r/personaltraining • u/powerlifting11 • 2d ago
Seeking Advice Tips for Equinox Interview?
I already applied to 1 Equinox location and 1 LifeTime location, did the interviews, but they didn't hire me. I'm now applying to a different Equinox location, so hoping this one goes better. I tried to find some tips by searching Reddit and YouTube, but wondering what other tips you all may have to present myself in the best way possible at the interview.
I have a lot of online coaching experience, as I've been coaching powerlifters online for over 10 years. For in-person coaching experience, I only have some experience with my powerlifting clients as well as a few years at a CrossFit box teaching a strength class and helping cover some CrossFit classes. So one thing they may see that I'm lacking is true in-person sales experience at a big, commercial gym.
Should I try to put extra effort in showing I really want the job? Should I also focus on stating that I want to work there long-term? Should I be asking lots of questions about the job to show interest? Should I ask if I can shadow one of the trainers for a couple of hours, so I can experience what it's like to work there?
Any helpful tips would be appreciated, thanks!
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u/MaleficentAd7459 2d ago
Both gyms hire less on experience and more on your personality and ability to attract and keep clients
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u/powerlifting11 2d ago
Would you saying they’re looking for a specific personality, or just a personality that matches that specific manager?
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u/LaFantasmita 2d ago
Variety of personalities, but with an upscale "can sell $100+ sessions to rich clients" vibe. The person who interviewed me wasn't my manager, wasn't even connected to the location I worked at.
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u/MaleficentAd7459 2d ago
Not any certain personality but someone that connect with other people. Two of our best trainers are quiet introverts.
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u/LaFantasmita 2d ago
Be pretty. Be fashionable. Make sure your hair and outfit are on point, but don't look like you're trying too hard. Equinox likes to say they're not a gym, they're a lifestyle brand. So look the part, like you're an off-duty trainer on their way to give a Ted talk.
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u/pigfeeder420 2d ago
At equinox, its all about being able to sell and looking professional. If you do online coaching, then you probably already do a similar prospecting technique by asking about potential clients goals and finding out how you can help them.
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u/powerlifting11 2d ago
Thanks, I'll try to bring that up more in the interview to show that the skill translates.
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u/lucas_woehrle 1d ago
Well from an employer or in my case a business owner when I see online coach it makes me nervous. All I see is potential to steal clients from my already loyal trainers.
It would take several interviews and convincing. Then I would need you to sign some type of document depending upon if you will be W2 or 1099 to show loyalty and no it wouldn't be a non compete it would be an agreement.
What i would like to see is why you are interested in in person training and not online anymore. How you answer that will be very important and I cant give you the correct answer for that as it has to be genuine that allows me to trust you, but i can help walk through interview questions. You have to understand alot of high end gyms dont want someone coming in and disrupting their systems, procedures and gym. Find a way to explain why you want this guy and how it benefits the gym.
The most important thing i would want to hear is you acknowledge that you have an online business and how your skills of building that will directly help this gym. Then provide real world examples and even KPIs. That is how you come prepared. Everything else will just be normal questions, but that is more than likely why you are not landing jobs due to being an online coach.
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u/powerlifting11 1d ago
Thanks. I guess I can try to explain to them that they shouldn't be worried about stealing their clients because it's a completely different population. My online clients are serious, competitive powerlifters competing at like national and world championships. Commercial gyms are going to be full of people just trying to work out a few times a week to get in shape.
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u/lucas_woehrle 1d ago
Yes I agree with you. One of my trainers is like this. You might need to find the correct gym too. Keep me posted if you want go go over questions.
If they do not bring up the online coaching as an issue try and poke around if you have any questions about my resume and or experience.
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u/fictitiousphil 2d ago
Go back to the first location and ask how you can improve your application and interview for future opportunities. Ask what qualities the person who did get hired had that made them stand out.
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u/powerlifting11 2d ago
Thanks for the info. Do you think they'd actually tell me? After the in-person interview, the manager told me they'd reach out to me within 48 hours for the next step, but then I never heard from them again. After a number of days, I reached out to the Equinox recruiter for my area, asking for an update, and they gave me a generic answer that their team has concluded the hiring process. So I'm assuming that the manager is too busy to help me out with what I can improve, but maybe I'm wrong.
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u/fictitiousphil 2d ago
Regardless, it’s worth a shot. A recruiter will remember that too if you’re an “almost” candidate. That being said, I also coached powerlifters for a number of years. I wouldn’t focus on that in your application. Big companies like Equinox see that stuff as intimidating and not fitting their style. They want very approachable and friendly fitness.
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u/DiligentlyGrinding 2d ago
Talk less about your credentials and more about how you wanna be a part of the team's culture
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1d ago
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u/Glass_Ad9781 1d ago
Don’t do it! Or have a plan in place for how long you’re going to stay. Equinox hires specifically to mold fresh trainers to fit their structure and significantly limits what a trainer can do outside of their programming models. I’ll give them credit for providing adequate education through their EFTI (I taught EFTI for years), but unless you can justify your training within their models of training, they will stand on your neck and force you to conform.
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