Switching careers can be scary. The idea of walking away from the certainty of your current role and stepping into the uncertainty of your next can be daunting.

However, you shouldn’t let fear stand in the way of your dreams. If fitness is your passion and helping others reach their goal your dream job, then read on and use our guide to help you make the transition to personal training.

Research

It goes without saying, that having a good understanding of the industry you are looking to move into is a good idea.

Before anything else, talk to people in the industry to get a greater understanding of the culture, the ins and outs, working conditions, future prospects, opportunities and potential challenges.

Whilst researching, look at where and how you might be able to fit into the industry. Do you have specific transferable skills, do you have something that will help you establish yourself quickly?

Talk to PTs and anyone else in the industry and find out what they have done in their career, how they progressed and take on board any tips they can offer.

Have a Plan

You want to get out of your current career and into your new one fast, we get it. But there’s no point diving in without some semblance of a plan!

Get the template right and a career transition will be more successful for you. Think, what’s the goal? Have in mind where you would like to be and how you would like your new career to progress and use that to create a route map. Add some milestones and you will have a plan to follow that will guide you to your final goal.

If you set yourself SMART goals, you can track your progress regularly and see where you are in your plan. As you transition from one career to another you can update/adjust goals based on how the career switch is going.

Read more about SMART goals

Creating an adaptable plan will help you to track your progress and shape your goals. Be certain to have some flexibility though, as you can’t anticipate everything. Should you hit a setback, don’t let it consume you. Go back to the plan, make adjustments and carry on.

Get Qualified, Get the Skills

You’ve talked to people in the industry, you’ve mapped out your plan and you know how you want your new career to progress, now it’s time to get the qualifications that will enable you to work with clients.

Getting your qualifications doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your job. If you have the financial security and support to do this, then by all means do. Our full-time course will get you qualified to the highest standard quickly and will give you plenty of contact time with tutors and other learners.

However, if you need to work while you study, there is an option for you. Our part-time courses can be completed over weekends or weekday evenings.

If that doesn’t work, then the TRAINFITNESS distance course will allow you to learn at your own pace in your own time and offers the perfect blend between your current working life and your new one.

While balancing study with work and a personal life can be tough, it is not impossible. If you have the drive and want to make the switch you can do it.

With planning, understanding from friends and family and commitment to study, you can get qualified and make the switch to a career as a personal trainer.

Read more about distance study

Get Some Experience

Ok, granted this is a tough one to achieve, but if you can get a little bit of experience on your CV before you move from your current role you’ll be setting yourself up nicely.

Experience doesn’t have to be hands on coaching experience. You can’t do that anyway. But it can take the form of shadowing a PT. Have you got a friend who might be willing to let you shadow them? Have you used a PT who could help you out? You could consider asking your gym if you could shadow some PTs.

While it’s not hugely important to have experience when you switch to a career as a personal trainer, it can help. You will learn on the job and gyms know you are coming into the industry with little practical knowledge. They will train you and help you learn beyond your qualifications. So, while it’s not hugely important to have experience when you switch careers, it can help

A little bit of time spent shadowing PTs will go a long way to helping you understand the career and set yourself apart from the competition.

Make the Switch

It’s scary, nothing will ever really prepare you for when the time comes to make the change, but this is what you’ve worked for. Be prepared for a lower income when you first get started, be prepared for some long, frustrating hours, be prepared for a lot of hard work, but don’t let that stop you from making the leap.

You’ve got the qualification, you’ve put in the hours of learning and shadowing. You’ve asked all the right questions and you’ve made a plan.

Accept that it’s going to take some time to establish yourself in your new career, but remember, this is the career you want. It’s work you love doing and it’s going to make you happier in the long run.

Believe, plan, work hard, keep learning and enjoy the ride!

Never Stop Learning with CPDs

The TRAINFITNESS Experience

Marketing Your PT Business

The post Career Change – Step by Step Guide appeared first on TRAINFITNESS.