Recently qualified personal trainer looking for advice

denvey

Ok so as the topic says I recently passed the NTC course and I am just looking for some advice from some seasoned pro's on how to get myself working!

I have applied for a million jobs on jobs.ie without getting so much as a email back. A friend of a friend who runs a gym looked over my cv and he said its a good cv so i dont think thats the issue. Any of you emplyed in gym type people able to tell me the best way to grab your attention?! Should I start just turning up to gyms in person to hand them in?

As money is tight I am also considering just trying to go as a freelance for the cash in hand. Once I have my insurance etc set up anyone know some good ways to drum up business??

i'm thinking flyers at the usual haunts,supermarket bulletin boards dart stations and maybe dropping leaflets to estates in bulk? Anyone know if this actually works?

All i can think of off the bat,any help would be really appreciated!

Zamboni

denvey wrote: »

I have applied for a million jobs on jobs.ie without getting so much as a email back. A friend of a friend who runs a gym looked over my cv and he said its a good cv so i dont think thats the issue. Any of you emplyed in gym type people able to tell me the best way to grab your attention?! Should I start just turning up to gyms in person to hand them in?

Rather than approaching them for a job why don't don't you approach them to set up in their gyms?
Plenty of gyms will let you 'rent' to operate on their facilities.
Be a business man. Not an employee.

denvey

i'll defo try that out,get some prices etc, do i not need to have like a solid base of clients first or do the gyms provide them for me at a commission?

Colm_OReilly

As far as I can see the only way to truly make money for yourself is to be independent. However that's also the way that requires the most work.

Think of everything you can do to promote yourself, and look to polish every aspect of your business. What's your voicemail like? How do you answer the phone? How do you handle people haggling on price? Who do you want to work with?

I'm just throwing random questions at you here as it's still early and I'm pre-Coffee but they're important considerations.

Another option would be to get in touch with the top places/trainers around and see if you can intern with them. Better yet, book and pay for a session and use it to pick their brains. Have questions printed out that you want answered.

Oh, and it's going to be harder than you think.

Best of luck,
Colm

The Davestator

Op- in order to start working as a pt youll need some on the job experience. My advice to you is contact your local gym and offer to work for free for experience.
This will allow you to do some programmes, assessments, shadow trainers etc. 10 hours a week would be plenty I'd say.

mgmt

Start a boot camp in your local park. Seems to be the "in thing" atm. Could be a nice little earner with little overheads.

marathonic

denvey wrote: »

i'll defo try that out,get some prices etc, do i not need to have like a solid base of clients first or do the gyms provide them for me at a commission?

I'm not in the industry at all. Just thought I'd chime in to ask what your opinion would be of having free taster sessions - say three free sessions.

If I was offering this, I'd have a stipulation that they must be used within 3 weeks. If you get established and a proper client list, you don't want the initial dropouts coming in 6 months time looking for their promised free sessions.

I know that if this were offered in my gym, I'd jump at the opportunity and would definately continue if I thought the trainer was capable enough.

Hanley

marathonic wrote: »

I'm not in the industry at all. Just thought I'd chime in to ask what your opinion would be of having free taster sessions - say three free sessions.

If I was offering this, I'd have a stipulation that they must be used within 3 weeks. If you get established and a proper client list, you don't want the initial dropouts coming in 6 months time looking for their promised free sessions.

I know that if this were offered in my gym, I'd jump at the opportunity and would definately continue if I thought the trainer was capable enough.

Definitely go for this idea, but don't be surprised if you're met by resistance from management and any existing trainers that are there.

Actually, to be honest, I'd be VERY surprised if you could just offer free sessions to anyone in a gym with trainers already established in it. You may get away with doing it as part of a series of sessions tho - ie buy 2 get 1 free or whatever.

cmyk

denvey wrote: »

Ok so as the topic says I recently passed the NTC course and I am just looking for some advice from some seasoned pro's on how to get myself working!

Though I'm certainly not a seasoned pro (or anything like it) but being further down the road than you my advice is read, watch, ask questions, keep reading, keep learning and then learn how to teach.

By learn to teach I mean, get some hands on experience, this is different in practice. You've got to be able to cue people and understand how they move (or can't move). I got some experience covering for another trainer, though it's unpaid experience for me, the clients don't know this, which doesn't de-value you either. I'd be against offering any service for free for a number of reasons.

As others have said, go and work/shadow someone and see how it's done, you should find it very easy to find somewhere to get an internship, but it's probably a necessary step to build some experience/confidence/find out if you're cut out for it or actually just any good at it.

denvey

some very good advice cheers guys, ye im reading up all the time as i feel my knowledge is defo basic and no where near amazing! I feel pretty confident in certain areas such as strength and conditioning but not so good in say sports specific stuff or recently injured clients.

anyone know if this is a good book,im planning on ordering it http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1931046018/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A227IF3H19YZOU

cmyk

Excellent book, good reference tool. It's really just all his web articles strung together but one of the best buys I've made.

Cape Clear

denvey wrote: »

I recently passed the NTC course

Hi is this the course? http://www.ntc.ie/fitness-courses
I've been looking into doing this course myself. Is in essential to be currently working in the fitness industry? Also it mentions the following Students on the National Qualification in Exercise, Health
Studies and Personal Training course must complete and record
An additional eight hours per week of independent study and
Practice in order to support the learning experience gained
During tutorial hours. What qualifies as study and practice? Thanks for any information.

denvey

That is indeed the course!! The workbook is the 8 hour yolk their on about.Its easy,basically your given work to do at home as revision in the form of a workbook,they then sign off the work as you do it and by the end of the course you hand them the book towards your final exams,easy peezy!!

Cape Clear

Thanks. What's your view on the course having completed it? Is it worth the money in your opinion?
Thanks again

denvey

To be honest its hard to say as its the only personal trainer course i have done so i cant compare it really to others,also until i get some real work i cant say how well prepared i am. Tho in saying that i really feel very confident that i would be a good trainer. the only scary aspect would be if i got a job tomorrow and had to teach an exercise to music class in the next few days!!

I did love the course though,the trainers are all friendly and really know their stuff both the theory/practical side of things and the business.