Looking for a job with a future? This series profiles in-demand careers and expanding professional fields. Here's our latest pick:
Personal Fitness Trainer
What's involved:
Part motivators, part Energizer Bunny, personal trainers help gym-goers shed their stubborn flab and reach their full fitness potential.
In this job, you work one-on-one with clients to determine their goals and create routines to get the job done. From explaining how to perform a perfect sit-up, to demonstrating the proper use for a kettleball, it's your task to keep clients safe, engaged, and in shape.
Each person comes with a special set of circumstances—like previous injuries or personal preferences about different types of exercise (no stair machines!)—so you need to be both a great listener and an effective motivator. Also, while you're not required to have Jillian Michaels' rippling abs to be a good role model, you should lead a healthy lifestyle.
Why the job outlook is good:
As more people and businesses begin to recognize the mental and fiscal benefits of a healthier population, the demand for fitness workers is on the rise. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects this field to grow by a whooping 29% in the coming years.
What training you need:
Before hitting the gym as a trainer, you’ll need to get certified—just make sure to choose a program that's nationally accredited. (It's a great idea to call a gym where you'd be interested in working to find out their exact requirements.) In addition, most positions require first-aid or CPR training.
Show me the money!
The BLS puts the average salary of a personal fitness trainer between $16,000 and $62,000.
Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover and pursue a career that excites them. Check out the website for more information on personal fitness trainers, or join in the conversation on Twitter.
