Career help please!

[aqrojase]

Hey team, I got my bachelor degree in Business Management, but with this economy can't seem to land a good gig. I am thinking about getting in to the personal training business. Possibly work at a Golds Gym at first. Now I am looking into the Nasm Certification. For anybody that has experience in this or knows about it, what are some of the steps I should take to be sucessful at this..and what can i earn.:

thank you!

 

[BLACKCAT]

I know you said you have your degree already but if I had it to all over again, I would have gone into nursing or some other form of the health care field. PT, PTA, or even respiratory therapy are great professions. I know people might say differently, but I know some people in these fields and they have great hours and jobs. Just my two cents.

 

[aqrojase]

yeah i made the mistake of going into Business managment, i guess i was just in a rush to get a Degree, young and stupid. I would have done Nursing, pt or even pharmacy. Now i am stuck, need to restart over again. I am doing some research on personal training and i am hearing things like..i am better off having many certifcations and others saying i am better off with just one good certifcation like Nasm. I am confused! i pretty much am always giving advise on nutrition and working out to friends and people i know for free. They seem to be getting good results from my advise..so thats what got my interest in it for a possible work.

 

[ericraven2003]

Hey team, I got my bachelor degree in Business Management, but with this economy can't seem to land a good gig. I am thinking about getting in to the personal training business. Possibly work at a Golds Gym at first. Now I am looking into the Nasm Certification. For anybody that has experience in this or knows about it, what are some of the steps I should take to be sucessful at this..and what can i earn.:

thank you!

I trained for 9 years before I got into real estate. I have friends that are trainers now. They said traing sales are way down. People don't have extra money for it now. I was making 60k 10 years ago doing. Some of my friends that are doing it now are lucky to make 30k. I wouldn't go into it right now.

 

[aqrojase]

thanks bud! this is tough times, so it does make sense that people are not getting trainers. You did good though with 60k!

 

[overman]

advanced degree

Truthfully, rethink returning to school. An MBA will open several opportunities and as already mentioned, healthcare is a safe bet. Engineering is growing with INCREDIBLE opportunities- engineering and business is a damn good combination. You may have to relocate (texas, wyoming, alaska, etc) but these industries offer generous financial packages.

~Two years of pre-reqs in health sciences (organic chemistry, biochem, A&P) plus experience = acceptance into a Physician Assistant program.

If you are still motivated, pharmacy is a damn good option. Tough curriculm and somewhat of a mindless job but pays well. Obtain your personal training certifications in the meantime.

 

[dukebrown]

Sales is always looking for people. If you can stick it out for 1-2 years on a base + commission, do not take commission only jobs, for those companies value you as shit, but a revenue vehicle for themselves.

It will give you a greater understanding of other types of industries as you solicite sales, and hey you may pop in the door of your dream job and just not know it yet. If you can concure sales you can do anything. Remember the number 1 rule is a customer buys from somebody he/she feels they can trust.


Do not limit yourself because you are scared of the unknown or afraid to fail. If you can hit the gym you can knock on some doors and slam some sales.

 

[btech]

Have you thought about becoming an Officer in a military service? Would be kickass to have on a resume.

 

[triathloncoach]

My 2 cents

I have an MBA. If I had to start over - undergrad degree in 1985 , and had an interest in fitness I would look into a management training program at one of the large national gyms. Either as an entry level club employee or a home office position. And then work my way up.

I was NASM CSCS, - not too tough to get. Find out if personal training is the way to work your way up in those organizations. In my limited exposure tho', it appears the large national gym organizations require their trainers to have undergraduate degrees in fitness/health related majors.

As btech said, being a Junior Military Officer (JMO) is a great experience that employers will respect for the rest of your life. But I would not want to risk my life for the freedom of the Iraq or Afghan citizens. Even though they love (killing) us so much.

 

[ericraven2003]

Sales is always looking for people. If you can stick it out for 1-2 years on a base + commission, do not take commission only jobs, for those companies value you as shit, but a revenue vehicle for themselves.

It will give you a greater understanding of other types of industries as you solicite sales, and hey you may pop in the door of your dream job and just not know it yet. If you can concure sales you can do anything. Remember the number 1 rule is a customer buys from somebody he/she feels they can trust.


Do not limit yourself because you are scared of the unknown or afraid to fail. If you can hit the gym you can knock on some doors and slam some sales.

Very true. I have always worked on commisssion. Some people are just afraid of it. If I was the opener, I would possibly look in the pharmecetuical sales. Use start fairly low, but after a few years you can make a regular 80k a year. I love real estate, can be big money, but now is not the time to get in with no experience.

