Becoming a Fitness Instructor advice please

Kildare787

Hi guys,

I would love any information and opinions on this please. I have really gotten into fitness over the past few years. I am a 28 year old male from Dublin (so no spring chicken).

I am seriously considering making a move into the fitness industry and have been in contact with major gym chains to find out about opportunities. I am firstly looking for opinions on a sensible course to do that will minimise my time im college as I want to get working in the industry as soon as possible.

I am looking at the following course that starts in a few weeks https://academy.ie/courses/personal-trainer-and-gym-instructor-course/

From what I've been told the qualifications from this course are considered highly among employees within Ireland.

Secondly, I would like to know if the wages are as bad as people say starting out, and what are the prospects of moving up the ladder within a gym? I would like to work as a gym manager in the long run.

I have had a very difficult few years and the gym has allowed me to find a great deal of happiness through difficult times. This is the only area that now appeals to me where I can see a long term career. I would appreciate constructive comments please. Thanks very much for any input. Paul.

RabbleRouser2k

pj12332 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I would love any information and opinions on this please. I have really gotten into fitness over the past few years. I am a 28 year old male from Dublin (so no spring chicken).

I am seriously considering making a move into the fitness industry and have been in contact with major gym chains to find out about opportunities. I am firstly looking for opinions on a sensible course to do that will minimise my time im college as I want to get working in the industry as soon as possible.

I am looking at the following course that starts in a few weeks https://academy.ie/courses/personal-trainer-and-gym-instructor-course/

From what I've been told the qualifications from this course are considered highly among employees within Ireland.

Secondly, I would like to know if the wages are as bad as people say starting out, and what are the prospects of moving up the ladder within a gym? I would like to work as a gym manager in the long run.

I have had a very difficult few years and the gym has allowed me to find a great deal of happiness through difficult times. This is the only area that now appeals to me where I can see a long term career. I would appreciate constructive comments please. Thanks very much for any input. Paul.

Since when is 28 'no spring chicken'? Even if you said 48, I'd be raising an eyebrow.

You're a bit vague about the troubles you've had in the last few years, and that's totally fine (I'm not gonna press further) but if there were major health problems, or even psychological ones, would it be worth consulting someone just to make sure things don't get too hard on you? It's important not to dive into something and then find some issues rear their ugly head again. (I speak from experience).

There's an older thread from 2014 where people discussed this-it can be quite a lucrative field, charging anywhere from €40 to €80 per hour. Sometimes you may have to travel for work, so be prepped. Working in a gym can be a little tougher, so again, it all comes down to practicalities.

I think this thread goes into greater detail.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057236288&page=2

I hope this helps.

Transform

pj12332 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I would love any information and opinions on this please. I have really gotten into fitness over the past few years. I am a 28 year old male from Dublin (so no spring chicken).

I am seriously considering making a move into the fitness industry and have been in contact with major gym chains to find out about opportunities. I am firstly looking for opinions on a sensible course to do that will minimise my time im college as I want to get working in the industry as soon as possible.

I am looking at the following course that starts in a few weeks https://academy.ie/courses/personal-trainer-and-gym-instructor-course/

From what I've been told the qualifications from this course are considered highly among employees within Ireland.

Secondly, I would like to know if the wages are as bad as people say starting out, and what are the prospects of moving up the ladder within a gym? I would like to work as a gym manager in the long run.

I have had a very difficult few years and the gym has allowed me to find a great deal of happiness through difficult times. This is the only area that now appeals to me where I can see a long term career. I would appreciate constructive comments please. Thanks very much for any input. Paul.

what are you currently earning in your job or have earned in the past? Per year roughly?

Do the elite fitness and performance 6 week or 2 week course but overall the course matters less than your level of enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Looking the part and walking the talk helps lots

Every gym and fitness course provider will tell you its all sunshine and rainbows, its not. The want to sell you a course or get you on staff they can rotate every 12-24months after they burn out

The wages are worse than what people say, if you work in a big box gym as a fitness instructor i.e. on staff to only help out on the floor and reach multiple classes per day (8-9hr shift) and dont do personal training then id be stunned if you were on any more than €25,000 per year, if you want to do personal training then is usually something you'll have to schedule outside of those hours, hence making your day longer and more draining - but hey do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life and all that motivational cra$

Gym manager - I don't know any earning more than id say €40,000 per year.

