A question about Personal Training...

[Nortyneil]

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to this board, but have been reading it for a few months now, and wow the knowledge is amazing. I'm currently doing a degree in policing at university, but having second thoughts as to if I want to continue, as the Police Force over here in NSW, Australia is fairly underpaid (as in most cases around the world) and a fairly stressful job, as well as the hours (4 x 12 hour shifts, then 4 days off). A friend of mine said I should maybe look into a career in Personal Training or something similar, as I love my sport and I'm really getting into working out at the gym/eating clean etc.

I've spoken to one of the staff at my gym, and he used to be a personal trainer and said that the hours can be fairly hectic, being up for 6am starts, working with a few clients and then having the rest of the day off until the evening, for example 4-5pm and then working with a few more clients. However he said the pay can be fairly rewarding, especially if you're decent.

Anyways, my question is really does anyone have any further knowledge or input into the subject of Personal Training? Further Pros and Cons? ALSO, what type of areas of work can you get into?

To be honest, I haven't really done a lot of research on the topic, but thought that this forum would be a great start as a source of information thanks in advance

- Neil

[yakky]

Why not do both? With 4 days off you will have plenty of time to do personal training. Don't give up on something you've already worked towards. Sounds like you are worried about $$$. Well neither of those jobs is a big money maker, maybe you should pick up a guitar or basketball.

[CrazyR]

Originally Posted by Nortyneil

but having second thoughts as to if I want to continue, as the Police Force over here in NSW, Australia is fairly underpaid

is money your only motivation?

i'm not saying it isn't important (and we each see these things differently) but i need to be happy in what i am doing and need to find my job rewarding above all else before money becomes a concern

so just consider your feelings and go for what means more to you

I've spoken to one of the staff at my gym, and he used to be a personal trainer and said that the hours can be fairly hectic

why did he stop? ask him that and you will get a better idea of the pros and cons.

it all depends where your working and if you are working for someone or for yourself

the pay can be good but it can also be very average

if you are working for yourself then you need to consider that establishing a name and a client base can be really hard work and you may do it tough for some time

consider also related costs... insurance is a biggie

in Australia you will need a certificate III in fitness as a minimum to work in most gyms

if you go this route i'd be working at a gym first as a trainer before going out and doing the personal training thing

[CrazyR]

Originally Posted by yakky

Why not do both? With 4 days off you will have plenty of time to do personal training. Don't give up on something you've already worked towards. Sounds like you are worried about $$$. Well neither of those jobs is a big money maker, maybe you should pick up a guitar or basketball.

i tend to agree here

i have a friend in the vic police doing exactly that - theres nothing wrong with 2 jobs

[jimovertx]

Thats crazy. Personal trainers here in Houston easily make 30-40k a year even more. I would know because I worked through a trainer, I'm going toward a bach. in exercise science, and also because Houston is known as the fattest city in the US. So if you want to make a good money doing personal training and enjoy the benefits of helping people out move to Houston.

jim

[ajarvis]

Originally Posted by jimovertx

Thats crazy. Personal trainers here in Houston easily make 30-40k a year even more. I would know because I worked through a trainer, I'm going toward a bach. in exercise science, and also because Houston is known as the fattest city in the US. So if you want to make a good money doing personal training and enjoy the benefits of helping people out move to Houston.

jim

I'd have to agree with you, the regular personal trainers where I work make around $2000 every two weeks! That's because they have regular clients that they train all the time. Other trainers here make a lot less, because they don't have regular clients or don't want regular clients. It also has to do with different qualifications, while one trainer charges out at $85 dollars we have others that charge out at $65. I think it's all about your goals and when your willing to work. I know quite a few of our trainers that are starting to train regularly started out with a job somewhere else until they had built enough clients to train full time.

Amanda