This article tells you what to expect at your next job interview for Personal Training and a lot more.
Also, you should really look into which personal trainer certification will help you reach your career goals.
Over the course of my 10+ years in the fitness industry, I’ve attended and aced countless interviews easily.
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that job interviews can be nerve-racking experiences.
Well, as it turns out, a personal trainer interview doesn’t have to be scary or grueling.
In fact, you can train for it – just like you’d train for a 5k race.
This article is like having YOUR own personal trainer. I will help you get ready for your next job interview so you can get the job of your dreams.
By the time we’re finished, instead of dreading personal trainer interview questions, you’ll look forward to them instead.
Getting hired as a personal trainer at LA Fitness, one of the largest and most well-known gym chains in the U.S., is no easy feat. With competition stiff and expectations high, you need to arrive fully prepared to showcase your skills, experience and passion during the interview process.
This comprehensive guide provides insider tips and strategies to help you put your best foot forward and land your dream job as an LA Fitness personal trainer.
Understanding the LA Fitness Personal Trainer Role
As an LA Fitness personal trainer, you will be responsible for
- Conducting fitness assessments and identifying goals with new clients
- Creating customized workout plans tailored to each client’s fitness levels and objectives
- Leading one-on-one and small group training sessions, both in-person and virtually
- Educating clients on proper exercise techniques, health and nutrition
- Tracking progress and adjusting programs to help clients meet their goals
- Motivating clients and keeping them engaged throughout their fitness journey
- Building positive relationships with members and promoting a welcoming gym environment
- Adhering to LA Fitness protocols and safety standards at all times
It’s a varied and demanding position that requires exceptional communication skills, fitness knowledge, customer service abilities sales drive and unwavering professionalism. During the interview, hiring managers will assess how well you align with the LA Fitness brand and your potential to succeed in this role.
Common LA Fitness Personal Trainer Interview Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked interview questions for LA Fitness personal trainer candidates and tips for acing your responses:
1. Why do you want to be a personal trainer at LA Fitness?
This is your chance to demonstrate passion for health and fitness and convey why you want to work specifically at LA Fitness. Focus on how your values and goals align with their training philosophy and company mission.
2. What is your personal training style and how would you motivate clients?
Share your training approach, whether you focus more on strength, HIIT, functional training etc. Explain the motivation strategies and communication style you’d use to keep clients engaged.
3. How would you conduct fitness assessments for new clients?
Walk through the assessment process from gathering health history to testing metrics like strength, mobility and cardio endurance. Emphasize using both subjective information and objective measurements to create customized programs.
4. How do you track and measure client progress over time?
Discuss the metrics you monitor such as weight, body fat percentage, lifting capability etc. Explain how you use tools like workout tracking apps to record changes. Share how frequent assessments and progress reports keep clients motivated.
5. How do you adjust programs based on client feedback and results?
Being adaptable is key. Share examples of when you modified a workout or diet plan based on client feedback and the impact it had on their progress. Emphasize open communication.
6. A client wants to lose weight but has poor exercise form. What do you do?
Demonstrate how you balance goals with safety and proper technique. Explain how you’d use regressions and tempo training to build a foundation before adding intensity. Patient focus on form prevents injury.
7. How do you handle clients who frequently miss or show up late for sessions?
Highlight empathy, communication skills and creative solutions. Explain how you’d have a conversation on barriers, offer flexible options like virtual training and outline policies/expectations without damaging the relationship.
8. How do you stay up-to-date on fitness and nutrition information?
Discuss attending workshops and conferences, reading research journals and fitness blogs, getting certified in new modalities etc. Showcase your dedication to continuous learning.
9. How would you handle a disagreement with a client or colleague?
Share a real example. Emphasize listening first, finding common ground, compromising respectfully and prioritizing the client’s needs. Positively resolving conflict is key.
10. How do you balance training multiple clients while giving personalized attention?
Highlight organizational skills like record-keeping systems to track each client. Discuss strategies like greeting clients by name and incorporating their preferences. Emphasize customized programming.
11. What steps would you take to promote personal training services at LA Fitness?
Showcase sales and marketing ideas like partnering with local businesses, hosting fitness events and leveraging social media. Align tactics with LA Fitness brand.
12. You notice a client using poor form on an exercise with high injury risk. What do you do?
Demonstrate how you prioritize safety by stopping the exercise, correcting form by providing cues and supervision. Discuss task regression until technique improves. Preventing injury is top priority.
