Landing a Personal Trainer Internship: A Comprehensive Guide

The fitness industry is booming, and a personal trainer internship can be your launching pad to a fulfilling career. The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) predicts a significant 39% growth in openings for personal fitness trainers and instructors by 2030, so there are endless opportunities for growth. However, securing an internship can be competitive, so careful preparation is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements, strategies, and insights needed to land a personal trainer internship.

Defining Your Goals

Before diving into applications, clarify your career goals. Ask yourself:

Do I want a gym internship?
Am I interested in working with specific populations, such as K-12 students in physical education or individuals recovering from injuries?

Personal training apprenticeships should align with your career objectives and desired area(s) of specialty. Not all personal trainers focus on the same type of clients or objectives. Some work with people who recently sustained an injury and are trying to gain back their physical mobility and strength. Other personal trainers work with clients who want to lose weight and learn how to eat better. While many personal trainers work in gyms, there are some trainers who work for the government or in public education.

Targeting the Right Facilities

Job seekers often write down a list of organizations they’d like to target. You should do the same for a fitness internship. Perform an online search of gyms and rehab centers in your area, but also find out what type of clientele they work with. Some facilities, for instance, may work only with females. Other gyms may offer limited personal training opportunities, focusing instead on weekly group classes for yoga, aerobics, strength training, or lifetime fitness personal trainer internship .

Identify facilities that align with your goals. Consider:

Gyms: Full-service gyms with a variety of equipment, courses, and spa, swimming, and relaxation options may have personal trainer internship programs. As long as these workout centers and programs match your goals, find out what’s required and how your application can stand out.
Rehab Centers: Facilities specializing in injury recovery.
Specialized Studios: Those focusing on specific fitness areas like yoga or Pilates.

Full-service gyms with a variety of equipment, courses, and spa, swimming, and relaxation options may have personal trainer internship programs. As long as these workout centers and programs match your goals, find out what’s required and how your application can stand out.

Crafting Your Application

Once you have a target list, it's time to create your resume and cover letter. Depending on how many facilities and programs you’re applying to, you may need a slightly different cover letter and resume for each one. If you’re unsure of how to craft a resume and cover letter for a personal trainer internship, get some help from a resume writing service or ask a personal trainer you know.

Resume

Highlight relevant skills and experience:

Education: Include degrees or coursework in exercise science, kinesiology, or related fields. Students must be eligible to earn academic credit for their work. At least 2-years completion towards an undergraduate degree: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physical Education, Personal Training, or other applicable majors preferred.
Certifications: Mention any certifications you have, such as CPR or personal training certifications. For instance, pursuing personal trainer certification or having a CPR certification can give you a leg up.
Experience: Include any relevant experience, such as fitness-related jobs or volunteer work.
Skills: Showcase skills like communication, motivation, and customer service. An outgoing and personable disposition, able to socialize with others. A passion for fitness and helping others reach their health and wellness goals. Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Customer-service oriented and an ability to understand or quickly grasp, customer priorities and terminology. Effective oral and written communications skills. Results oriented with an ability to organize, prioritize and manage time. Previous Personal Training experience preferred but not required.

Cover Letter

Tailor your cover letter to each facility, expressing your interest and explaining why you're a good fit.

The Power of Shadowing

Some gyms and fitness facilities offer shadowing opportunities. You can use these as a way to gain contacts and establish relationships with hiring managers. When you shadow other personal trainers, you’ll also get a better sense of the gym’s philosophy, what your day might be like during an internship, and what type of clients frequent the facility.

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Shadowing is invaluable for several reasons:

Networking: Build relationships with trainers and hiring managers.
Real-world Experience: Gain a better understanding of the gym's culture and daily operations.
Skill Observation: Observe how personal trainers interact with the clients. How do they motivate and encourage their clients?
Skill Demonstration: Before you take on a shadowing opportunity, find out if you’re expected to simply observe or whether you can provide clients with coaching tips. Some personal trainers you work with will want to see your skills in action.

It’s one thing to learn about a gym through second-hand research and words on the web. Seeing and experiencing things in person gives you a more realistic idea of whether the facility is a right fit for you and your career goals. Observe how personal trainers interact with the clients. How do they motivate and encourage their clients?

Making the Most of Shadowing

Express your desire: You need to express your desire to do some personal trainer shadowing.
Be proactive: Many areas do not have health and fitness internships, but you can still ask some personal trainers one-on-one. In my experience, most personal trainers are very open and friendly to people asking them questions or showing interest in their profession. Just move on and ask the next one. If anything, the client might feel uncomfortable, so you will not be able to shadow them.
Ask questions: You can ask as many questions as you want, but after the personal training session has been completed. Try to be specific with your questions after the training session to avoid delaying the personal trainer and getting late to the next session with a client. If this is your first training session shadowing, you will probably have 1 million questions afterward. Try to get as specific with the questions as possible when asking the trainer after the session.
Be mindful of the client: Clients of personal trainers pay a lot of money for their time and expertise (which is why you can make a good salary).
Consider existing programs: It will be more comfortable if the gym already has a personal training internship program in place.

