I had an interview yesterday, and was quite impressed with the facility and the standards they have for their trainers. They prefer a degree, and only accept ACSM, NSCA, NASM, and ACE. The manager I interviewed with said he wished they wouldn't accept ACE either. I have a follow-up interview on Friday in which I will have to take one of the managers through an initial consultation/workout.
I was also impressed with the pay structure. However, as everyone knows in the gym business, the "potential" that is presented doesn't always match the reality.
So, I was wondering if anyone had insight into the "reality" of working as a trainer at Lifetime.
I was also impressed with the pay structure. However, as everyone knows in the gym business, the "potential" that is presented doesn't always match the reality.
I had an interview with them two weeks ago. They told me that trainers get 100% commission for any sales they make for personal training and they still get paid for the training, if they choose to train the person they sold training to. However, they don't have any base pay and if you don't make money through selling fitness they still have to pay you because of law, but it must be reimbursed. Is that what they told you?
I have never worked for them, but plan on to once I get good at selling fitness at 24 Hour Fitness.
I worked for Lifetime for about 2 years so I have a pretty good understanding of them.
The two biggest things that will determine if you enjoy your time or not are going to be your manager and the club location. If you have a great manager (and assistant and good older trainers) you will start on the right foot and have a lot of support to guide you when you start. How to sell, who to talk to, keeping you on track etc...
Location is also huge. If you are in an area with a lot of income, the potential they talk about can be great. If your area doesn't have a lot of income, than its going to be much tougher(not impossible) to get to a higher level.
The main downsides are the fact that the job is 100% comission which means that crappy month = no money. This can hurt the more bills you have and the worse you are at financial planning. You will make a lot more Jan, Feb, March than June, July, Aug. It also means that you become a sales person. You have no choice but to look at everyone you talk to as potential money. It doesn't have to be shady but it does make it harder to want to help people.
One of the biggest reasons I left was because of the constant pressure not just to sell training but to sell heart rate monitors and metabolic testing also. I also took a promotion into management and absolutely hated that part, but thats just me.
Let me know if there is anything else that you are curious about and I would be happy to help.
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
Danny
__________________
Limitations are for people who have them.
I have to agree with Danny. In the beginning you're extremely excited to be involved in what seems to be this great organization that is committed to helping people change their lives with state of the art equipment, technology, and environment. I didn't work for them in personal training, but as a massage therapist and then took a promotion into management. I have to say in my particular club that's where the problems stem from. If management is not committed to assisting you with your success, odds are they are going to be placing unrealistic goals on you. It's still a business and if you're not "producing" then they'll have an issue.
I had an interview with them two weeks ago. They told me that trainers get 100% commission for any sales they make for personal training and they still get paid for the training, if they choose to train the person they sold training to. However, they don't have any base pay and if you don't make money through selling fitness they still have to pay you because of law, but it must be reimbursed. Is that what they told you?
I have never worked for them, but plan on to once I get good at selling fitness at 24 Hour Fitness.
The guy I talked to went into a lot of detail on breaking down the pay structure, even to the point of having me write it all down and take it with me. He said that a new hire must spend 6 months where you take 18% of the training package and 31% of the service hour. Clients that are sold by someone else and "passed off" to you are still payed out at 31% of the service hour. Once that six months is over, I would qualify to be a Level 4 (out of 5 levels) trainer based on my education and certifications. Level 4 takes 22% of the sale and 34% of the service hour. The "base pay" is $12/hr if your commissions don't cover your wage.
I worked for Lifetime for about 2 years so I have a pretty good understanding of them.
The two biggest things that will determine if you enjoy your time or not are going to be your manager and the club location. If you have a great manager (and assistant and good older trainers) you will start on the right foot and have a lot of support to guide you when you start. How to sell, who to talk to, keeping you on track etc...
Location is also huge. If you are in an area with a lot of income, the potential they talk about can be great. If your area doesn't have a lot of income, than its going to be much tougher(not impossible) to get to a higher level.
The main downsides are the fact that the job is 100% comission which means that crappy month = no money. This can hurt the more bills you have and the worse you are at financial planning. You will make a lot more Jan, Feb, March than June, July, Aug. It also means that you become a sales person. You have no choice but to look at everyone you talk to as potential money. It doesn't have to be shady but it does make it harder to want to help people.
One of the biggest reasons I left was because of the constant pressure not just to sell training but to sell heart rate monitors and metabolic testing also. I also took a promotion into management and absolutely hated that part, but thats just me.
Let me know if there is anything else that you are curious about and I would be happy to help.
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
Danny
Thanks...that helps lay it out. It's actually what I've been used to in working for a company here in Phoenix called Pure Fitness. But the PF I worked at was in a bad location and the managers sucked.
