Eric Boehnke

Responsibilities

My responsibilities included a variety of different training while at Genesis Health Clubs. I was to shadow and learn the main training styles that are expected while training for Genesis along with learning different classes that they offer. The main populations that you will meet with are middle age to older adults. Learning the differences in training them is something that is shown and guided through. You are to learn and take them through personalized fitness assessments to learn more about how their body works. You create and demonstrate programs to clients making sure they are understanding what you are having them work on. Other responsibilities include working the front desk if needed and short staffed. Learning the inner working for the gym and how to communicate with the other employees as well as members that are in the gym.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment was getting clients. Working with people is often difficult and showing the benefits of personal training is often a huge challenge. I was able to show off some of my abilities and skills enough to have people wish to work with me and maintain working with me. It allowed me to use my skills of building programs for clients and pair it with learning how to communicate well with different age ranges and hobbies, with my weakness which at the time was selling programs.

Learning experience

The ability to take no for an answer. While working at Genesis I was often told no when trying to get clients and work with others. It was difficult to get people to answer calls for free personal training sessions and difficult to have people see the price of training and agree to that. At first it was difficult to constantly hear no I can't do that or that it was too much money. Oftentimes just not getting an answer. Learning how to not take it to heart was a lesson that I feel was very beneficial and will help guide me in my future endeavors that I will have.

What advice would you give?

My advice I would give to future students would be to explain your strong points. Whether it be in an interview or working with people explaining what you are good at will outshine all weak points you may have. I felt that classroom lectures really gave a good foundation for personal training and learning all the training methods and knowledge needed to train. While selling training is a different ball game you can use that knowledge that you have to build a good rapport with who you wish to work with.