KEY POINTS:
Name: Hayley McCracken
Age: 24
Job title: Fitness instructor
Working hours: 40 hours a week in shifts
Employer: Configure Express; other gyms
Pay: $10 to $20/hour depending on experience
Qualifications needed: certificate, diploma or degree in exercise science, leadership or physical education.
Career prospects: personal training, lecturing, own business, PE teaching, sport promotion organisations
Describe your job?
We take people for tours of the gym so they can see if they want to be a member and we take their fitness assessments. That means asking health-related questions, doing their body stats, discussing their goals and whether they've been to a gym before and whether they got what they wanted. We also talk about nutrition, when they can come in and what they'd like to do. We show people the correct technique on the gym equipment and support them. We do reviews with them, monitor their progress and offer ongoing support and motivation throughout the gym. We're always out there in the gym to make sure everybody's got correct technique. I'll be taking an aerobics class. We also do reception and admin-type work.
Why did you choose the job?
I've always been interested in this area. I love working with people and I really want to help them. I'm interested in women's fitness and their general health. Weight loss is a big thing for a lot of people. I did an AUT Diploma in Fitness last year and I got to do a lot of practical work. I volunteered at the YMCA so I got a lot of work experience. I play social sport - netball, tennis - and have an active lifestyle but I haven't done anything to representative standard. I also train regularly in the gym.
What areas could you develop?
I'm only just into this job so right now I'd like to get as much experience as I can. I'd quite like to learn more about pre- and post-natal health and fitness and there are a few other areas I'd like to study so I can add to my knowledge.
Is there a typical day in the job?
It varies. Last week we were flat out with appointments - assessments and showing people around. Today it's been a bit quieter so I've been doing more cleaning and talking to people working out in the gym.
What are the essential qualities of a fitness instructor?
You need good communication skills, and to be physically fit, co-ordinated and healthy. You need to want to help people, be caring, enthusiastic, motivating, supportive and have a good knowledge of health and fitness. People's whole lives are going on outside the gym's doors and you need to be aware of that.
What's your job hunting advice?
It's good to do work experience to see what the job is all about before committing to a year of study. It's advisable to research courses to make sure you get a good base of knowledge. You also need to be passionate about helping people and care about helping them reach their goals. You can look online and in newspapers for jobs and I went around handing out my CV in case anyone had any openings. You need to make sure your CV goes to the manager and not just the receptionist. You'll find something as there is a growing demand for fitness instructors and there are a lot of other options in the industry.
