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Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 10:46:27
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Nice_lad21
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From: Newcastle
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In a little bit of a muddle here guys, finishing my 3rd year at Uni in september. Completion award in graphic design.
Had my interview tuesday and everything went well.
The problem is my passion seems to be in the gym, fitness, gym instructor type career.
Being based up in the north east, Newcastle upon tyne, the wages for this kind of career are roughly 15000-16000 per year which is not a great salary.
On the other hand graphic design can may alot, the only problem is you got to be passionate and be seriously good to make money,
I'm stressing out because on the one hand I want to follow my head and do graphic design, on other side, my passion is working out, helping people and tryin to change someones life.
Its wrong to follow a career in my opinion purely based upon money but I'm seriously not sure what to do.
Any advice lads?
cheers
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 11:03:40
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cu3ed
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Its certainly not wrong to follow somthing for the money side of things, esp these days.
Reliastically how far can you for being an instructer!?, how far can you realistically get in Design, which you will be starting aas s junior and working your way up, would it not be possible in yoru Junior years to take up some learning on the Fitness side of things while you do this!?
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 11:11:34
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Nice_lad21
Posts: 497
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From: Newcastle
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quote:
ORIGINAL: cu3ed
Its certainly not wrong to follow somthing for the money side of things, esp these days.
Reliastically how far can you for being an instructer!?, how far can you realistically get in Design, which you will be starting aas s junior and working your way up, would it not be possible in yoru Junior years to take up some learning on the Fitness side of things while you do this!?
yeah it probaly would be. I mean junior designers these days up here in newcastle are on 17-22 per year which is pretty could salary.
just dont want to make the wrong decision, im 22 now.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 11:12:56
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cu3ed
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Fck sakes mate, plenty of time to work in it then change your mind.
Tho, bear in mind, somthing you like as your passion can become somthing else when it becomes your job!, be warned!
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 11:15:06
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GRIFF 1980
Posts: 3548
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From: Christchurch, Dorset
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From my own experiences, money wise there is little to be made in the fitness industry, unless of course you work all the hours god sends and are in an area where you can do well.
I initially did some personal training and found it hard to make ends meet, since then I have gone back to my previous career and still just do the odd bit of personal training, running classes outside of work, and have my own personal training company setup as a sole trader,more as a hobby as my passion still lies there, however I have a mortgage to pay and need to be realistic, for me I couldn't match my income I earn as an accountant so looks lie this is where my main career will lie.
Best of luck to whatever you do though mate. 
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GRIFFS REBULID 2008
quote:
ORIGINAL: noname
# Just finished 45 minutes cardio done on empty and have now had my first shake of the day.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 11:49:36
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Nice_lad21
Posts: 497
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From: Newcastle
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cheers for that griff
in an ideal word we'd all b fitness instructers if it payed well.
My life is so fuked at the moment its unreal
Qualified to foundation degree standard in multimedia(web design), didnt like all the coding etc more of the creation
dropped out of advertising, and now going to top up my foundation degree to a BA hons which will hopefully lead me onto graphic design.
No experience in the field, little knowledge, dont know where to go lol. Best learn it over the summer I guess, no way am i going to do another degree.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 13:48:32
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Faux Real
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If I were you I'd do freelance graphic design and freelance personal trainer.
It will be up to you to find the clients for both so might be a bit risky but at least you have two fields to work in.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 14:19:18
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Lord Monkcheese
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The perception of working in fitness and the reality are a world apart. From my experience (3 years as instructor/asst manager/manager) I became very cynical over the whole fitness industry and how flawed it was.
Like you I had a passion for fitness and a desire to help people realise their fitness aims.
Unfortunately, the majority of members don't share your passion and getting a productive workout from many of them proved to be very frustrating. Spending time with a member, showing them some useful, uncomplicated exercises, explaining about how the intensity of the workout has a bearing on their results, explaining how the metal dumbbells won't magically make you big and muscular, doing all this then seeing them the next week spending 30 minutes on the X-Trainer on level one and doing bicep curls with the plastic dumbbells completely put me off the industry.
Of course there are some fantastic members who listen to your advice and wisdom, put it into practice and reap the rewards from doing so, and they made the job worthwhile, but I found them to be the exception rather than the norm.