Interview Preparation

Find a friend or a professional coach that can help you run through mock interviews. Be sure to research some of the questions that gym managers are likely to ask of candidates seeking a personal trainer internship. Work on not only the content of your answers but how you communicate. A confident style that projects empathy and a willingness to listen is what you should be aiming for.

Mock Interviews

Practice answering common questions: Preparing to apply to a gym or fitness internship involves identifying your short-term and long-term professional goals.
Focus on communication: Work on not only the content of your answers but how you communicate. A confident style that projects empathy and a willingness to listen is what you should be aiming for.
Seek feedback: Ask for honest feedback or record your mock interviews so you can go back later and identify areas to work on.

Questions to Ask

Also, come up with a list of questions you want to ask gym and hiring managers.

Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. This shows your engagement and genuine interest.

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The Equinox Internship Program: A Case Study

The Equinox Personal Training Internship offers students a unique opportunity to learn and work alongside fitness industry experts in our cutting-edge facilities. This program bridges academic knowledge with real-world experience, helping students develop essential skills for a career in personal training.

Program Structure

While the internship is hosted by Equinox, the training provides broad applicability to related businesses. Participants can also access Equinox's specialized education through our proprietary education, the Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI) and connect with Coach, Coach+ and Coach X trainers. Internship duration is flexible to suit academic needs, with mandatory paperwork due before commencement.

Projects and Activities

Throughout the internship program, interns will be required to complete a variety of large and small projects that will encourage them to fully immerse themself into the business that will also mimic curriculum that a student will see in their undergraduate education.

The following are examples of potential smaller projects:

Study one injury per week, documenting causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention
Become familiar with all possible specialties and/or certifications that the intern is potentially interested in studying/receiving in the future
Design programs based on two selected trainers who are specific in their PT goals, any notable injuries, athletic history, etc. (can be hypothetical)
Research the following conditions: Hypertension, Diabetes, Pregnancy, CVD with points on cause, physiological implications, benefits of exercise on the conditions, exercises to help, and exercises to avoid
Weekly connects with supervisor to review progress on weekly objectives and set up actions for the upcoming week
Member experience & engagement activities: fitness Specialist Shifts, front desk support, member reach outs, etc.

Application Process

The screening process for this program prioritizes criteria that assess the applicant's potential for learning, enthusiasm for the subject matter, academic achievements, and relevant coursework.

Qualifications

Students must be eligible to earn academic credit for their work. At least 2-years completion towards an undergraduate degree: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physical Education, Personal Training, or other applicable majors preferred. An outgoing and personable disposition, able to socialize with others. A passion for fitness and helping others reach their health and wellness goals. Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Customer-service oriented and an ability to understand or quickly grasp, customer priorities and terminology. Effective oral and written communications skills. Results oriented with an ability to organize, prioritize and manage time. Previous Personal Training experience preferred but not required.

Important Information

This role is an educational and training opportunity, not employment. Interns will not displace or perform the function of any paid employee.

Compensation

This is an unpaid internship. Interns will not be Equinox employees for minimum wage or other purposes. Interns will not receive any wages or employee benefits for their participation in the program. While qualified graduates may be considered for employment, interns are not guaranteed or entitled to a paid job or offer of employment at the conclusion of the training period.

Duration

The duration of the program is negotiable depending on the requirements of the intern’s university. Equinox will make efforts to accommodate an intern’s academic commitments. This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the position. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Other duties not listed here may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the department. Equinox is an equal opportunity employer. The PT Department believes in a “promote from within” philosophy.

Life Time Dynamic Personal Training Internship Program

The Life Time Dynamic Personal Training Internship program is for people who have a passion for living and leading others in a healthy way of life and want to make a career in the health and fitness industry.

Ideal for recently certified trainers pursuing a career in personal training and college seniors pursuing an accredited certification or related degree and looking to join the industry. Gain hands-on experience, develop top-tier fitness coaching skills and abilities, and receive structured training to excel as a fitness professional.

Unlocking Fitness Potential

Our Dynamic Personal Trainers use hands-on coaching and training techniques that can’t be replicated. Their fully customized training session will push clients past where they would push themselves, and you will learn firsthand how to do the same.

Our 5-week, 80-hour internship offers hands-on experience, shadowing top trainers, leading client sessions, and gaining expert mentorship. You'll join weekly virtual cohorts while refining your skills as a trainer.

Benefits

Medical and Dental coverage is received by Personal Trainers who work a 30 hour work week or more! A Trainer is considered to be full-time if they are scheduled at least 30 hours or more and is on a regular payroll of the employer. **Team Members must meet eligibility criteria to receive the above benefits as set forth in Life Time’s policies, plan documents, and terms and conditions. Eligibility for some benefits may depend on average hours of employment per week and years of service, among other criteria. Life Time reserves the right to change Team Member compensation and benefits at any time and without advance notice in its sole discretion as permitted by applicable law. This site and its contents do not constitute or create an offer or contract of employment.

The Growing Need for Personal Trainers

The percentage of adults who were overweight or obese was 42.4% from 2017 to 2018. That percentage continues to increase as sedentary lifestyles and eating diets with processed foods becomes the norm. While many opportunities to work with adults who want to improve their health exist, don’t pursue a specialty just because it’s popular.

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