The location is good. It's in Scottsdale. Not sure if you're familiar with Scottsdale, but there's a lot of money there. Benz, Beemers, and Lexus were sprinkled throughout the parking lot of the club when I was there.
The management I'm still checking out. The guy I originally interviewed with talked a lot about how they're committed to helping me get off on the right foot and get up and running as fast as possible, but what's said and what happens are often two different things.
So...basically, it sounds like I'd be dealing with the same types of things I'm already used to dealing with, just in a better location and with a more financially sound class of people, at a much better commission structure.
I have a follow up practical interview tomorrow with a different manager. Any tips for me in that regard?
To be honest I would probably jump at the chance to take a Scottsdale job. If I remember correctly it was one of the top producing clubs in the nation. You will probably be able to have a lot of success and have a great group of experienced trainers to feed clients to you.
I think the practical was different depending on the manager, but think NASM principles. Progressions, regressions, etc... Just be confident.
Danny
__________________
Limitations are for people who have them.
To be honest I would probably jump at the chance to take a Scottsdale job. If I remember correctly it was one of the top producing clubs in the nation. You will probably be able to have a lot of success and have a great group of experienced trainers to feed clients to you.
I think the practical was different depending on the manager, but think NASM principles. Progressions, regressions, etc... Just be confident.
Danny
Okay...that says a lot.
I remember Brian (the guy that interviewed me) saying that their average revenues in the training department were in the range of a quarter million a month.
I framed a few of the questions I had to him last night in an email, and he got back to me first thing this morning by phone. It cleared up a lot of the uncertainty and skepticism I had.
NASM....okay, I can do that since that's what my cert is. I've never really followed the whole OPT model thing because I don't necessarily agree with all of it, but gyms love that cert, so that's what I went with.
Thanks for the feedback, Danny...it's definitely helped.
The guy I talked to went into a lot of detail on breaking down the pay structure, even to the point of having me write it all down and take it with me. He said that a new hire must spend 6 months where you take 18% of the training package and 31% of the service hour. Clients that are sold by someone else and "passed off" to you are still payed out at 31% of the service hour. Once that six months is over, I would qualify to be a Level 4 (out of 5 levels) trainer based on my education and certifications. Level 4 takes 22% of the sale and 34% of the service hour. The "base pay" is $12/hr if your commissions don't cover your wage.
I find lifetime fitness too risky considering the fact that it must be a good location or else there won't be any income made. That whole reimbursement thing is a really big turn off.
I used to work at L.A. Fitness and it was okay. Anyways, L.A. Fitness is pretty good. They have a different structure.
L.A. Fitness works like this. There are trainers who sell fitness and then there are trainers who actually train. Sales counselors only focus on selling memberships. Trainers who sell fitness get 5% commission and base pay. I don't know what the base pay is. Trainers who train only train their clients for thirty minutes. The thirty minute sessions are $6. However, the thirty minutes sessions clients may be upgraded to full hour sessions by the trainer which gets you full commission for the upgrade and $18 for the hour session.
Here are the downfalls:
1. It's always slow in the beginning and your clientele depend on the trainers who sell fitness. Be their "friend".
2. Clients are not permanently your client until they upgrade with you. This means they can jump from trainer to trainer if they choose so.
3. Trainers can steal your 30 minute session clients for themselves. That's why trainers hated me while I was there.
4. It is manditory for trainers to write down a workout routine for members who are looking for a workout routine and you don't get paid for it. It's part of the customer service obligation that trainers are sucked into, but only if you aren't training someone or are just finished training someone and you got thirty minutes until your next client arrives. That doesn't mean you have to show them how to do the exercises, but it is possible to schedule them for a workout.
5. Certain members have a limited amount of training sessions per week and/or per month, so be on the lookout or else you end up training someone for free.
6. Nobody is your friend. Rake up and pull away as many clients as you can from the other trainers and upgrade if possible or else you won't make much money. I don't want to come off as an ass, but that's just part of the game.
Wow that sounds pretty cut throat. Not much team spirit in a place like that, but it does sound like it forces you to stay sharp and on top of your game. I work at a gym where it's more laid back and everyone has their own "regulars". I do find that it's sometimes easy to become complacent in that atmosphere. The type of gym that you will be happy working at all depends on your personality and your individual goals. Find a place that fits you.
I find lifetime fitness too risky considering the fact that it must be a good location or else there won't be any income made. That whole reimbursement thing is a really big turn off.
I used to work at L.A. Fitness and it was okay. Anyways, L.A. Fitness is pretty good. They have a different structure.
L.A. Fitness works like this. There are trainers who sell fitness and then there are trainers who actually train. Sales counselors only focus on selling memberships. Trainers who sell fitness get 5% commission and base pay. I don't know what the base pay is. Trainers who train only train their clients for thirty minutes. The thirty minute sessions are $6. However, the thirty minutes sessions clients may be upgraded to full hour sessions by the trainer which gets you full commission for the upgrade and $18 for the hour session.