13. Why should we hire you as an LA Fitness personal trainer?
Summarize your strengths and achievements. Share what makes you uniquely qualified for this role and how you would positively impact the LA Fitness team. Express genuine excitement to start this next chapter.
How to Prepare for the LA Fitness Personal Trainer Interview
Follow these tips to ensure you’re ready to impress the hiring managers and land the personal trainer job:
Research the company – Study the LA Fitness website, social media, news articles etc. to gain insight into their training philosophy, programs, brand image, achievements and company culture. Use this intel to strengthen your responses.
Practice answering questions – Compile a list of likely interview questions and practice responses with a friend. Get feedback to improve your answers. Practice aloud to polish your delivery.
Review your resume – Refresh yourself on all the details of your resume and be ready to elaborate if asked. Quantify achievements. Have relevant anecdotes ready.
Prepare fitness training scenarios – Anticipate hypothetical client scenarios you may be asked and have strategies to address them. This shows how you’d apply knowledge.
Review training modalities – Brush up on techniques for strength, HIIT, yoga, Pilates, barre and common fitness tools used at gyms. Familiarity builds competence.
Prepare questions to ask – Draft thoughtful questions that show your interest in the company, training approach and career growth opportunities.
Dress professionally – Wear fitness attire that aligns with LA Fitness brand, like activewear with a polo shirt. Well-fitting athletic gear conveys competence.
Get plenty of rest – Arrive energized, focused and ready to impress by getting a good night’s sleep beforehand. First impressions matter.
With rigorous preparation, you can highlight your capabilities and fitness passion to landing your dream personal training role at LA Fitness. Show them you’re ready to motivate clients and produce real results. You got this!
How to answer personal training interview questions
Some interview questions can be hard for new trainers to answer because they don’t have enough experience.
What do you do then?
The good news is that you have a lot of experience, even if you are new to the business.
If you’ve been a personal training client, you’ve seen first what the job entails.
Think about what your trainer did with you and how they made you feel.
In the same way, if you’ve worked out at home or in a gym, you still have a lot of useful experience to draw from.
After all, you trained yourself!
And that’s not all.
Your previous job may also provide you with the answers you need.
People who have worked in customer service or roles that deal with the public already know how to deal with customers and give good (no, GREAT) customer service.
Lack of PROFESSIONAL fitness industry experience does not have to be a drawback.
In some ways, a new trainer might be a better choice than an old trainer who is set in their ways.
Trainers who are new to the job are often more flexible and can be better shaped to fit the needs of the company than trainers who aren’t as good at adopting new ways of doing things.
Increase your confidence NOW by practicing with your friends or family
Now that you know what kinds of questions a personal trainer will ask, you should start practicing how to answer them.
Practice, after all, makes perfect!
Start by writing down your answers so you have a rough idea of what you want to say.
This is NOT a script. That would come off as too rehearsed and disingenuous.
Instead, write a general outline that you can then paraphrase.
Once your responses are outlined, practice answering each question, remembering to be honest, concise, and confident.
While you could do this silently, you’ll get more from saying your answers out loud.
Record yourself or, better still, sit down with friends or family and do some mock interviews.
If you have acquaintances with more experience than you, ask them to be your interviewer.
Here is a list of questions you think they might ask. Ask them to add some of their own to keep you guessing.
Ask any personal trainers you know about how they would answer your interview questions.
Their advice will be useful but remember not to repeat what they say.
The answers you give should be YOUR answers, reflecting your personality and abilities.
You can also do these practice questions via a video call app.
This may be more convenient for you and your volunteer interviewer.
Personal Training Job Interview | What to Say and Expect
FAQ
Why do you want to work for LA Fitness?
How to dress for a LA Fitness job interview?
How do you ace a personal trainer interview?
Are LA Fitness personal trainers good?
LA Fitness personal trainers are well known for their expertise and skill; so, you won’t have to worry about the quality of your personal training sessions. But a thing to keep in mind is, go through their personal training agreement carefully before signing up for it.
What is the interview process like for a personal trainer?
Interview formats and questions vary depending on the job and industry, and personal trainers might find the interview process is much more action-based than question-based because of the demands of the position.
What questions should you ask a personal trainer during an interview?
However, hiring managers tend to ask personal trainers specific questions about their experience, education and practices during an interview that candidates can prepare for. In this article, provide some sample personal trainer interview questions and explain how you can answer them. Video: Top Common Interview Questions and Answers
How do I prepare for a personal trainer interview?
Being prepared with typical personal trainer interview questions can help you ace the final stage. Knowing what to expect really takes the pressure off an interview situation. And prepping some answers in advance will help you perform well on the day.
