Possible new job: mildly freaking out

[Cakes488]

It's possible. I mean, the guy was interviewing me in the middle of his workout! I have a feeling he had other things on his mind.

I hope my job interviews are this hard. I'm not sure why you're complaining about the interview style....it sounds awesome and it's probably a very laid back place to work.

Oh, I know. I just wish that it had been a little more comprehensive since I did drive 2 hours there and back for the thing. 4 hours in the car is not a small amount of time.

It's not really a big deal...I do it every weekend. It also takes me an hour and half every day each way to commute to the city so I have no sympathy for this complaint.

 

[Captain Shaw]

when do you start?

 

[trampledamage]

Good luck! Maybe they hired you because they couldn't find anyone else but it's your job now - make the best of it. If nothing else it's a first line on the resume for being a trainer.

Well done

 

[RoJoHen]

All right, I've talked to my friends, and I've talked to my parents. They've given me a lot to think about, so I sent an email to the main guy with a few follow-up questions. Hopefully the answers to these questions will persuade me to make a decision.

Then I will probably need to get really drunk before I can finalize anything.

 

[trampledamage]

Then I will probably need to get really drunk before I can finalize anything.

Hey, it worked for McCoy in the new movie...

 

[RoJoHen]

I think it's a requirement before any major life-changing event.

 

[Cakes488]

Agreed. It helps you think more clearly.

 

[Gryffindorian]

You're very lucky, considering today's economy. Now that you're an employee, you don't have to worry about "charging" people you train (e.g., friends, co-workers). I'm not quite sure how it works. When I was with 24 Hour Fitness, people had to pay extra to get their own one-on-one PT, but I assumed the PT didn't get any commission for doing the individual sessions.

 

[RoJoHen]

You're very lucky, considering today's economy. Now that you're an employee, you don't have to worry about "charging" people you train (e.g., friends, co-workers). I'm not quite sure how it works. When I was with 24 Hour Fitness, people had to pay extra to get their own one-on-one PT, but I assumed the PT didn't get any commission for doing the individual sessions.

I assume different gyms work in different ways. With LA Fitness, my pay is directly related to the number of training sessions I have with clients.

 

[Kelthaz]

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here, but doesn't anyone else find this a little fishy?

Rojohen applies for a job, gets an email almost immediately, and is practically given the job even before the interview begins? That just seems way too good to be true. The only explanation is that the fitness center is desperate to hire people, and given the fantastic job market we have today that makes complete sense.

Anyway, it's probably fine, but as a cynical person I can't help but think there's a reason they seem so desperate. Asking a few follow-up questions is probably a good idea.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here, but doesn't anyone else find this a little fishy?

Rojohen applies for a job, gets an email almost immediately, and is practically given the job even before the interview begins? That just seems way too good to be true. The only explanation is that the fitness center is desperate to hire people, and given the fantastic job market we have today that makes complete sense.

Anyway, it's probably fine, but as a cynical person I can't help but think there's a reason they seem so desperate. Asking a few follow-up questions is probably a good idea.

Oh, don't worry, I'm just as skeptical as you.

As for the job market, it's different in different places. I know in general the economy sucks, and I'm not sure how it is in the area I'm applying, but I know where I'm living now the economy is practically booming. We have new businesses and new job positions opening up all the time.

I literally haven't seen anything of this bad economy where I've been living.

Keep in mind that this is a fairly new gym (just opened up within the last year), and new businesses often have a lot of turnover. The guy said he was planning to hire 4 or 5 personal trainers, so he obviously has need for them. I grew up in the area, and the gym is in a ridiculously awesome location, and there are no similar gyms close by, so it's also possible they just have a lot of members of in need of training than they are equipped to handle at the moment.

 

[Aragorn]

Good luck! I wish I got responses period to my job applications.

I really need to find a new job. Working weekends, evenings and some holidays sucks.

 

[RoJoHen]

I really need to find a new job. Working weekends, evenings and some holidays sucks.

When I officially don't have to work on Labor Day, I will consider myself to be a grown-up.

 

[SmoothieX]

Two months? Are you serious? One hell of a way to make a prospective employer wait. "Could you please hold off on filling the vacancy for two months while I get settled into my new place?"

Yes, I'm serious. I looked for a firm with a spot opening up in a few months. They fit my timeframe, I fit theirs. Someone was leaving for a career change about when I was looking to start.

This way, I knew what I'd be making and where I'd be working when I went looking for a place to live.

