I have applied to several fitness consulting firms for personal trainer positions. In a consulting fitness company, managers usually send out trainers to train clients in their homes. The interview process was rather intense comparing to the ones given by corporate gyms such as Equinox and New York Sports Club, where they basically tell you that you will be paid minimum wage cleaning and putting weights away while prospecting your clients in the first phase of being a personal trainer. In the process of interviewing with my first consulting firm, I have gone through three stages of the interview with them and just finished the final stage where I had to give a training session to one of its clients. Designing a program that fit the potential client was rather interesting and simple. However, once I had started my simulation of training a client, I made many mistakes along the way: not timing the session well, not getting enough feedback from the client, and not being able to explain the biomechanics of human body relative to the exercises. I failed miserably…I wouldn’t hire me if I were the founder of the firm.

I have eventually gotten over my frustration and embarrassment. My interview experience with the first consulting firm was invaluable. I have learned my weaknesses and strengths; a personal trainer not only has to be “personal” to his or her client, but he or she has to hold the profession to its highest standard by designing exercise programs that could benefit clients’ physiology, physical, and performance within a specific time frame and help them reach their goals.

Good luck to all of you who are inspired to be personal trainers. Don’t be discouraged if you have had bad interviews. Remember, you are about to become an educator, coach, and best of all, consultant for anyone who needs your help and advice. You are accountable to your clients’ health and weight management. A bad interview is merely a stepping stone to improve your skills.