Career Change - Advice Please

GreenSaints

Hi all,
I really need some advice on this and hopefully you lovely people will be able to help

I really want to become involved within the Health and Fitness industry, particularly become a Personal Trainer. At the beginning of the year, I attained my Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification, and am going to take my Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification at the end of the year.

i always said that I wouldn’t leave my current job (which I’m not happy in at all) until I have cleared all my debts. Well, with a lot of hard work, I’ve managed to only have one ‘real’ debt (apparently my student loan isn’t a real one and I keep convincing my mum my debt to her isn’t real either! ) which I will clear by July (maybe sooner, but it’s 0% so I don’t have to if I don’t want to, but it’s been like that for 7 years!) so I’m in a position to start seriously looking into this as a full time career.

The problem I have is that I have not had any working experience in a gym environment. I have spoken to my Council and asked about jobs in their facilities, but there are none. So I could try independent gyms but I’m worried because of my age (27) and my lack of experience I will get nowhere.

I did come up with an idea of saying that I would work for free on the weekends to gain some experience, but I haven’t sent anything out to anyone. Do you think this is a good tactic? Also, when I’m qualified as a PT, technically I can go self employed and it doesn’t matter if I haven’t been working in a gym, though it would be a good way to see what other PT’s do and again, gain some experience.

What do you think? Any advice would be great.

Thank you for your help in advance