Tips for Your Personal Training Interview

There are so many elements involved in landing a fitness industry job. You need credentials and training, experience, and an obvious passion for the work. Then, you have to jump through hurdles, like crafting a great resume and giving a good interview. 

It’s this last element of job hunting that makes a lot of people nervous. The key to giving a good personal training interview is practice. Anticipate the questions you’ll be asked and practice your answers, and you’ll be a step ahead of the competition. 

Do Some Research Before the Job Interview

Landing a personal trainer job interview is just the first step. Now you need to put in the work to ensure it goes well and you have a good shot at getting the job. This starts with doing your homework. Research the gym (or other employer) you are interviewing with. 

Knowing crucial details about the gym will help you give a better interview. Understanding the gym’s culture, client base, and offerings tells you what kind of candidate they want for the open job. You can then tailor your answers to show the interviewer you are the right candidate.

If the gym has a good website, that should be enough to learn what you need to know. You can also check out their social media pages. It’s also a good idea to go to the gym ahead of your interview to get a feel for it. 

Just got certified? Here are some ideas to get you started as you search for your first personal trainer job. 

Personal Trainer Interview Questions to Practice

These are some common questions you might be asked in an interview for a personal trainer job. Talk to other trainers about their interviewing experiences and add any other questions you can think of. Then, practice your answers. 

General Questions

These are questions about yourself generally, about your relationship with fitness, and your career choice. 

• Why did you want to become a personal trainer?

• What is your personal experience with fitness? 

• What are your career goals for the fitness industry? 

• Do you follow any fitness influencers? 

• What is your personal training or workout philosophy? 

• Describe some good and bad experiences you have had working out in a gym or with a trainer. 

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

Experience Questions

The real meat of the interview should be about your experience in personal training and fitness. 

• What relevant certifications do you have? 

• Do you have a college degree? If so, in what area of study? 

• Have you worked as a fitness trainer before? 

• If not, what experience do you have helping people with their training? 

• Why did you leave your last fitness job? 

• Do you have any experience recruiting new clients?

In-Depth Questions

Don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks you some more in-depth questions that require you to come up with practical examples. 

• How do you assess a new client? 

• What would a typical workout plan look like for one of your clients? 

• Describe a difficult client you worked with in the past and how you handled the situation. 

• What are your strategies for motivating clients? 

• Describe an example of a success you had with a client or an achievement in fitness that you are proud of.

• Did a client ever give you a bad review? If so, what happened and how did you handle it? 

• How do you build strong but professional relationships with clients? 

• What makes you a good personal trainer? 

Questions Specific to the Job

Here is where your homework pays off. The interviewer will probably ask you some questions about the specific job and gym. 

• Why do you want to work here?

• What makes you a good fit for this job? 

• Do you think you would fit into our gym culture? 

• What can you add to our team? 

Come up With Your Own Questions to Ask

Do you have any questions for us? This is a common final question in all types of job interviews. After spending time answering their questions, you should be prepared with some of your own. Asking questions shows your interest in the job and that you’re serious about it. 

At the end of an interview, you might be feeling overwhelmed, which can make your mind go blank. Prepare questions ahead of time that show your interest in the job. You might ask about the culture and philosophy of the gym, about the types of clients they get, or how they support new trainers. 

You can also ask more specific questions, like how many clients you can expect to have to start. You can ask whether you would be expected to teach classes or if you will only be doing one-on-one training. 

Once you land the personal trainer job, do you know what it takes to succeed? These tips show you how. 

Additional Tips for Interview Success

Certifications and experience are great, but if you bomb the interview they don’t amount to much. It’s worth spending time preparing to give the best interview every time. Here are some other things you can do in addition to anticipating questions. 

Do Mock Interviews

Find someone to help you go through at least one practice interview. At a minimum, this can help calm any nerves you have going into an interview. Try it a few times with willing volunteers, and you’ll start developing better interviewing skills. 

Give a friend or family member your master list of questions, so they can ask you questions at random. Treat the entire process like a real interview. This will give you a chance to get used to the process and to formulate articulate answers. 

This kind of practice is valuable. Creating a sample answer in your head or writing it down on paper is not the same as speaking it out loud. 

Line up Your Credentials

Don’t wait for a hiring manager to ask for proof of your certifications. Be prepared to show them at the interview. Have all the necessary paperwork or online links to show you have the credentials needed for the job. 

Have Examples or Testimonials to Share

It’s not easy to show what you can do as a brand new personal trainer. Bring along to the interview anything that showcases your skills. If you worked with any friends or family members, have them write a quick testimonial detailing how they helped you. It doesn’t matter that they weren’t paying clients.  

Bring any coursework that demonstrates practical skills. This could include a sample training program you wrote for a fictional client or a practice fitness assessment. Show off any videos you created of workout routines or guided training sessions with friends. 

Dress for Success

It’s never a good idea to dress too casually for a job interview, even if it is for the fitness industry. Dress in smart business attire instead. It shows you made an effort. You should also bring your gym bag with a change of clothes. The interviewer might ask you to do some demonstrations. Even if they don’t, it will show you’re prepared. 

Set Yourself Up for Success as a Certified Personal Trainer

You need to get a lot of ducks in a row to get the job. A good interview is just one of them, but it’s important. Not many people are naturally good at being interviewed, so if it doesn’t go well, practice some more and get better at it. Before long, you’ll have landed your dream fitness job. 

ISSA’s Certified Personal Trainer – Self-Guided Study Program sets you up for success and makes it easy to find your first fitness job. The ISSA credential is widely recognized throughout the industry.