You did it! After lots of hard work and commitment, you completed your certification or exercise degree. Working in the fitness industry is something you’ve wanted to do for so long, and now it’s here. But, now what? How do you actually get started on your career path as a fitness trainer?

If you’re ready to find work or simply just exploring the fitness and nutrition industry and wondering how to get started, this article is for you! 

Follow along as we share some of our top tips on how to find a job in the fitness and nutrition industry.

Top Jobs In The Fitness And Nutrition Industry

If you’re still trying to decide what career path is best for you in the fitness industry, you’re not alone. There are so many incredible roles that allow you to help people and do something you’re passionate about. Check out our guide on how to get the best personal training jobs.

So, before we unravel the tips on how to find jobs in the fitness & nutrition industry, here are a few of top career opportunities in the fitness industry for you to explore:  

  • Certified Personal Trainer
  • Health Coach
  • Group Fitness Instructor
  • Nutrition Coach
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Registered Dietician
  • Life Coach
  • Health Educator

7 Pro Tips On How To Find Jobs In The Fitness & Nutrition Industry

As you start your search for the right job opportunity, here are 7 tips that can help you find the job you want in the fitness and nutrition industry.

1. Refine Your Resume

Your resume should be a quick snapshot of your education and experience. As a first step to the job search process, you should have a clean an updated resume that highlights you and your skills.

However, as a newbie, it can be a challenge to highlight your skills and experience when you’re just getting started (i.e., you have little to no experience). A mentor or a professional resume service can help you showcase the skills you do have and why those are important for the role you want. Read more about these fitness resume tips.

In addition, it’s important to keep in mind, details like spelling, punctuation, and how you articulate things in writing are incredibly important. If those resume writing skills are not your forte, consider asking a mentor for help or hiring a professional resume service.

2. Use Online Platforms

Although sometimes the online application process can be a black hole, using online job sites is a great way to learn more about companies that are hiring, review the job description, explore potential salaries, and understand the overall opportunity. 

If you’re finding that the online application process doesn’t open many doors for you, you can also try to identify the hiring manager or point of contact for the job position and reach out to them directly. 

Job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster and Glassdoor are all potential platforms you can use to explore the career opportunity you want.

3. Drop Off Your Resume

As previously mentioned, some job sites can be a black hole. So, although online submissions have gotten easier, your resume and application may not always make it into the decision maker’s hands. If that’s the case, one of the best pieces of advice is to physically bring your resume to the location where you’d like to work.  

If you’re a newly certified personal trainer, bring a copy of your application and resume into the gym where you want to work and ask to speak to the hiring manager, personal training manager, or fitness director. Use the brief time with them to showcase your personal skills, interest in working for them, and passion for personal training. If you have your own personal fitness journey, make sure you share it. And, don’t forget to use that time to commit to an appointment with them for a face-to-face interview. 

4. Be Professional

A common mistake that many newbie fitness professionals make is being unprofessional (in person or online). The way you talk, walk, dress, and interact with others is important if you are going to be working with their client base. Professionalism is of the utmost importance.  

Here’s an example of this common mistake in action. A personal trainer may make the assumption that it doesn’t matter if they show up post-workout and in gym clothes for a personal training interview. However, appearance and attire are incredibly important when you are representing a fitness facility and working closely with clients. You aren’t going there to work out; you’re going there to help clients as a fitness professional.  

So, whether it’s for a first interview or you’re just dropping by to share your resume, it’s important that you dress and represent yourself professionally the entire time. 

5. Get Your Foot In The Door Early

As you start to prepare for your new role in the fitness world, it’s always a good idea to get your foot in the door as soon as possible. If you have the chance to do so while you are studying, even better. 

For example, suppose you are working on finishing an exercise science degree or a course to become a health coach. Most facilities aren’t going to hire you as a health coach until you’re done with your certification course. 

However, you can consider speaking to the management team at the facility you want to work for. You can discuss your desire to work for them, explain where you are at in the learning process, and determine if they have an entry-level role that would allow you to start working with them and learning some of the ins and outs of the business.

This could mean you reach out to the gym or facility you want to work for a see if you can:

  • Take a part-time front desk position
  • Work as a cafe and nutrition attendant
  • Answer phone calls or organize paperwork
  • Become a part of the sales team
  • Guest teach or become a substitute group fitness instructor

Not every facility will have these types of opportunities, but it never hurts to ask. And, it can make for a smooth transition into the role you really want as soon as you’re ready.

6. Become A Member

If you’re not already, consider becoming a member at the gym or facility where you want to work. Becoming a member can help you connect with some of the other fitness professionals, take an exercise class with a current fitness instructor or personal trainer, and identify who the best points of contact are to speak with at the gym for a job opportunity. 

This may also allow the fitness manager to notice you or become more familiar with you. They may observe how you interact with potential clients, how you focus on proper exercise form and your passion for taking good care of your body. This can be a great way to get in front of the right people to get hired (and, the bonus is you have a place to get in your own exercise).  

7. Network

Actively networking is a great way to make new friends, business contacts, and find new opportunities. Whether in person or online, connecting with other people in the fitness and nutrition roles you admire (or roles that are in alignment with the career path you want) is a great idea.  

These types of relationships can be ideal for support, navigating challenging aspects of the career, referrals, and even potential opportunities. So, make sure you take the time to build strong connections. 

Are passionate about helping others and hoping to find a role in the fitness industry? The world of fitness and nutrition is big, so there’s more than just one job. This makes it so you can carve your own path and future, depending on what you value most. Regardless of the job you’re looking for, you’ll need (at minimum) a personal training certification. Most successful personal trainers also have a college degree. At Lionel University, you can get both in the same program. This means you don’t have to invest additional money on expensive certifications. Regardless of whether you’re pursuing an associates degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, at Lionel you earn multiple certifications and specializations along the way. This means you can start working on getting that dream job before graduation day. And, with the help of financial aid, earning your exercise science degree is even more of a possibility. 

Check out our programs and contact Lionel today