Here are the downfalls:
1. It's always slow in the beginning and your clientele depend on the trainers who sell fitness. Be their "friend".
2. Clients are not permanently your client until they upgrade with you. This means they can jump from trainer to trainer if they choose so.
3. Trainers can steal your 30 minute session clients for themselves. That's why trainers hated me while I was there.
4. It is manditory for trainers to write down a workout routine for members who are looking for a workout routine and you don't get paid for it. It's part of the customer service obligation that trainers are sucked into, but only if you aren't training someone or are just finished training someone and you got thirty minutes until your next client arrives. That doesn't mean you have to show them how to do the exercises, but it is possible to schedule them for a workout.
5. Certain members have a limited amount of training sessions per week and/or per month, so be on the lookout or else you end up training someone for free.
6. Nobody is your friend. Rake up and pull away as many clients as you can from the other trainers and upgrade if possible or else you won't make much money. I don't want to come off as an ass, but that's just part of the game.
Yeah...I'm very familiar with LA Fitness. A buddy of mine is the GM of one of their locations in Scottsdale.
I would never train at LA Fitness. The bottom line is that, as a trainer, you will never make more than $12/hr, and my time is worth a lot more than that. I think it might be a decent job for someone in college that needs a part-time job with a flexible schedule. Or possibly people that want a second job for some spending cash.
I find lifetime fitness too risky considering the fact that it must be a good location or else there won't be any income made. That whole reimbursement thing is a really big turn off.
I used to work at L.A. Fitness and it was okay. Anyways, L.A. Fitness is pretty good. They have a different structure.
L.A. Fitness works like this. There are trainers who sell fitness and then there are trainers who actually train. Sales counselors only focus on selling memberships. Trainers who sell fitness get 5% commission and base pay. I don't know what the base pay is. Trainers who train only train their clients for thirty minutes. The thirty minute sessions are $6. However, the thirty minutes sessions clients may be upgraded to full hour sessions by the trainer which gets you full commission for the upgrade and $18 for the hour session.
Here are the downfalls:
1. It's always slow in the beginning and your clientele depend on the trainers who sell fitness. Be their "friend".
2. Clients are not permanently your client until they upgrade with you. This means they can jump from trainer to trainer if they choose so.
3. Trainers can steal your 30 minute session clients for themselves. That's why trainers hated me while I was there.
4. It is manditory for trainers to write down a workout routine for members who are looking for a workout routine and you don't get paid for it. It's part of the customer service obligation that trainers are sucked into, but only if you aren't training someone or are just finished training someone and you got thirty minutes until your next client arrives. That doesn't mean you have to show them how to do the exercises, but it is possible to schedule them for a workout.
5. Certain members have a limited amount of training sessions per week and/or per month, so be on the lookout or else you end up training someone for free.
6. Nobody is your friend. Rake up and pull away as many clients as you can from the other trainers and upgrade if possible or else you won't make much money. I don't want to come off as an ass, but that's just part of the game.
And people wonder why the professionalism in this industry is so watered down. How can you expect to have qualified trainers who get paid as much as McDonalds employees. If the trainers get paid so little, I assume that LA Fitness must be making a good percentage of the clients money.
__________________
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Bruce Lee
And people wonder why the professionalism in this industry is so watered down. How can you expect to have qualified trainers who get paid as much as McDonalds employees. If the trainers get paid so little, I assume that LA Fitness must be making a good percentage of the clients money.
They definitely do. The person that sells the training only gets 5% of the total deal, and the person that's servicing the client only gets $6/session. The cheapest session they do is $40 (keep in mind these are 1/2 hour sessions). So, they're only paying out $8 from a $40 session. That means that they take roughly 80% of the entire training deal. And that's the cheap end. Someone that signs up for only 3 months of training pays $60/session. That means they're taking 85% of the deal. No wonder they can't keep trainers or clients. The trainers don't give a damn because they're not making anything, and the clients don't stay because of that. Their renewals on clients are for shit.
Is anyone here still working for Life time fitness? Also need advice on first gym job
This is my first post though I've been reading others for quite some time. I recently got certified through ACE and I'm currently trying to land my first gym job. I just had an interview (the practical one) with Lifetime yesterday and I was hoping to bring this string back to life and find out if anyone here is currently working for Lifetime Fitness and what their experience has been. The facility is fantastic and the managers seem committed and helpful. The location seems busy... (Parker CO).
Since this is my first gym job, I'm not sure how their structure compares to other gyms. They also would want me to get a NASM cert within 6 months and I'm curious if they pay for this. Anyone, I would love to chat with someone about pros and cons of different gyms, typical commission structures, etc.
Lifetime Fitness
If the trainers get paid so little, I assume that LA Fitness must be making a good percentage of the clients money.
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