If you're applying for an immediate opening, but would need to relocate and all that, it's not a good fit.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I assume different gyms work in different ways. With LA Fitness, my pay is directly related to the number of training sessions I have with clients.

And who signs up those training clients? The front desk, or you? If it's you, you realize that it's as much, if not more, of a sales job than a training job?

What's the turnover at LA Fitness for trainers?

What's the base salary (is there one)?

What are their expectations of you if they're willing to give you a job with only a freshly minted certification and it sounds like no practical experience?

A financial advisor I work with has a number of clients who are trainers at LA Fitness and she said their incomes are way down across the board as their clients have either reduced or eliminated their personal training sessions.

Good luck either way, but I'd have some serious questions and reservations.

 

[Dar70]

Is it bad that the biggest thing on my mind right now is whether or not I will be able to get Halloween off?

It's the most important holiday for me and my friends! It's pretty much the only time we all get together.

Ooh, maybe I can have Halloween at my NEW APARTMENT...wherever that ends up being.

P.S. I've pretty much given up on sleeping tonight.

Very funny. To tell the truth I would be thinking the same thing. Halloween does fall on a saturday this year. As you get older though Halloween will eventually become decorating your house and passing out candy and watching horror films. Which i have loads of fun doing.

Congrats on the new job.

 

[Danoz]

All right, I've talked to my friends, and I've talked to my parents. They've given me a lot to think about, so I sent an email to the main guy with a few follow-up questions. Hopefully the answers to these questions will persuade me to make a decision.

Then I will probably need to get really drunk before I can finalize anything.

Don't be too weary about this-- it sounds like they need a personal trainer, your resume had what they needed, and so you're on board. I've been in this situation before and it ended up being a GREAT job.

 

[RoJoHen]

I assume different gyms work in different ways. With LA Fitness, my pay is directly related to the number of training sessions I have with clients.

And who signs up those training clients? The front desk, or you? If it's you, you realize that it's as much, if not more, of a sales job than a training job?

What's the turnover at LA Fitness for trainers?

What's the base salary (is there one)?

What are their expectations of you if they're willing to give you a job with only a freshly minted certification and it sounds like no practical experience?

A financial advisor I work with has a number of clients who are trainers at LA Fitness and she said their incomes are way down across the board as their clients have either reduced or eliminated their personal training sessions.

Good luck either way, but I'd have some serious questions and reservations.

From what I have heard from people who are actually members there, their trainers are constantly busy with clients. It's a new gym in an incredibly busy location.

If nothing else, this place will allow me to gain experience. Most gyms I've looked at require about a year of previous training experience, which I need to get somehow. I'm probably going to take the job based on that alone.

Hey, if it sucks, I can just do it part-time and get another bartending job somewhere!

Bottom line: I need experience in order to advance in the field. I'm not going to get that experience working at TGI Fridays.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Two months? Are you serious? One hell of a way to make a prospective employer wait. "Could you please hold off on filling the vacancy for two months while I get settled into my new place?"

Yes, I'm serious. I looked for a firm with a spot opening up in a few months. They fit my timeframe, I fit theirs. Someone was leaving for a career change about when I was looking to start.

This way, I knew what I'd be making and where I'd be working when I went looking for a place to live.

If you're applying for an immediate opening, but would need to relocate and all that, it's not a good fit.

Let's not forget the fact that most employers are running on a timeframe and have to fill in the vacancies within a given time period. At least that's how things work in the real world. Rojo is fortunate that he has the qualifications needed for the job, and he's the employer's first choice. I don't know if he's mentioned there have been other applicants. As he stated, it's a newly opened establishment, and I assume it's probably a very small town, but job applicants don't normally ask their prospective employer to hold off on recruitment until it's convenient for them (applicants) to apply for the vacancy. Sorry, it doesn't always work that way; as a job seeker, the world doesn't revolve around you. In 99.9% of cases, you do have to compete for the job, demonstrate your abilities, and prove why you're the best applicant, thus the job interview. The recruitment goes on whether or NOT it's convenient for the applicant.

Now in some instances, when the employer has determined that they have made their choice in hiring the right person for the job, then they and the applicant can probably work out a plan as far as the official start date.

 

[Mallory]

The last position I accepted (current company) gave me three months before reporting to work. Granted, it involved selling my house on the east coast, buying a new one on the west coast and moving my family and all my possessions, but if an employer really wants you then they're generally willing to accept a little delay. That's been my experience anyway.