Working in fitness management?

Skinnyrunt · 04-18-2012, 05:00 PM

Looking for some input please. I've been offered a management job working in a gym - the position's basically second in charge behind the general manager. The salary isn't so great, but I was told that there's a lot of opportunity for promotion within the company.

I'm looking to see if anyone works or has worked in a similar position, and wanted to hear others' experiences /advice. E.g. Is it enjoyable, can the money get better, is it worth it, are there really bigger and better paying positions to progress to within the industry etc

I've also been offered an office position in a software sales company, so I'm deciding between the two.

Thanks.

**Macho Man** · 04-18-2012, 05:15 PM

If it is anything like an LA Fitness, they will promote you quickly and give you all kinds of bonuses and incentives. Then they will ask you to work extra hours. Then, if you do even better, they will send you to some obscure club to try and boost the numbers there.

If your numbers ever start to drop, they will pull the rug out from under you and demote you faster than you can say "I'm a skinny runt!". I would NEVER work in management at a gym chain. Gym management=sales, cold calling, and hating your life.

theroymccoy · 04-18-2012, 06:07 PM

From my experience, the management at big box gyms are sharks; you gotta be hungry and willing to not care about hurting feelings, annoying people, pissing off people under you. If that's you, then go for it.

**steel1970** · 04-18-2012, 09:52 PM

I was a trainer at Retro Fitness, for EFT....loved it....then they wanted me to become the Training Manager...it was pretty good money with a real nice bonus/commission structure...hated it....like Macho said, cold calling, trying to pull sales off the floor, etc. It really sucked...Bad hours, didn't see my kids at all during the week....people wanting to schedule initial consults at 8pm, which is when I'm supposed to be leaving....lol....Not good, I'll tell you that. I lasted a week....lol

Skinnyrunt · 04-19-2012, 12:27 PM

Some interesting experiences and views guys, I appreciate it a lot.

The jobs are here in the UK in London. Both jobs pay about 16,500 GBP before tax. The fitness role is a management position in a Virgin Active club, dealing a lot with member enquiries and finances and admin, so not directly sales or cold calling or anything like that.The other job offer is working for the purchasing dept of a software provider company.

I guess I'm at a crossroads here.

**Macho Man** · 04-19-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinnyrunt

Some interesting experiences and views guys, I appreciate it a lot.

The jobs are here in the UK in London. Both jobs pay about 16,500 GBP before tax. The fitness role is a management position in a Virgin Active club, dealing a lot with member enquiries and finances and admin, so not directly sales or cold calling or anything like that.The other job offer is working for the purchasing dept of a software provider company.

I guess I'm at a crossroads here.

Fuck, go with the club full of active virgins; talk about a no brainer!

Just make sure you don't wear white to work.

mateus · 04-19-2012, 01:22 PM

^ftw

04-18-2012, 05:00 PM	#1
Skinnyrunt New Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 33	Working in fitness management? Looking for some input please. I've been offered a management job working in a gym - the position's basically second in charge behind the general manager. The salary isn't so great, but I was told that there's a lot of opportunity for promotion within the company. I'm looking to see if anyone works or has worked in a similar position, and wanted to hear others' experiences /advice. E.g. Is it enjoyable, can the money get better, is it worth it, are there really bigger and better paying positions to progress to within the industry etc I've also been offered an office position in a software sales company, so I'm deciding between the two. Thanks.

04-18-2012, 05:15 PM	#2
Macho Man Moderator/Intense Muscle Competitor Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,028	If it is anything like an LA Fitness, they will promote you quickly and give you all kinds of bonuses and incentives. Then they will ask you to work extra hours. Then, if you do even better, they will send you to some obscure club to try and boost the numbers there. If your numbers ever start to drop, they will pull the rug out from under you and demote you faster than you can say "I'm a skinny runt!". I would NEVER work in management at a gym chain. Gym management=sales, cold calling, and hating your life. __________________ 2010 NPC North Star- DNP

04-18-2012, 06:07 PM	#3
theroymccoy Heavyweight Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Do I like to drink beer? No. Am I lying? Yes. Posts: 1,599	From my experience, the management at big box gyms are sharks; you gotta be hungry and willing to not care about hurting feelings, annoying people, pissing off people under you. If that's you, then go for it. __________________ Max Muscle 5020 Katella Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-18-2012, 09:52 PM	#4
steel1970 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,944	I was a trainer at Retro Fitness, for EFT....loved it....then they wanted me to become the Training Manager...it was pretty good money with a real nice bonus/commission structure...hated it....like Macho said, cold calling, trying to pull sales off the floor, etc. It really sucked...Bad hours, didn't see my kids at all during the week....people wanting to schedule initial consults at 8pm, which is when I'm supposed to be leaving....lol....Not good, I'll tell you that. I lasted a week....lol __________________ STEEL To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *"SIMPLICITY, CONSISTENCY, INTENSITY"* Use my discount code at To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *Enter code STS987 and get 5% off*

04-19-2012, 01:22 PM	#7
mateus Lightweight Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 328	^ftw __________________ Save yourself 5% on all your To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. orders by using discount code MTM281 "Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." -Jim Rohn

04-19-2012, 12:27 PM	#5
Skinnyrunt New Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 33	Some interesting experiences and views guys, I appreciate it a lot. The jobs are here in the UK in London. Both jobs pay about 16,500 GBP before tax. The fitness role is a management position in a Virgin Active club, dealing a lot with member enquiries and finances and admin, so not directly sales or cold calling or anything like that.The other job offer is working for the purchasing dept of a software provider company. I guess I'm at a crossroads here.

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