Personal fitness trainers come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. Some use fear or intimidation to get their clients on the treadmill. Some tap into your emotional side to help you realize the reasons behind why you're overweight. Whatever the personality, personal trainers help people learn how to work out properly to achieve certain weight loss or fitness goals and get on the track to better overall health.
Features
Personal trainers work with individuals or small groups to create and execute customized workout plans to help participants achieve specific fitness results. The job may also entail keeping a detailed record of results and goals for each client. Trainers help ensure their clients are exercising safely and using proper technique to get maximum results from their efforts. Although they are not nutritionists, personal trainers may also dispense general advice for how and what to eat to maximize the effectiveness of the training provided.
Preparation
Most personal trainers are required to hold certification from a professional fitness program such as the American Council on Exercise or the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Some gyms or fitness centers may require their personal trainers to hold a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as physical education or exercise science, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of the nature of their work, personal trainers must be familiar with and teach their clients how to use a range of exercise equipment, from treadmills and elliptical machines to free weights and medicine balls.
Benefits
Rather than sitting behind a desk or on an assembly line, personal trainers are up and active most of the day, attending to the needs of their individual clients. Personal trainers also receive discounts or free passes to the fitness center or gym where they work. Personal trainers can also find clients on their own, giving them the ability to set their own prices and hours and be their own boss.
Considerations
Although not usually a written requirement, most effective personal trainers are in top physical condition themselves, making their advice and instruction more credible. Being a personal trainer also often means being able to sell yourself or the gym you work for. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that large fitness clubs often require personal trainers to speak with prospective customers and make a certain number of sales per month. Because of the different needs of different clients -- one may need to lose weight while another is looking to build muscle -- personal fitness trainers must be well-rounded and able to adapt to their clients' exercise and fitness needs.
Compensation
The amount you can make as a personal trainer depends largely on the amount of time you put in. Many personal trainers bill their clients per hour or are paid by the gym they work at per hour or per session. According to the American Council on Exercise, the average certified personal trainer in the United States who works full time makes $25.71 per hour. Part-time personal trainers average $25.14 per hour and usually work about 16 hours per week.
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