All trades and professions have advantages and disadvantages, but some people love their job so much the downsides are insignificant.
Being a personal trainer is no different, there are good and bad things associated with the job.
The Good Things About Being a Personal Trainer
Ask any personal trainer what some of the best things are about the profession and many of them will tell you it can be the unique relationships you form with your clients. As you get to know them, sessions become more than just talking about exercises and diet. Because you are not connected to anyone else in their life, they can be open and honest with you.
Although it might seem unethical, there are not actually any rules against relationships with clients, and it is not unusual for romance to blossom when someone has been personal training at the same place for a long time. Knowing you are helping people to become fitter and healthier is a big plus for this job, which has gotten popular enough that there are even specialised websites where you can find personal training gigs, such as The Fitness Associates. Fitness fans tend to fantasise about becoming trainers, as you have the ability to help clients change their lives and be more fulfilled, and each time you help someone achieve reaching their goals, it will give you a feeling of achievement too.
For some people when they become a personal trainer they have turned a passion into a career, and any job you enjoy that much has to be good. The job opportunities in this line of work are endless. You could be employed in a gym, a health club, a sports club, a hotel or on a cruise ship, or you could become self-employed and work for yourself. There are several ways to get the qualifications you need to be a personal trainer, you do not need to have a university degree.
Personal trainers often have a brilliant perception of time. Sessions can involve counting reps and circuits, and after a while, it can become second nature, with surprising accuracy.
The Bad Things About Being a Personal Trainer
You may think the hours you work as a personal trainer is up to you, and to some extent they are. Clients will expect you to be available early morning, in the evenings, and weekends. They do not want to be training in their working hours so will need to fit their sessions in around their other commitments. This can play havoc with your social life.
When you are socialising, people will start to ask you how they can get fitter, what they should eat, and other general health and fitness related questions. They will not consider that you have been working all day and are now trying to relax, and will probably take no heed of what you are saying anyway. If they were really that interested, they would be a client.
Do You Want To Be a Personal Trainer?
Overall, there are more upsides to being a personal trainer than downsides, and it is a profession that many people are very happy in. It’s a great way to keep yourself fit and healthy whiles earning your living, and there are not many jobs you can say that about.