Job Interview...need your help preparing

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Imafitnessfreak

Cathlete
Hey guys! I know many of you work in the health/fitness industry and that is something I would like to do. Right now I am in law with business background with a Masters Degree in changing diapers. I have a job interview at Curves for Women next week. It has been YEARS (nearly a decade) since I did a job interview. Given the type of environment(fitness), what type of questions do you think they will ask me? Throw as many samples at me...whatever you can think of! I want to be ready!

Additional Info, job description does not require certified PT, says it would be perfect for someone re-entering the work force, they know the only background I have in exercise is my own obsession thus far.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
 
I don't know what kinds of questions they would ask. From what I've read, Curves employees don't necessarily have much training at all in exercise technique: it really varies from center to center. Your familiarity with safe technique may be a point in your favor. Though I've also read from other posters at VF who have done Curves, that they don't want their employees to help people with form, etc., so just follow their lead on it.

In general, I'd say become as informed as you can about "Curves," so you can ask them some questions, and show that you know something about them. (You can go to www.videofitness.com and search for "Curves" to see information from a customer POV).
 
I agree with Kathryn, familiarize yourself as much as you can with Curves. I don't know what kind of interviews they give. Some places give a sort of "meet us and we meet you and take a look at our facilities" type interview. Other places give a more detailed interview. The last interview i was on was a few years ago, and some of the questions were: Why do you think you are the person for this job, how do you handle stress/change/difficult co-workers etc.... How do you handle difficult clients.....

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!
 
The pay was (less than) half of what I make from home working for my law firm. It would actually cost us money to take the job because of daycare costs, even at part time :-(!

My husband did order me the ACE study materials...they will be here Monday! Cannot wait for that!

Thanks for asking!
 
Hey Sarah, I can definitly feel you on that. I will be quitting my job soon for a lower paying job too. I would love to work in a gym again though. I love being around fitness minded people. I think when I do quit my FT job I will take some time beforehand and try to get certified as a trainer too. I have the manuals and would love to do that PT, for fun.


Good luck with ACE!
 
[Edited to show I can read English.... sigh]


Sarah, I'm sorry you didn't take the job.... I was going to say, just wear something that shows those awesome shoulders and you are in!!!!

Cheers,
Marie
 
Sarah,

There is a Curves here in Phx that is hiring right now. I am tempted to go check it out for something "fun". Do you remember any specifics about the job that you learned in your interview. I realize it is a franchise and they are all different, I just thought you could give me some info........like what was the pay?? I know you said it was miserable, but HOW miserable, LOL???

Thanks!!
 
VERY miserable!!! $7 to start and $8 after so many weeks. It was basically babysitting...making sure the ladies moved from station to station. I was told you would show the new members how to use the equipment and encourage stretching. I am sure it would have been somewhat fun but I would had to do daycare for a few hours for 2 kids so I would have lost money.

The other thing...I was too small and too young for the job. The owner said that far too often the women (hungry) women would bark at you "you don't know what it's like being big because your so small" and since the majority of the ladies are older...same scenario...

At least check it out!!! Phx is way different than Ohio! We have so much cold here that everyone just let's themselves go! My DH went to Phx for work a few years back and he was amazed at how beautiful and fit everyone was. When your in shorts most of the time, it encourages people to stay in shape! Those in Ohio have very little motivation!:-( :eek:
 
Hi Sarah!

I just wanted to say that I think you absolutely made the right decision in not taking the Curves job. And it's not just because of the low pay. I'm an AFAA certified trainer, and I worked at a Curves while I was studying for my personal training certification.

Sarah, it was so difficult to watch the circuit, and teach the circuit when we are so used to a totally different way of working out. I used to get in trouble all the time because people would ask me what I do as far as workouts and asked me if they could hire me to train them. And I was not allowed to show them any exercises or deter in any way from the Curves workout. I even got in trouble for showing someone a tricep kickback for them to do at home.

That was several years ago and I now have a few of those women as my clients. Some still belong to Curves, as I'm not into stealing, but they also work with me. And my husband and I pay for my Mom's Curves membership and she loves it. So I do believe it has it's place.

It is what it is...but trust me I've been there...you would have had no peace and unfortunately since you are in such AWESOME shape, you really would have been given a VERY HARD TIME. Not that I think you couldn't have handled it, but Sarah you would have been losing money to be harrassed!

Definitely get your personal training cert. ACE is great. I think you'll be a fantastic trainer in a more traditional gym setting. You're expertise and experience really would have been wasted at Curves. Just my opinion, but I've been there!! Best of luck in your studies!!! :) :)
 
Thanks for the info. Sounds like I wouldn't like that job too much! Anyway, they need Fridays and I can't do that cuz I am in school. Maybe I'll get my ACE instead. After all, I have the books!:)
 
Sarah
A short time ago I decided to try out similar jobs at the YMCA and at a local womens health club. I declined for the same reason. It ended up being not worth leaving home for financially. My DH joked that at least if I took the job I wouldn't be spending money during that time, but of course I could always come home and buy on the Cathe site!
Judy
"Likes2bfit" since 1999
 
I just want to give a different view of Ohio! I live here, too, and I don't find that the people here have very little motivation or are letting themselves go any more than the general population.

Where I live, the roads are full of people running or walking all the time. The park district is building a beautiful bike trail even though we have long, brutal winters. I went to the Y yesterday and it was packed - the aerobics classes were filled up, the swimming pool was filled with seniors taking a water aerobics class and the fitness room was so busy that you had to wait for machines!

Erica
 
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