Student’s lives are filled with unique experiences, stress from assignment deadlines, and individual growth. It’s also expensive and takes a considerable amount of time. Having a side hustle on top of a tight academic schedule is a reality many students face or are considering. A side hustle can help pay for some living expenses, tuition, hanging out with friends on the weekend, and building skills you’ll take with you for the rest of your life.
If you’re a student searching for the right side job to fit your situation, you have a lot of choices these days. Perhaps you’ve already decided that the typical college jobs aren’t a good fit for you and are looking for something fulfilling, like becoming a personal trainer. Here are four reasons to pursue becoming a Certified Personal Trainer.
- Fitness and health play a vital role in your life
- It’s a job that can fit your schedule
- It will help improve your communication and social skills
- It’s a job that you can take with you after college is over
Fitness and health play a vital role in your life
You may think that you don’t know enough about fitness to be able to help others, but the most important thing for someone considering becoming a personal trainer is that fitness plays a vital role in their life already. You have what it takes if you love working out, progressing your fitness level, and talking to your friends about it. You may have grown up playing sports, have active parents, or been impacted as a child through physical activity.
Yes, exercise science, behavior change, and more are big worlds to learn about, but most clients need encouragement, accountability, and help with the fundamentals. If fitness and health are already foundational to you, whether instilled by sports, parents, or a newfound passion in college, a side job in personal training makes a lot of sense! It’s a straightforward job that you can excel in with your existing knowledge and passion.
The knowledge and education will come in time with your certification process and experience, so don’t worry if you don’t think you know enough yet. Remember, passion for fitness is arguably the most crucial prerequisite for people considering personal training as a job.
It’s a job that can fit your schedule
As a personal trainer, you can set your schedule to balance your student commitments and personal life. This job can fit into your life, not the other way around. Two main types of personal training gigs are working for a gym or working for yourself. Both have their pros and cons that you must weigh. The way scheduling works with most jobs is you only need to communicate what hours you’re willing to work are, and you’ll only be expected to work within that time frame.
This flexibility is a massive benefit for employed students. You don’t have to stress about finding coverage as your school schedule changes each term. You just work it out with your clients. If you work for a gym, you usually sign up for a 3-6 hour shift or provide your availability. If you work for yourself, you ultimately control your schedule. Personal training is one of the most flexible side hustles!
It will help improve your communication and social skills
Making friends in a competitive and serious environment like school can be challenging, which doesn’t help if you’re looking to hone your communication and social skills. We all know how important those traits are in relationships and careers. Personal trainers have the incredible opportunity to learn how to build rapport, learn their clients’ personalities, and navigate communicating the intricacies of exercise techniques through feedback.
Even if you don’t become a personal trainer for a long time, you’ll quickly learn how to adapt your communication style and feedback to help your clients succeed. Do you think these skills stop with personal training? By no means! These skills will go with you everywhere, from helping in your first big job interview to meeting your company’s deliverables. Imagine the growth you’ll go through working with several completely different clients all with their own needs, goals, and personalities.
It’s a job that you can take with you after school is over
If you’re a student, the idea is that you’re discovering what career path you want to take. Not many student personal trainers make personal training their primary career, but it can remain fulfilling for years. Unlike many typical jobs on campus, personal training doesn’t have to end when you graduate. Personal training jobs are posted in nearly every city with a gym, so you can have it as a backup or keep doing it even after school is over!
You never know what gaps you’ll have when job searching or when you’ll have the extra bandwidth to bring in additional income. Personal training is a job that can stay with you for life, provided you remain passionate and up to date with the field, as with any other career.
Conclusion
In conclusion, balancing the demands of a student with pursuing a side hustle is challenging but rewarding, especially when that side hustle aligns with your passions and future goals. Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer offers a unique opportunity to merge your love for fitness with a flexible job that fits your academic schedule. It will foster personal growth, enhance communication skills, and set you up for long-term success. As you navigate college and beyond, choosing a side hustle like personal training could be a fulfilling way to financially and personally support your journey.
Brandon Hyatt, MS, CSCS, NFPT-CPT, NASM-CES, BRM, PPSC is an experienced leader, educator, and personal trainer with over 7 years of success in building high-performing fitness teams, facilities, and clients. He aspires to become a kinesiology professor while continuing to grow as a professional fitness writer and inspiring speaker, sharing his expertise and passion. He has a master's degree in kinesiology from Point Loma Nazarene University. His mission is to impact countless people by empowering and leading them in their fitness journey.
