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| Source: Google Images |
Personal training is a great career field but like anything else in life, there are pros and cons. Personal trainers usually set their own hours, but on the flip-side, we have to work long hours to get by. Most personal trainers work split shifts to cater to their clients who what to workout early in the morning and those who want to workout in the evening. The split shift is great because it enables a trainer to get things done during the times that they do not have scheduled appointments; the con to working the split shift is BOREDOM. (I know you're probably thinking.."I can just workout"...TRUE...of course you can work out but there is a such thing as too much exercising in one day!) Once the boredom sets in, money tends to find its way out of your pocket and into someone else's. Spending money on unnecessary things like food, gas, toys and whatever else you can buy to pass the time until your next client arrives. (this can get very ugly if you have multiple gaps of time throughout the day). The goal is to keep more than you spend, but if you have more breaks than clients......
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| Source: Google Images |
Ok now that the split shift is out the way, lets talk about appreciation! It is always a great feeling when clients appreciate your efforts in helping them live healthier lives, however, most trainers across the industry are under-appreciated due to the fact that people think that personal training is not a "REAL JOB". You'll get questions like "What do you really want to do?" or "Why is personal training so expensive? (Translation - You're just a personal trainer, why should I pay you $X.00?!) Yeah, that's what they really mean, but wait, what about the people who are more than ex-jocks who couldn't "cut it"; what about people who have bachelor or masters degrees, or what about trainers with the best certifications in the country...OH WELL. You really have to prove yourself, personal training is not a job that has perceived value, YOU have to create and show others how valuable you are.
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| Source: Google Images |
Next on the list, most trainers do not have benefits. Majority of personal trainers do not work a 40 hour a week job, in reality most work upwards of 60 hours a week and still can't afford benefits. There are some gyms that offer decent benefits to personal trainers, but it is rare. No benefits means, not just medical, it also means sick time, meaning that if you are only making enough to get by, the only thing that can stop you from going to work is a nice suit and a pine box. No benefits also means no 401k, and if it is available, more than likely you're not thinking about "when I'm 59", you're probably thinking about I have to work 5 to 9 to pay my bills.
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| Source: Google Images |
Working 5 to 9 (more than likely a split shift with many breaks in between) can get OLD fast! That brings up something called "TRAINER BURNOUT" yeah, trainer burnout is the feeling that you get when you want to walk away from the industry. You start to ask yourself questions like "Is it really worth it?" "I'm working all these hours and getting nothing out of it, can I really see myself doing this for the rest of my life?" THIS is trainer burnout, and it can happen very quickly if you are not careful about the amount of time that you spend training clients.
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| Source: Google Images |
Like I said earlier personal training is a great career field but like anything else in life, there are pros and cons. There are many good things about leading people to living healthier lives, but you have to know what it takes, and what you will go through in pursuit of a successful career as a personal trainer. Weigh the pros and cons and decide, but know that IF you do decide to become a trainer, more than likely, in the beginning, you too will be a "Broke Personal Trainer" climbing the mountain called success!