90-99% (im pulling these numbers out of my bu$$ yet i can see whats happening in the industry) of those that will qualify from ANY course will either never work in the industry or will work in it for 1-3yrs then drop out to get a non-fitness job.

The most common complaint big gyms have right now is finding enough staff that are willing to teach 2 classes per day 5-6 days per week for minimum wage because all they really care about is the classes being covered - they will in no way care about your further development and many will try to restrict it e.g. if you do start doing personal training they limit what you can charge.

There are very very few brilliant coaches out there making a great living and those that are generally have their own private facility and work their socks off daily.

The industry is massively over romanticized because it suits the narrative of those on insta and bookface telling everyone how amazing their life is (BTW thats then used as promo material for the course providers) when in reality the ones that are really making money are too busy to get involved with gross self promotion and are 100% focused on getting more clients and keeping the ones they have.

I might be painting a bleak picture here but its better to go into this with your eyes open and not get a few years down the line having earned less than you did in your last job and then have to climb back up the ladder in an industry that's going to have moved on since you last left it.

Finally, i worked in a commercial gym for 6-7yrs (age 21-28ish), finished as the head trainer for the chain and was earning €19,500 per year and that was at the peak of the Celtic Tiger.

I rarely went out socially because i was living week to week, was totally burnt out and fatigued.

Roll on 20yrs (42yrs young)- I work just as hard but smarter, manage my time with the sole purpose of spending more time with my family and ensuring I can pay my VAT and end of year tax returns on time. #fitfam #gymlife

freemenfitness

All of this ^ also any cert you get its just paper working will teach you 100 times more than any cert will.

Kildare787

Transform wrote: »

what are you currently earning in your job or have earned in the past? Per year roughly?

Do the elite fitness and performance 6 week or 2 week course but overall the course matters less than your level of enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Looking the part and walking the talk helps lots

Every gym and fitness course provider will tell you its all sunshine and rainbows, its not. The want to sell you a course or get you on staff they can rotate every 12-24months after they burn out

The wages are worse than what people say, if you work in a big box gym as a fitness instructor i.e. on staff to only help out on the floor and reach multiple classes per day (8-9hr shift) and dont do personal training then id be stunned if you were on any more than €25,000 per year, if you want to do personal training then is usually something you'll have to schedule outside of those hours, hence making your day longer and more draining - but hey do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life and all that motivational cra$

Gym manager - I don't know any earning more than id say €40,000 per year.

90-99% (im pulling these numbers out of my bu$$ yet i can see whats happening in the industry) of those that will qualify from ANY course will either never work in the industry or will work in it for 1-3yrs then drop out to get a non-fitness job.

The most common complaint big gyms have right now is finding enough staff that are willing to teach 2 classes per day 5-6 days per week for minimum wage because all they really care about is the classes being covered - they will in no way care about your further development and many will try to restrict it e.g. if you do start doing personal training they limit what you can charge.

There are very very few brilliant coaches out there making a great living and those that are generally have their own private facility and work their socks off daily.

The industry is massively over romanticized because it suits the narrative of those on insta and bookface telling everyone how amazing their life is (BTW thats then used as promo material for the course providers) when in reality the ones that are really making money are too busy to get involved with gross self promotion and are 100% focused on getting more clients and keeping the ones they have.

I might be painting a bleak picture here but its better to go into this with your eyes open and not get a few years down the line having earned less than you did in your last job and then have to climb back up the ladder in an industry that's going to have moved on since you last left it.

Finally, i worked in a commercial gym for 6-7yrs (age 21-28ish), finished as the head trainer for the chain and was earning €19,500 per year and that was at the peak of the Celtic Tiger.

I rarely went out socially because i was living week to week, was totally burnt out and fatigued.

Roll on 20yrs (42yrs young)- I work just as hard but smarter, manage my time with the sole purpose of spending more time with my family and ensuring I can pay my VAT and end of year tax returns on time. #fitfam #gymlife

Jesus that's a lot of food for thought. Thank you for the great reply. I am currently working in retail so making feck all. I want to make a career out of something, but unfortunately this area seems to be so badly paid I am not sure what to do.

