I got f---ed at Bally's, advice?

[casualbb]

Okay, all preconceived notions aside, I was ready to give Bally's a chance. Sure they're corporate whores, but that doesn't really distinguish them from the rest of the chain gyms. But now I have actual reason to hate.

As some of you may know, I was trying to get a job as a personal trainer. I'm NASM certified, which is arguably one of the most cutting-edge certs and is known for having one of the toughest certification exams (which I got 100% on btw). I actually started looking for PT positions. I interview at 5 different clubs, all of which rejected me on the basis that I wouldn't have enough time (I go back to school mid-august), but my local Bally's didn't seem to mind. I end up going through literally 2 weeks of interview process. I did the initial interview, the audition, even a day of training only to show up today for the last bit of training and have them pull the same shit on me. So now I'm jobless.

My first thought was, "okay, who can I train independently and where can I do it?" The answers were "barely anybody," and "nowhere legally."

I only have like 5-6 weeks left in my summer, and right now I'm inclined to forget about pt'ing right now and just get a temp job for 8-10/hour.

Anybody a PT? Anybody have any sort of advice?

-casual

 

[pwr_machine]

I'm NASM certified, which is arguably one of the most cutting-edge certs and is known for having one of the toughest certification exams (which I got 100% on btw).

I'm not familiar with this certification. Can you tell me more about it? Was it an online course? Had a workshop? Included a practical exam? It appears to me that most quality gyms are looking for ACSM or NSCA certifications. I'd consider an additional certification if you're looking at a career as a personal trainer.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

temp it broly. timing doesn't seem right. you still have the cert. you still have the option.

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

get the equipment & train at your house... youll make bigger bucks training independently anyway. Advertise in the local papers, mail flyers, get a website going-- seriously, your prob better off unemployed than training at Ballys.

 

[jerkbox]

well, someone looking to hire a personal trainer would probably be looking to do it longer than 5-6 weeks.....I'd think it would be more of a long term committment, building a client base and repeat clients, etc.


not really a temporary 5-6 week kind of job in my opinion

 

[Nonerz]

are you planning to work during school at all?

 

[casualbb]

Yeah I'm gonna try to train part-time during the school year. Maybe 4-5 clients. I was really trying to get some experience so I have a better chance of being hired by my school gym.

jerkbox - yeah I know The whole college thing doesn't lend itself to training too well

 

[pwr_machine]

Yeah I'm gonna try to train part-time during the school year. Maybe 4-5 clients. I was really trying to get some experience so I have a better chance of being hired by my school gym.

jerkbox - yeah I know The whole college thing doesn't lend itself to training too well

I'm currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Performance, and still train clients regularly. With good time management, you can pull of study and work. And, of course, working out!

 

[casualbb]

That would be optimal -- because even at relatively low wages as a PT it still beats the crap out of every other possible job. And then the longer I do it the more I can charge... I see myself helping to pay for med school with PT money.

 

[Scotsman]

Another way is to go to your college gym and see if they need people. We had a large training staff back when I was in school. Also I used to charge people just for setting up their program and then they had the option of retaining my services on a regular basis or just checking in once in a while.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[pwr_machine]

Low wages? It's good money!

 

[casualbb]

lol I mean relative to most PT's. $25/hour is pretty much as low as it gets as a PT (unless you work for 24-hour fitness), but that's still over twice as much as any other job I could get.

 

[slinky]

Re: Re: I got f---ed at Bally's, advice?

I'm not familiar with this certification. Can you tell me more about it? Was it an online course? Had a workshop? Included a practical exam? It appears to me that most quality gyms are looking for ACSM or NSCA certifications. I'd consider an additional certification if you're looking at a career as a personal trainer.

Have to agree with pwr_ machine. NSCA is considered to be a more reputable cert. As a matter of fact, a good friend of mine is now certified via NSCA and is talking to Adidas.

Not bad, say I.

There are other places besides a commercial gym for you to obtain/train clients. Ya just need to get creative. Another friend of mine began "Fitness on Wheels" where he'd bring all the training to his clients' homes. He had a big van that contained everything that he used. Plus, alot of his clients had nice beeeeg homes with beeeeg yards (and lots of $$$), so he was not limited to what training options to provide. Pretty cool.

 

[magman1]

even if you got hired at bally's, ud have to get certified through their company(which is probably a fuckin joke) which would take time anywayz...and at school...most of the gym jobs go to kineiselogy(sorry bout sp.) majors, through like internships and what not...if you're really into PT, try and get with a corporation(like bally's) when you got a lil more time, so you can build up some clients, and branch out and meet people

 

[reggc]

Bally's is bullshit, I use to work for them bitches until i got smart and started training on my own, at bally's you make your fitness managers rich, while they sit on thier ass, and most of the fitness managers were im from aren't even nationally certified.

 

[casualbb]

NASM offers live workshops and online. I took the online because I couldn't afford to wait for the next scheduled live one.

The test is two part. First, a 100-question multiple choice exam on general biology, physiology, nutrition and then also the specifics of NASM-style training. Second, a case study. I had to design workouts including all of the following: warmup/cooldown, balance, core, reactive, and strength work. This was done for a randomly chosen case study. I had to do three workouts: one to be performed immediately (client is beginner w/postural issues), one projected 2 months in the future (different phase of training, assume postural problems are fixed), and one 2 months after that (a new phase).

It's probably not as popular as NCSA or ACSM but with those who do know it it's just as highly reputed if not moreso.