Non-trainers might see a fit, confident person giving orders in the gym and think, "I can do that too." Yet there's more to personal training than being a glamorous dictator. As with any profession, true experts make it look easy. But being a successful personal trainer requires a wide range of preparation, skills and ability, including education and certification, business planning and promotion, and the ability to listen sympathetically.
Why People Hire a Trainer
Just barking out commands isn't enough to make you a good personal trainer. Although a few people might hire you purely to learn the basics of exercise and then head off on their own, many potential clients come looking for your assistance because they've got a problem or goal they need help with. Examples include weight to lose, an injury to rehabilitate or a fitness goal, like running a 5K, to meet. Listening sympathetically to what your client wants and needs -- paying attention to not just what he says but how he says it -- sets you up to be successful.
The Importance of a Label
Getting a personal trainer certification means more than adding a few letters after your name. It educates you about the standards of reasonable care you're expected to provide; potential legal, moral or ethical pitfalls; how to avoid emergencies; and what to do if emergencies happen anyway. Although you might be able to learn these things without going through the certification process, the training involved gives you extra context along with ready links to other professionals. A certification and/or a related college degree is one of the first things that reputable organizations like the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that a potential client look for.
The Business End
Actually guiding someone through exercise is only half of personal training. The other half involves developing a business plan and marketing yourself to clients. Depending on exactly how you set up the business end, you might also need to budget for membership fees in professional organizations; actively advertise in phone books and on television, radio or bulletin boards; carry liability insurance; take continuing education classes; or renew your certification on a regular basis. You might also have to provide basic exercise equipment, like dumbbells and resistance bands, if you work out of clients' homes, or testing equipment like skinfold calipers and a quality tape measure.
Misconceptions
You might expect that being a personal trainer gives you a flexible schedule. That's true to a certain degree, but the reality is that you have to be available when your clients want you, not the other way around. Expect to spend most of your time in the gym during the before- and after-work hours. Develop a cancellation and rescheduling policy, such as charging for a session if the client doesn't cancel at least 24 hours beforehand, and make every client aware of it during your first session.
Factors Beyond Your Control
No matter how hard you work at being professional, competent and approachable, several factors beyond your control might affect whether or not a client chooses you. These include personality -- you won't be a match with everybody -- gender, age and personal history. Some clients specifically seek a male or female trainer, or one in a certain age group, because they feel more comfortable accepting direction from that sort of person. Although some clients may want a trainer who's always been a walking paragon of fitness, others might prefer working with a trainer who's been through, and conquered, her own weight loss struggles -- because they know she'll understand.
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