staff trainer and take on more responsibilities, like helping new trainers, opening and closing, or enrolling new clients. Thus you can learn how to become a manager and have the experience required to seek a leadership position, either in a new gym or in your current gym.
- Sales
You can consider selling subscriptions to classes or group sessions, gym memberships, and even gym and workout equipment with your experience and knowledge in fitness and other related topics. You can keep working with people in a different way through this career in sales. Being a salesperson, you can either work at a gym or the corporate headquarters of a gym.
Other options can be working for an equipment manufacturer or even a retail store selling different equipment brands. Some of the sales positions offer commissions for selling products, so you can earn more by selling more. You can build a successful career with a strong work ethic and self-motivation.
- Workout Developer
Being a personal trainer, you know the task of workout development well. You must create individualized workouts for your clients by considering their strengths, limitations, goals, and preferences. Some people don’t work directly with clients; they only design workouts that are more of general programs to suit many people.
For example, workout developers can work for production companies and craft the workouts you see on a DVD. They can choreograph workouts for a gym that offers classes across several locations. Online services that offer general or customized workouts to download also hire certified trainers to create their products.
The job of a certified personal trainer is rewarding and rarely boring. Along with good pay, it offers you stable job security. You can consider the other opportunities mentioned above as per your knowledge and experience to start a new career. But first, get certified! Become a certified trainer by enrolling in our courses at the American Sports & Fitness Association.