PTing on the other hand is a completely different ballgame. If someone wants you to train them, they've at least made a conscious decision to do something positive to realise their goals so will be more motivated than your average member I describe above.
On the flip-side, seeing a PT once a week often meant they thought they could eat cakes and sit in front of the TV for the rest of the week as if you were some super-being that could transform them from only 2 hours of activity a week.
Working in the fitness industry is easier than ever as there are a multitude of courses you can take that can have you qualified in as little as 2 weeks. It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be any good, but you'll be qualified to work in a gym (though not deliver personal training)
You've spent a few years getting to where you are now. I'd hate to think you give it all up for something which may prove to be no more rewarding and even less so financially.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 16:48:48
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GRIFF 1980
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^^^ Good post Lord M ^^^
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GRIFFS REBULID 2008
quote:
ORIGINAL: noname
# Just finished 45 minutes cardio done on empty and have now had my first shake of the day.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 17:18:28
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dirtyvest
Posts: 17338
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From: UK
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Lord Monkcheese
The perception of working in fitness and the reality are a world apart. From my experience (3 years as instructor/asst manager/manager) I became very cynical over the whole fitness industry and how flawed it was.
Like you I had a passion for fitness and a desire to help people realise their fitness aims.
Unfortunately, the majority of members don't share your passion and getting a productive workout from many of them proved to be very frustrating. Spending time with a member, showing them some useful, uncomplicated exercises, explaining about how the intensity of the workout has a bearing on their results, explaining how the metal dumbbells won't magically make you big and muscular, doing all this then seeing them the next week spending 30 minutes on the X-Trainer on level one and doing bicep curls with the plastic dumbbells completely put me off the industry.
Of course there are some fantastic members who listen to your advice and wisdom, put it into practice and reap the rewards from doing so, and they made the job worthwhile, but I found them to be the exception rather than the norm.
PTing on the other hand is a completely different ballgame. If someone wants you to train them, they've at least made a conscious decision to do something positive to realise their goals so will be more motivated than your average member I describe above.
On the flip-side, seeing a PT once a week often meant they thought they could eat cakes and sit in front of the TV for the rest of the week as if you were some super-being that could transform them from only 2 hours of activity a week.
Working in the fitness industry is easier than ever as there are a multitude of courses you can take that can have you qualified in as little as 2 weeks. It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be any good, but you'll be qualified to work in a gym (though not deliver personal training)
You've spent a few years getting to where you are now. I'd hate to think you give it all up for something which may prove to be no more rewarding and even less so financially.
Wise words I have worked within the indusrty for 10 years and have a good few friends who do also. I'm lucky but none of the guys I know who are instructors earn more than £15k a year, and some are mid 30s and been doing it for a very long time. They are shown no loyalty as there are people 10 years tounger wanting to get a job who'll take £3k a year less. Others I know are nothing more than glorified salesmen/women and again if you don't meet your targets then you are out... one gym this way has had 5 'managers' in as many years for exactly that reason.
Good money doing the job you love comes from being a brilliant PT, even then it can be pretty thankless with a bulk of your work being to try and motivate those with minimal desire to train to lose BF.
If I had my time again I would not have scrificed so much to get into this line of work, personally speaking
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 22:28:58
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SlipDigby
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I qualified with my degree in Graphic Design in 2001. Worked in the industry for 2 years after and found it to be on the ****e side when it comes to pay and job satisfaction. College is great as you get the freedom to use your creatvity in briefs but in the real world when people are paying for work, they know what they want and you act as more of a mac-geek who can bring their ideas to life. Don't get me wrong, get into a good design Co. and the good creaive jobs will come your way, but this industry is hard to crack and jobs are few and far between.
I now work on a freelance basis and don't have to rely on it as a wage. I also get to pick the jobs I like so can afford to be picky. Day-to-day I work as a building inspector on 25.5k per year, 5 week annual leave a year, company pension, flexible working hours - a lot more than your average graphic designer job. Don't get me wrong, it's not what I trained to be, but easy to do and pay is regular. This gives me time to put effort into things I enjoy outside of work.
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RE: Gym Instructer/Graphic Design - May 8 2008 22:35:34
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lilbigman
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Like I say, work is for money, not enjoyment, but enjoyment coming with it is a plus.
If you don't have a passion for design then why did you take it at university? Seems a bit of a waste, imo.
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