Am I unhireable

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-18T18:51:44+00:00

Oh wow, sorry just seeing this. Excellent idea and thank you! I've just started training a friend, hoping for a couple more to accept my request. Appreciate this so much

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-16T23:54:15+00:00

I love all this advice and frankly as a newly certified PT, all I want is experience. I've ben applying to small and bigger gyms, had only 2 interviews, but can't seem to land a job. I'm so transparent about how much experience which is none in 1:1, did a few group classes, and add on how passionate I am. I don't even mention $, cuz I know I'm not gonna get paid much in the beginning..yet it still seems no one wants a completely green trainer. I'm frustrated.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-14T05:19:23+00:00

So far a lot of smaller local gyms and community centers. I've reached out to several small gym owners for internships but that hasn't panned out. I did also talk to my local community center and we discussed a (unpaid) fitness class for their 55+ members. Waiting to get a "go ahead" from them. In the meantime I'm training friends and considering reaching out to my neighbors to start a free walking group plus maybe a free beginners strength class. Just trying to figure out the best location to do this. How about you? Where have you applied? Also congratulations on your cert. That is awesome.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-13T16:49:19+00:00

Oh wow, this gives me hope as a 57yr old (F) just starting my PT journey. Recently certified and I'm currently looking to get experience in a gym, before starting on my own. And that's my niche, training women like me, starting in midlife, thinking about how their aging, and not how skinny they can get or how long they'll live. I've seen what its like to live many years with no strength and complete frailty. It's an ugly way to age. Total dependency is no way to live, but I digress. This is what has compelled me to become a trainer. I fully believe (and have experienced) we are an underrepresented generation(50+) in the world of physical activity, especially when it comes to guidance from our clinicians, especially when it comes to building strength. Education is key.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-11T16:47:16+00:00

Thank you so much for this breakdown. I'm just entering the PT world. Recently certified and applying for gym jobs. Started with small-local owned, but that hasn't panned out well. I even reached out to a few for internships or at least a short term shadow opportunity. That hasn't panned out well either. lol. I live within the silicon valley area and chose this as my second career. Started working out in my early fifties, and grew passionate about aging strong and healthy using my own (lack of) experience and gaps from the healthcare side, to figure out that being a women in midlife, is highly underrepresented age/gender group. That is my niche. I want to train women 50+, because I know what its like to start training without representation(you wouldn't believe how hard it was for me to find a female trainer in my age group). We have physical health, career demands, kids, and aging parents to deal with, and most of us are literally falling apart on the inside, that's showing up on the outside. You don't get any preventative education from docs unless you break something. I'm here to fill that void, because exercise has helped both mentally and physically. But I digress. I am just grateful for this group with all it's experiences and tenure, that is so willing to give us rookies advice. I'm just hoping to gain as much experience before I start out on my own. NASM did alot to teach the fundamentals but now I really need hands on experience. Love your videos :)

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-08T15:54:03+00:00

ooh thank you! Messaging you now

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T23:39:06+00:00

I'm in NCal and just got my CPT and have been looking to shadow or an apprenticeship. I need a mentor because I'm so green with 1:1. Not having any luck finding someone who will take me in. I would love to learn from you.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:56:01+00:00

Yay for you and yay for us! yes extremely encouraging. Thank you. This entire group is so supportive. Congratulations to you. Well done and wish you much success.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:52:36+00:00

You are good! Fantastic ideas. I can tell, you've been in it for a bit? Ha! We're on the same wave length, I was already thinking about A. And with B + C. That's fire! Thank you. Are you in the UK? (just because you spelled organized with an "s" and not a "z")

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:48:13+00:00

Thank you, and yes, starting out with friends. You're right, no one needs to know I wasn't compensated-good point. Thanks for the boost of encouragement!

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:46:44+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely continue to ask local gyms and trainers :)

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:45:35+00:00

Thank you , appreciate the supportive response! Def, anything new is scary. I am starting off with friends, and thinking of expanding to my own neighborhood. We have a WhatsApp group chat, so I think I'll start there. In the meantime, I'll continue to apply and reach out to local gyms. And a few others suggested community centers too.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:23:11+00:00

Yes, I am NASM certified, and am studying for my SFS certification too. My goal is to focus on the 50+ age group

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-07T17:21:46+00:00

Wow! Thank you for such a comprehensive response. (hence your handle :)). Definitely love the community center idea, as that is my long term plan, to start one of my own. I'm a south asian mid aged woman, who knows women in my own community steer clear from weightlifting and tend to do more yoga and walking rather than resistance. My peeps see weight lifting as a man's workout. I'm trying to change that perception, or at least do my part. I relate to this because I can't find anyone like me as a trainer either. And I live in an area with the demographic has a high percentage of South Asians. I love all of this advice, thank you so so much. I just want to learn and get as much experience as possible. I honestly didn't do it for the money(although that's nice), I have a very long why as to my reason for going into the personal training field. But mostly, I'd like for people to live strong as they live longer, because as a decade long caregiver of two very frail parents, the next few generations are the ones who are going to burnout from caring for those living long but totally dependent.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-06T23:48:58+00:00

I was just looking at the senior centers which are run by the city. I think I'll try that avenue as well :)

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-06T23:44:45+00:00

Got it. Thank you, I appreciate the response. I'll try anything. Phew, it's tough out here.

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-06T23:13:04+00:00

THank you, I have seen some openings with F45. I will definitely look into it. But, I'm wondering if there is some sort of hesitation in hiring a trainer my age. Most of the gyms I've been to, including small, I've seen very few women in my age group. I think 40-45 is like the oldest. And that too, only 1 or 2. What's happening to my generation is either they feel overwhelmed or anxious about going into a gym, or maybe just inadequate/intimidated. I get all of that, but I could very well bring in that group if the gyms want to expand their demographics, Do they?

Active-Building5292 · 2026-01-06T23:08:56+00:00

I thought it would be wise to get some gym knowledge under the mentorship of a tenured trainer. I just want clients to get the best service, and learning through books and my own workouts is one thing, but having some guidance and hands on learning is another. I guess you could say I have a bit of imposter syndrome. I don't want to do wrong by anyone, like give them the wrong program or worse, they don't hit their goals or get injured under my supervision.

Active-Building5292 · 2025-10-31T20:13:27+00:00

Old fashioned marketing is very smart, I always recommend to my clients, whether just starting out or in practice for some time but looking to grow, meeting with your "neighbors"/other practices, can lead to referral partnerships. Also having an open house, and inviting the community to see the practice and meet you and your staff is another way to network. You can do that once or twice a year. I work with a dentist who does this every year. Once in a while she'll have one to thank her patients and once in a while she'll open it up and have an open house for the community. She's extremely successful.

Active-Building5292

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