The Great Recruit

Together we can raise awareness of the benefits of working in fitness

By Kyle Tomlin

Fitness Clubs are open and struggling to find enough qualified professionals to meet their staffing requirements. It is time for the fitness community to come together and provide creative solutions to an age-old problem.

The message across the fitness industry is clear, after a year and a half of pandemic related closures, the doors to the fitness world are finally open again. Clubs and studios are bringing back their members, and the societal focus on health and wellness is also exposing new clients to all the fantastic clubs, studios, and boutique options available. This is welcome news to club and facility owners who have struggled to survive. However, one last great challenge now exists, finding thousands of talented and qualified fitness professionals to provide the experience that members demand.

When the doors to the fitness world were closed across north America, most fitness professionals were left in an uncomfortable position with limited options. Do I wait this out and hope clubs open soon? Do I pivot my services online to maintain my clients? Or do I leave the fitness industry all together? Sadly, in many cases, the third option was what many fit pro’s chose. A lack of job security combined with low overall compensation levels pre-pandemic left many in the fitness world seeking employment elsewhere. Now with the doors of fitness open, club owners are looking for new and creative ways to lure talented fitness professionals back to the clubs.

The fitness industry continues to be an attractive option for those who seek to combine their passion for fitness with a means to be compensated for it. The benefits of being a fitness industry professional are still incredibly attractive, and opportunities are growing further by society’s focus on healthy lifestyle and physical activity. Flexible work schedules, being able to develop your own brand and following, and the ability to develop your brand in fitness as a “side hustle” while you maintain another career elsewhere are all elements that are incredibly attractive to the modern workforce. The “gig economy” gained further traction throughout the pandemic, and the fitness industry is ideally suited for it.

So, what is the challenge?

In her latest blog, Nathalie Lacombe (www.nathalielacombe.com) acknowledges that fitness professionals want to get back to work, and club owners want to bring in extraordinary talent and are looking for creative solutions. However, a new type of working relationship needs to be explored to provide the environment and compensation levels that will draw fit pro’s back to clubs. “Fitness pros keep telling me they hate being seen as staff who just come in to teach their class or train their client, and then leave. They want to be seen as an integral part of the staff, as key to bringing in new clients and renewing memberships.” The style of compensation that club owners provide can evolve to provide more opportunities for fitness professionals to be compensated for the following they have developed, and the new members that they draw to the clubs they work in.

Other creative solutions involve online career fairs, information sessions, and campaigns that the entire fitness industry can support that raise awareness of the benefits that being a fitness professional provides. Being vocal and proud to share how great it can be to help others become healthy and fit, and to have that as a career or side hustle is a message that the entire fitness industry can promote collectively. The combined strength of the entire fitness industry is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to raise awareness of the benefits of working in fitness.

Three tips to improve recruitment and engagement:

1. Share your company values and vision publicly and be bold about it.

• This will help enhance your brand as an attractive employer. Particularly with those who seek more fulfilling career choices.

2. Be flexible and open to new ways to partner with staff.

• The modern work force is looking for flexible work environments and multiple ways to earn income from various sources.

3. Evaluate and modernize your compensation models.

• Fit pros want to be compensated for the full value they bring to your company, not just for time spent in your club.

Alana Free, vice president of people and culture with GoodLife Fitness, adds that GoodLife is digging deeper into the employee value proposition. Now more than ever it is critical to listen to employees and build on the best parts of working for GoodLife.

“Pay, benefits, and perks are critical but increasingly these are basic requirements for a role in fitness. It is more important than ever to offer meaningful roles in which every employee has a sense of purpose and belonging. Fitness professionals want to know they can learn and grow in their job and that the work they do will make a real difference in people’s lives. That is what a career in fitness should be and that is what we strive to deliver.”

For now, the recruitment challenge across the industry remains a significant one. For the fitness industry to truly get back to its pre-pandemic levels, clubs must all work together to find a new and vibrant workforce that can provide the experience that will both bring members back and draw new fitness consumers out of their homes and into the clubs.

As Vice President of Operations for canfitpro, Kyle Tomlin oversees the day-to-day fulfillment of services for canfitpro’s 25,000+ active members and fitness education customers. Kyle works closely with the canfitpro executive team, and fitness industry professionals across Canada, making fitness education and events more accessible. Under Kyle’s leadership, canfitpro has launched modern technology and improved customer service, making it easier than ever to find, order, and consume fitness education both online and in person. Kyle’s passion is to make fitness education adaptable, accessible, and frictionless, allowing more people to make their passion for fitness a profitable career.