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Your first day as a waiter wouldn’t be at a 5-star restaurant, neither should your first day as a personal trainer be at a boutique gym with nine members. If you want practice memorizing orders and uncorking champagne without succumbing to the urge to spray it like you’ve just won the Super Bowl, you’d be wise to get the kinks out at Applebee’s before applying at Le Bernardin. Just the same, if you want experience as a personal trainer, you should work at a big box gym before rolling solo.

In today’s blog, we’ll learn why that repeated wisdom remains true still to this day.

Diverse Clientele: A Broad Spectrum of Experience

One of the biggest advantages of working at a big box gym is the diversity of the clientele. These gyms attract a wide variety of people — from beginners looking to get in shape to seasoned athletes refining their performance. This variety provides personal trainers with the opportunity to gain experience with different types of clients, each with unique goals, fitness levels, and physical conditions.

Training such a diverse clientele allows you to become a more well-rounded and skilled trainer. You’ll encounter clients with various challenges, such as injuries, chronic conditions, or specific fitness goals, which will push you to develop a versatile skill set. This exposure is invaluable in the early stages of your career, setting you up to handle a broad range of client needs in the future.

Learning Environment: Growth Through Collaboration

Big box gyms often employ a large number of trainers, creating a competitive yet collaborative environment. This setting is perfect for personal trainers looking to accelerate their growth. The opportunity to observe, interact, and learn from your peers can help you level up quickly.

There are endless examples from history of “ecosystems of excellence.” This is where an improbable percentage of high-performers can be traced back to the same place. For example, if 80% of Broadway performers trained at the same theatre, it would be considered an ecosystem of excellence. This strongly suggests that competitive environments sharpen the skills of everyone within them, giving you more reason to get hired at a box gym.

Experience and Opportunities: Building a Client Base Quickly

One of the key challenges for new personal trainers is building a client base. Big box gyms, with their high foot traffic, offer countless opportunities to interact with gym-goers who may not yet have a trainer. The constant influx of new members means there’s always a pool of potential clients.

In these environments, you have the chance to practice your sales and communication skills regularly. Whether it’s offering a free consultation, demonstrating exercises on the floor, or simply engaging in conversation, every interaction is a potential opportunity to secure a new client. This experience is crucial for honing the soft skills that are just as important as technical knowledge in the personal training industry.

Energy and Vibe: Staying Motivated in a High-Energy Atmosphere

The energy in big box gyms is unmatched. The buzz of activity, the fitness classes blasting 90’s music, and the constant flow of people can create a dynamic and motivating environment. For personal trainers, this high-energy atmosphere can be infectious, helping you stay engaged and enthusiastic about your work. The last thing you want to do is start treating the gym like an office. You need to keep the spirits high to land clients.

Career Growth: Structured Support for New Trainers

For those new to the industry, big box gyms offer a structured environment that can hold your hand toward success. These gyms typically provide marketing support, a steady stream of potential clients, and often have established systems in place for client management and scheduling. This structure can help new trainers focus on developing their skills and building their reputation without the added pressure of managing the business side of things from day one.

Also, big box gyms have clear career progression paths, allowing you to advance within the company. Whether it’s moving into a management role, specializing in a particular area of fitness, or even transitioning to a more independent or entrepreneurial path, starting in a big box gym can open doors to a variety of career opportunities in the fitness industry you’d otherwise have no access to.

The Trade-Off: Pay vs. Opportunity

While the pay per hour in big box gyms may be lower compared to boutique studios or independent training, the volume of clients and opportunities often compensates for this. The experience, client base, and professional growth you gain in a big box gym can lay a solid foundation for a successful and lucrative career. Over time, as you build your reputation and client list, you’ll find yourself in a strong position to earn higher rates, whether you choose to stay in a big gym or branch out on your own.