As I alluded to this morning, I have some news to share with you guys! I wanted to wait until I got the official call before I shared anything and since I heard the good news this afternoon, I feel comfortable letting you guys in on the latest development in my life.
Right after I got my personal training certification through NASM, I began searching for a fitness-related job in Ocala. Unfortunately there are a limited number of gyms in Ocala and therefore a limited number of jobs. (One day I accidentally typed Orlando into craigslist and thought I finally hit the job jackpot! Not the case.)
The jobs I found near me were still a solid 45-minute drive away, so when a personal training job finally opened up at a local gym within 20 minutes of my house, I was so excited.
I applied immediately and went in to talk with someone right away. The week before we left on our vacation, I had my first formal interview. Yesterday I had a follow-up interview with two more people and found myself getting more and more excited about possibly joining their team. We seem to share a similar fitness philosophy and they were extremely receptive to my desire to eventually transition into instructing group exercise classes when I have that certification and feel comfortable. (And we talked about BodyPump! I think I may even be able to lead the charge to bring that class to the gym which would be amazing.)
I go in on Monday to fill out the paperwork and do the whole drug test thang, but I should be starting at the gym very soon! I’m really looking forward to a new adventure and more human interaction. I’ve missed being around people every day and think this will be a great new challenge. I’m nervous and excited all at once.
So now that the news is out, let’s fly through the rest of the day, shall we?
Lunch
Leftovers for lunch!
Last night I made a giant batch of Easy Orange Chicken for dinner and reheated two drumsticks for lunch today after I arrived home from an afternoon Taste of Ocala meeting.
I served the drumsticks with a sweet, crisp apple and roasted broccoli and cauliflower that I tossed in olive oil and the leftover orange sauce.
Now I’m off to continue working away on a PowerPoint presentation. Fun stuff!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Congratulations! This sounds like an exciting job.
YEAH YEAH YEAH, thats so awesome!!! I can’t wait to hear all about it!!! My trainers, instructors at my gym are MY backbone to staying fit and healthy and you will so fit right in with your awesome personality!!!!
Julie! Which gym are you at? I’m interested in being one of your clients!
Congratulations Julie, that’s great news!!
I would love to join your classes! Such an inspiration. Can you disclose where in Ocala?
Woohoo! Congrats; very exciting. Best of luck in the new gig. I have no doubt you’ll excel with clients and, soon, with group classes.
Congratulations! Interesting that you have to take a drug test before starting your job is that mandatory in the US ?
In the UK there is no mandatory drug testing for Gyms before employment is this voluntary in the US?
congrats julie…
Woohoo! Congrats; very exciting. Best of luck in the new gig. I have no doubt you’ll excel with clients and, soon, with group classes.Best of luck…
Congratulations Julie, that’s great news!! have a great time ahead.
Hi Julie,
Just wanted to ask if you ever struggled with not having any experience when getting your first personal training job? Not in the sense that employers wouldn’t give you a chance (since I know the certification alone is highly respected) but I guess just feeling intimidated when it comes to actually doing the job? I just passed my NASM exam last week (you wished me luck on Twitter!) but am feeling somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of now having to put my knowledge to the test. I’m sure training a real-life client is a lot different than just understanding concepts and I’m a little (okay a lot!) nervous about entering the field. Did you ever feel like this? Do you have any tips for a newbie like me? Anything advice you have would be gladly appreciated! Thank you!! 🙂