 

[Emery]

Licensed Nursing Home Administrator

yeah i made the mistake of going into Business managment, i guess i was just in a rush to get a Degree, young and stupid. I would have done Nursing, pt or even pharmacy. Now i am stuck, need to restart over again. I am doing some research on personal training and i am hearing things like..i am better off having many certifcations and others saying i am better off with just one good certifcation like Nasm. I am confused! i pretty much am always giving advise on nutrition and working out to friends and people i know for free. They seem to be getting good results from my advise..so thats what got my interest in it for a possible work.

Since you have an education in business, check out what your state requires to get licensed as a LNHA (licensed nursing home admin). Good money, benefits and there is a shortage of good administrators. You would land a good paying job right off the bat. Requirements for licensure are usually a Bachelor's and going through "administrator in training", which is usually several hundred hours of working with an Administrator as a sort of practicum or internship!

Worth checking into!

 

[aqrojase]

Great information everyone. This site is doing a lot for me then just getting me big hah! Great to see all the inputs, I am looking into a sales position, possibly a banker at a bank. I am just a little scared of sales, but just need to get over it. I have heard a lot about pharmacutical sales, but i hear its a tough gig to land with out major sales experience under your belt. All the ideas are great...def going to look into them. Thanks again buds!

 

[RV63T]

I trained for 9 years before I got into real estate. I have friends that are trainers now. They said traing sales are way down. People don't have extra money for it now. I was making 60k 10 years ago doing. Some of my friends that are doing it now are lucky to make 30k. I wouldn't go into it right now.

this is the truth win times are hard they cut what is luxury not necessity.
but its something to have in your back pocket for extra cash.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Since you have an education in business, check out what your state requires to get licensed as a LNHA (licensed nursing home admin). Good money, benefits and there is a shortage of good administrators. You would land a good paying job right off the bat. Requirements for licensure are usually a Bachelor's and going through "administrator in training", which is usually several hundred hours of working with an Administrator as a sort of practicum or internship!

Worth checking into!

Do you know how you find the internships? I live in Oregon and this seems like a great job. I have a BS in Business and can't find any decent jobs, too.

 

[Emery]

Do you know how you find the internships? I live in Oregon and this seems like a great job. I have a BS in Business and can't find any decent jobs, too.

You would have to call around to some of the local nursing homes and ask to speak with the administrator. Ask him/her how to go about setting up the training.

Make sure they(facilities) are reputable and good ones though. My administrator accepts administrators in training several times per year. The last one he trained went on to land a pretty good job!

 

[aqrojase]

Are there any particular experience they require from you before they take you onboard for training. I don't have any managment experience..but do have BS in Business Management. I am pretty interested in this also.

 

[using999]

Do not limit yourself because you are scared of the unknown or afraid to fail. If you can hit the gym you can knock on some doors and slam some sales.

^ I agree 100%, just because your degree is something specific you can most certainly get many jobs within our even outside that area. Hit up the interviews, what's the worst that will happen, they will say no thanks? bigg deal

 

[Nardz]

Dude if you have a business management degree then you have an advantage.

With PT you have to make do with what you got...economy may not be good but that doesnt mean there is no work in PT...you just have to target a certain market like those who have jobs and can afford it.

Its all about marketing which I'm sure you have great knowledge on.

You may also want to look into Physio therapy and look into networking your business with Doctors and anyone else thats in that field of work.

Networking your business is a huge part of this.

 

[HUGEME]

I'm going back to school right now because the market for Personal Training is crap.. But of you want to do training, don't get certified through NASM.. Do it through ISSA.. Its more widely accepted and the best one.

 

[Steve123]

OP,

I'm in the same boat. 15 years of business experience and I can't find a job right now. Financial Services is dead unless you want to sell. I tried that and hated it. THe only difference between your big Wire House Financial Advisor and the guy selling used cars is a couple of Financial exams. You can only sell over-priced solutions to unsuspecting clients for so long before the mirror you look into every day cracks.

I'm considering going back to school for something health related. In fact, although the pay is as bad as it gets, I may become an EMT and work my way to the EMT-P (paramedic). In the meantime, I will take courses to become either a Physical Therapist, Dietician/Nutritionist or even Nursing in a Trauma Center (not sure yet on that). I'm 41. It's never too late. The way I see it, 5years of so from now, regardles of age, we will still want to be employed and like what we do.