Are you looking for a career that helps you support people, improve their lives, and reach their personal goals? Then working in health and nutrition could be for you!
Coaches, personal trainers, or dieticians work one-on-one with people to make a real difference in their lives. These jobs also let you set your own hours and fees. And, with a global worth of over $5 billion, this industry offers great financial security!
Knowing how to get started in the industry will ensure you have a long and successful career. So read on to find out how to find health and fitness jobs and kickstart your career today.
Careers in Health and Nutrition
The health and wellness industry in America is huge. So before you start looking for jobs you need to choose which areas you’re interested in.
There is a lot of overlap within these jobs and understanding all the facets of health and fitness is important. However, choosing a specialism means you’ll be able to offer your clients specific support.
Coaching
Coaching is the most overarching career you can choose in the wellness industry.
Becoming a coach means that you’ll support clients in all areas of their life. You’ll work alongside them to identify their goals and figure out how to achieve these.
You can also train to become a specialist coach, such as a life, health, or holistic wellness coach.
Nutrition and Diet
Dieticians and nutritionists support people with changes they want to make to their food habits. This might be to lose weight or to improve their energy levels.
If you want to work in this area, you could become a:
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
- Food Scientist
- Sports Nutritionist
- Clinical Dietician
- Food Safety Auditor
- Nutritional Therapist
These roles allow you to work alongside clients and support medical professionals.
Personal Training
Personal trainers primarily focus on fitness and helping their clients stay active. Often, trainers work one-on-one with clients to achieve their specific goals.
However, many trainers make extra money running fitness classes or clubs as well.
Mental Health Specialists
Wellness isn’t just about your physical health. Mental health is also incredibly important so specializing in this area can make a huge difference.
If you are interested in nutrition, for example, you could train to become an eating disorder nutritionist. This will give you the skills to work alongside clients who are overcoming anorexia or bulimia.
Health and Fitness Career Skills
Working in health and fitness can be demanding. You need to:
- Be empathetic, patient, and supportive
- Create an environment where clients can open up about their challenges
- Help clients identify their goals
- Understand their limits and boundaries
- Find a pace that works for your clients
- Understand how to motivate people
- Have fantastic teaching skills
Being sociable and client-centered is key.
You also need to be organized, self-motivated, and able to market yourself. This will help you find work and connect with new clients.
Qualifying for a Career in Nutrition and Wellness
Having the skills to work in the health and wellness industry isn’t the only thing you need. You also need to look for a certification course.
These courses will give you a thorough understanding of the area you want to work in. This includes everything from diet and fitness to the psychology of motivation. You can do this training in person or look for an online course.
Your certification will also show clients and employers that you have the skills and experience needed to work in this field.
It is a good idea to get certified in the field you want to work in. For example, if you want to become a personal trainer look for personal trainer certification online. This specialist training will set you apart from other candidates when you apply for jobs.
Finding Health and Fitness Jobs
Once you are qualified, you can start looking for a health and fitness job. The best place to find these depends a little on which field you want to work in.
When you are starting out, look for businesses that offer the services you can deliver.
For example, if you are a personal trainer, gyms often post job vacancies. Or, if your certification is in coaching, take a look at life coaching businesses and charities.
Some businesses may have permanent vacancies that they are looking to fill. However, many people in this industry work on a freelance basis. This allows you the flexibility to work with a range of clients and manage your own time.
Setting Up Your Own Business
Working in the health and wellness industry is a great business opportunity. So you may be interested in starting your own business.
It is a good idea to get at least one year’s experience before you do this. This will teach you a lot about the industry. It’ll help you identify your target market and give you a chance to build your network.
You can transition to self-employment gradually. As you take on more private clients, you can cut down your “day job” hours. This is a great way of dipping your toe into self-employment without taking a huge financial risk.
If you do want to set up your own business, there are several things you should have in place. As well as marketing and branding your business, you need to:
- Find a facility or venue
- Get liability insurance
- Register your business
- Set up your company accounts
- Invest in any equipment you need
- Reach out to potential investors for financial backing
There is no one way to run a health and wellness business. However, planning is the key to success. So make sure you set aside time to choose the type of business you want to build and decide how you are going to do this.
Start Your Career in Health and Nutrition Today
Working in health and nutrition can be extremely rewarding. You’ll have the chance to help people improve their quality of life and reach their personal goals.
So what are you waiting for? Start your training and get qualified for your dream job in fitness and nutrition today.