Under Pressure!!! - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[happyhulk]

I just got hired at a gym that I am really excited about, but there's one catch...I am not certified! I told the gym owner that I intend to get ACSM certfied, and he is basically holding a place for me, but the gym opens next week and I don't want to miss this opportunity. They are only hiring 5 trainers for the whole gym and it's a high end facility with great clientelle already built and rarin' to go.

I guess the point of all this is I want to be able to pass as soon as possible and was curious if the three books recommended will be enough to pass. Also, if I'm a fairly good test taker, what is a realistic time frame to burn through this stuff to be uber prepared?

BrianB- I was impressed with your turnaround and have perused the forums looking for any follow up you said you may write regarding your study method. Any tips or ideas? Anything from anyone would be really helpful, though. Thanks!!!

[standAPART]

[quote="happyhulk"]

I guess the point of all this is I want to be able to pass as soon as possible and was curious if the three books recommended will be enough to pass. Also, if I'm a fairly good test taker, what is a realistic time frame to burn through this stuff to be uber prepared? quote]

Question to Dave and anyone else...
do you think it is fair for me to be just a little frustrated when you've been in the field for 10years earning your bread and butter and then read stuff like this??

[happyhulk]

And at the beginning of those ten years, I'll bet you wanted to pass an exam so you could begin your profession as a trainer to earn that "bread and butter." You don't have to be so pious. I'm just looking for some advice, not sanctimonious criticism. I don't know what is so offensive in my post, but my intentions are pure. I love the field, have an incredible opportunity to work with highly knowledgable professionals and hone my skills, yet my wanting to pass an exam quickly somehow frustrates you? Care to clairfy?

[kaiserS]

And at the beginning of those ten years, I'll bet you wanted to pass an exam so you could begin your profession as a trainer to earn that "bread and butter." You don't have to be so pious. I'm just looking for some advice, not sanctimonious criticism. I don't know what is so offensive in my post, but my intentions are pure. I love the field, have an incredible opportunity to work with highly knowledgable professionals and hone my skills, yet my wanting to pass an exam quickly somehow frustrates you? Care to clairfy?

John's a respected member on this forum that gives tons of value so don't flame him -

That being said I'm on your side - just get started any way you can, and course correct along the way - that's one of the good parts about this profession, that anyone can get started from wherever they are - it's a game worth playing and easy to get started, so to speak -

And John, if HappyHulk sucks, clients will just not resign and go elsewhere until he gets better - no harm no foul - there are still too many top trainers setting the standard for this business to take a black eye -

As for your cramming HH, I just found this site which might help you:
http://flashcardsecrets.com/acsm/
I haven't ordered nor have I met anyone that's ordered their product yet so can't endorse them - but they appear to have a money-back guarantee so take a look - good luck!

[kettlebell king]

hi happy hulk,
Can I ask what previous experience you have of training? How do you feel your current knowledge is?
To be honest when I took my exams - and i'm not flying my own flag I didn't have to do revision as the course didn't really teach me any more than I knew already- as training had been my life since I was about 10 and had always been researching this or that and undertaken a physiotherapy degree.Of course there were the minor bits I had to revise to pass the exams but the main bulk of the knowledge had been learned through years of experiece doing and researching- i'm not having a pop at you I just wondered what your background to training is?

[happyhulk]

Thanks for the replies fellas. First of all, I would like to make it clear that I wasn't trying to flame John. It felt like he was implicating my motives without knowing anything about me- my inquiry regarding the content of my post that offended him was sincere, not sarcastic. That said, thanks for the tips kaiserS and kettlebell, I've been training for various sports seriously for probably 10 years. MMA, triathalons, Tough Guy Challenges, along with basic strength and conditioning in the off season. I did a sports medicine internship in school but have been a self study junkie since I was a teenager. I doubt I could waltz in and just ace the exam, but I think I have a fairly strong base over a wide variety of topics. My main concern is whether or not the three recommended texts offer all the info I need to be prepared, and how long the typical study time is for the average joe. Is it unrealistic to study and pass in one month. That's the meat of it. Any ideas?

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Firstly, HappyHulk, congrats on getting hired by this new gym. From your follow up posts I can see what the interviewer must have seen in you: that you have potential, despite not being certified, to be a great trainer. And if you've been involved in those sports over the past 10 years, you probably got "The Look" to bring in clientele. The hiring manager has faith that you will live up to your end of the bargain and get certified as soon as possible.

NOW, That being said, I would agree with John that it is frustrating and this is why: a "High End" gym shouldn't be hiring trainers that do not have at least 1 reputable certification and/or multiple years of experience and/or a college degree in Exercise Science IF THEY WANT THEIR PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE REPUTABLE AND PROFITABLE.

But understand, my frustration doesn't lie with HappyHulk (Yet!), my frustration lies with the owners who hired him, UNCREDENTIALED/UNEDUCATED, probably because "HE LOOKS THE ROLE". I too am guilty of this sin and have been paying for it since my move here to Pittsburgh. LOL

So my advice to HappyHulk is this. Study hard, get certified, own up to your half of the bargain. Then continue to study and be the best trainer you can. Don't just get the certification and train people, continue learning and improving. ASK THE GYM OWNERS WHAT KIND OF CONTINUING EDUCATION STIPEND THEY OFFER!! They should pony up some bucks to keep your skills improving and current.


All the best,

Dave


P.S. - If you get certified and down the road I see your website and your hocking "THE COLON CLENSE DIET" I'll hunt you down and bitch slap you! LOL

[standAPART]

Good post, Dave.

[kaiserS]

Yup, that was tough love but a good post -

[BrianB]

BrianB- I was impressed with your turnaround and have perused the forums looking for any follow up you said you may write regarding your study method. Any tips or ideas? Anything from anyone would be really helpful, though. Thanks!!!

Good luck with the new gig. John and Dave make great points, but (as Dave pointed out) they are really points that your employer should be considering. If you can capitalize on the opportunity, that's great, so long as you can meet your clients' needs and train them safely.

All that said, this post should be more than sufficient to guide your study.

Good luck.