What Does a Personal Trainer Do?

Want to be a Personal Trainer? You need to know what the job's really like. Understanding the day-to-day reality helps you decide if it's the right path for you.

The truth is, being a Personal Trainer is much more than just leading workouts. It’s about creating life-changing experiences for your clients. Let’s break down what a Personal Trainer does and find out if it’s something you may be interested in.

Responsibilities of a Personal Trainer

You'll wear many hats as a PT. Here's exactly what your responsibilities are:

1. Help clients set and achieve goals

   Once a Personal Trainer performs their initial client consultation, the first thing they’ll do is sit down with their client and talk about setting goals. This part is unique for every client. Personal Trainers are responsible for setting clear and achievable goals. Whether their client wants to lose weight, build muscle, improve mobility or just get active, it’s the PT's job to make these goals in line with the client’s capabilities and interests.

2. Design tailored training programs

   Personal Trainers design customised fitness programs for every one of their clients. These training programs take into consideration their clients’ body mechanics, weaknesses, strengths and preferences. The best programs are the ones that are goal-focused, constantly evolving and resonate with what the client likes doing. 

3. Teach and correct exercise technique

   Personal Trainers guide their clients through workouts. They usually start by demonstrating the correct exercise and technique to give their client a visual understanding. Then, they ask their client to try it to make sure they’re using the correct posture and technique and are breathing normally. This way, they can prevent injuries and make sure their client targets the correct muscle groups. Personal Trainers are pros at doing this in an encouraging and motivating way — handing out praise when the client gets the correct form and technique is also part of the job!

4. Provide motivation and accountability

   Personal Trainers’ are a source of constant motivation and support. It’s all about creating an environment where clients feel encouraged, challenged and celebrated for their progress. Personal Trainers are there to guide their clients through every hurdle, whether that’s an unexpected setback or a fitness milestone they’ve been working toward for months or years. 

   Accountability is also a massive motivator for a lot of clients. Good Personal Trainers check up on their clients even when they aren’t at the gym, making sure they are staying on top of any out-of-gym exercises or activities to help them achieve their goals in a professional manner. 

5. Educate clients on lifestyle changes

   A Personal Trainer’s job goes beyond the gym floor. It’s their job to show clients how workouts, good nutrition and lifestyle choices work together to get results.

   A great PT guide clients through healthy habits like:

   • Smarter food choices

   • Proper recovery techniques

   • Quality sleep routines

   • Stress management

   • Hydration

   • Work-life balance

   • Active rest days

6. Stay on top of fitness trends and industry knowledge

   The fitness industry is always coming up with new training methods, technologies and health insights. The best PTs are lifelong learners, keeping their skills sharp and knowledge up-to-date. Whether it’s attending workshops, getting more certifications or simply reading the latest research, continuous education is a major part of being a successful Personal Trainer.

7. Behind-the-scenes planning

   There’s a whole lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into delivering training programs. Good Personal Trainers spend a lot of time documenting client goals and progress and will adjust their clients’ training plans to suit. 

   Staying organised and keeping accurate records is all a part of the job. This behind-the-scenes work makes it so the clients get the most out of every session and that their progress is always measurable.

What’s your role as a Personal Trainer?

So, what does a Personal Trainer actually do? You’re a motivator, an educator, a technician and a coach all rolled into one. You’ll guide clients through personalised workouts, keep them on track, record their progress and make sure they achieve their fitness goals safely. Best of all, you get to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Ready to jump in and start your journey as a Personal Trainer? At AIPT, we’re here to help you become the best trainer you can be. Turn your love of fitness into a career with our nationally recognised PT courses. Call 1300 616 180 and chat with our Career Advisors about getting started.