Training as a PT- potholes

ztan

Morning MSE crew.

Here's my dilema in short.
I work a normal 8-5 job at the moment, permanent, pretty bad pay but it covers me. I do not like my job- at all. I'm bored and my company refuses to allow me any room to manouvre etc.

I am a complete fitness and gym fanatic and have been contemplating training up to become a Personal Trainer.
This is my ideal job. (I say ideal because I don't know what my "dream" job would be)

I've been researching it, and have even applied via a few sites for courses to train up. The biggest problem is the money!

It costs aprox £3k to train up... and thats if you pay it all in one go! I was quoted finance on a course last night at a shocking rate of 39% over 36 months, meaning I would have repayed £5k for the pleasure of training.

After that I would then be subject to rental fees of £133 a week to work in a gym- although some reductions are available if you do some of their inductions and classes for them.

I really want to change my career path- I'm 24 now and apart from my mortgage I've got free rein.

Does anyone know of a cheaper/better/ more effective way or have any suggestions on how they would do this?

I would love to be able to save up for a few months and then do this- but I'm already saving 30% of my wages which is every spare penny I have, as I have to save for a deposit on my next house. (Different story- have a thread on MFW but lets just say my other savings are essential)

Caroline_a

Different gyms charge different rates - £133 a week would be a drop in the ocean in London! To be honest you have be very very good to make it in PT these days - lots of youngsters coming out of uni having done sports science degrees, add on a college course in PT, and massage - and to be honest, people are cutting back on PT costs, so you often end up just working reception duties in a gym.

Ask yourself how many people you know use PTs. Then go and have a look around a few gyms locally as a 'look to see what's there' and see how many PTs are actually doing what they are trained to do, rather than inductions or reception duties. That might give you a good idea as to whether it's a service that's required in your area or not.

I would say that I know a lot of PTs through the coaching that I do - and only one is making any sort of profit. The rest are having to do other jobs to pay their rental fees... The one who is making a profit has been doing it now for around 8 years, and is a born salesman.

teaandcakeordeath

I don't know where you're based in the country but I have experience of someone close to me being a PT (trained through Premier). He started work just as the recession really started to bite. The first thing people stop spending on is life's luxuries and unfortunately that meant him. He originally was self employed in his own studio but had to close as was not making enough after costs. Went to a gym and lasted about 6 months not making anything really. It may be different where you are but in the North West it's not brilliant.... The competition with the PTs in the gym is fierce and the turnover is high- tells you that they aren't making enough to justify fighting for every client...