For many of our students wanting to become a Personal Trainer is a career change, it is important to understand that the skills you have obtained elsewhere are transferable to a variety of working roles.
Functional skills in English, maths and information and communication technology (ICT) are essential for coping in everyday life and in many working roles.
With social media taking over our lives, it’s important to understand how our interactions affect each other and how essential our basic skills are not only over the phone and via email but also face to face.
English (writing, reading, speaking and listening) is needed to:
• Speak and listen to customers and colleagues (e.g. giving and receiving instructions).
• Read manuals, work-related policies and job descriptions.
• Write emails or messages, sign documents, complete employment application forms, fill in accident reports and complete risk assessment checklists.
• Ask and respond to questions (gathering and imparting information among customers and colleagues).
Mathematics (using numbers, ratios and percentages) is needed to:
• Manage money and budgets.
• Prepare work rotas and timesheets.
• Measure space, distance, mileage or quantities.
• Compare statistics.
• Work with ratios and percentages.
ICT skills are needed to:
• Send and receive emails or texts.
• Use the telephone.
• Gather information from the internet.
• Use eLearning packages to develop skills and knowledge.
• Use software to create flyers or posters.
• Work with ratios and percentages. ‘Soft skills’ or ‘people skills’ are essential for daily living and are in high demand in many work sectors.
They are also very transferable. These skills can include:
• Active listening, questioning and other communication skills.
• Collaborating and working with others for team projects.
• Meeting, greeting and working with people for customer service.
• Assertive leadership skills for managerial positions.
• First aid and health and safety skills to help keep the workplace safe