How should I get experience?? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Sybil]

I just passed the ACSM test for personal fitness trainer but am clueless as to what's next. The text for the test doesn't really prepare you to actually go out and take on a client. I am waiting for one of the trainers from a local gym to contact me so I can shadow them but no one has so far. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get hands on experience to actually start training? I would really appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!!

[portlandGymRat]

Keep going to gyms, all of them in your area, and hound them to let you come and shadow for a few weeks. Tell them its for school, or that tell them the truth. Either way just keep at it. If that gym at your gym still hasn't got back to you, them move on.

Look on the internet and see who is training in your area and tell them your situation, then ask if you could shadow them, but before hand smother them in compliments, remember we trainers are very vain and relish any personal compliment handed to us (LOL

It never hurts to ask and KEEP at IT!!

good luck

[Sybil]

Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate your thoughts.

[northwestpt]

Most of the guys in the gym i work in do work experience for a few months and then progrees up to gym instructor working for the gym and then usually go freelance as a personal trainer.

[SeanM]

I suggest training someone for free to start. I got certified in 2008, and obviously, it was a lousy time to be looking for a job, especially with no prior experience. I had others on here suggest that I try training a friend or two for free just to say I had some experience, so I did. Afterwards, I had an interview and explained how I was training for free and was commended for it, and landed the job. I'm thankful I took a couple hours out of my week to volunteer my time, because it really paid off. Best of luck.