I graduated with another compelely unrelated degree in the downturn and never got going with it. The passion and knowledge to work in the old area is not there anymore. After graduating initially I lost a lot of confidence and got quite down as I couldn't get work in that area.

Joined the gym two years ago. Lost 55 pounds slowly but surely and love to train. Definitely don't know it all but I'm learning as I go. Doing a course in this area might just be a romantici idea as I fell in love with training in hard times. That's why I've wrote the post here to get some clarity. From your post and what I have read it sounds like it will be very difficult to make any type of decent wage out if it. ..

Will have to have a good think. The elite fitness course is quite expensive too, although it looks very good from everything I've read. Can I ask, did you stay in the fitness industry in the end? After all that time and the bad money. Did you stay?

Paul

COH

pj12332 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I would love any information and opinions on this please. I have really gotten into fitness over the past few years. I am a 28 year old male from Dublin (so no spring chicken).

Hardly long in the tooth either! I was 26 when I started working in a gym (ten years ago now :eek: )

I am seriously considering making a move into the fitness industry and have been in contact with major gym chains to find out about opportunities.

Staff turn-over is commercial gyms is huge - you shouldn't have a problem getting your foot in the door somewhere.

I am firstly looking for opinions on a sensible course to do that will minimise my time im college as I want to get working in the industry as soon as possible.

If you are working somewhere already I would suggest keeping that on and doing the fitness thing part time at the beginning.

I am looking at the following course that starts in a few weeks https://academy.ie/courses/personal-trainer-and-gym-instructor-course/

Another +1 for Elite in Blackrock from me

From what I've been told the qualifications from this course are considered highly among employees within Ireland.

I don't think it really matters what one you have as long as it means you can get insurance to train people.

Secondly, I would like to know if the wages are as bad as people say starting out, and what are the prospects of moving up the ladder within a gym? I would like to work as a gym manager in the long run.

The wages are worse now than ever with the growth of the unpaid internship. Most entry level roles beyond that are minimum wage.

I have had a very difficult few years and the gym has allowed me to find a great deal of happiness through difficult times. This is the only area that now appeals to me where I can see a long term career. I would appreciate constructive comments please. Thanks very much for any input. Paul.

Training in a gym and working in one are completely different kettles of fish. Most gym instructors positions are just sales/cleaning roles with the odd class thrown in.

pj12332 wrote: »

I am currently working in retail so making feck all. I want to make a career out of something, but unfortunately this area seems to be so badly paid I am not sure what to do.

I made a career (touch wood) in fitness - ultimately a very rewarding way to make a living if you can stay the course. I'm not so sure there's going to be much difference in your day to day or income if you choose to get involved in the management side of things in a gym VS the management side of things in retail.

I graduated with another compelely unrelated degree in the downturn and never got going with it. The passion and knowledge to work in the old area is not there anymore. After graduating initially I lost a lot of confidence and got quite down as I couldn't get work in that area.

I was doing a PhD in history/politics when I started working in fitness :pac: Had dreams of lecturing and running government policy etc. Then the arse fell out of the country and I got bored of sitting in archives looking backwards.

Joined the gym two years ago. Lost 55 pounds slowly but surely and love to train.

Awesome achievement - well done

Definitely don't know it all but I'm learning as I go. Doing a course in this area might just be a romantici idea as I fell in love with training in hard times. That's why I've wrote the post here to get some clarity. From your post and what I have read it sounds like it will be very difficult to make any type of decent wage out if it. ..

Just be very clear from the start - working in a gym has nothing to do with your own training but your own journey will certainly be a benefit to you if you end up working with people with similar goals

Its not easy making money in any industry really - like anything the harder you work, the luckier you get. If you're keen for a new challenge then as I said earlier I'd look at doing it part time to subsidise your income at first. If you like it, go full time when it makes financial sense.

Work with other coaches who are a few steps further down the same road, learn how to sell yourself, expect the first couple years to be pretty sh*t and don't buy into the my-perfect-life fitspo idiots on the internet, most of them still live at home.

Best of luck with it