I emailed my resume to the person whole contact info was listed for a new location.
He emailed me back the same evening asking that I come in for an interview the following week at a specific time and day.
I went to the location for my interview, and it was a recruiting office they had set up. The girls at the front asked if I applied already, I stated I had an interview with him at that time, and he already had my resume. I was told to fill out an application in the waiting area first and wait to be called. Anyone could have just walked in off the street for the same "interview" process.
I was called over to a desk to be interviewed by one of the people on their HR team. She was friendly and asked very basic interview questions. Tell me about yourself. What job did you like the most, what did you like the least? What would a former employer say about you? Do you have reliable transportation? Do you have any problems being on time? She asked if I would be interested in Personal Training. I had already told her that my goal, ultimately is to be a trainer and that I was studying for my certification test. I applied for the front desk position because I did not think they would consider me as a trainer without certification, isn't that illegal? She informed me that as an employee, I could get certified for free, online, through a program they have that is accredited and I could take the certification with me when I leave. She said it only takes a few days to study online and then you just have to pass the test. She told me I would talk to the Personal Training Manager next.
Sat back down. Talked to another applicant who was also interviewed for personal trainer and he has never been certified. While we waited, the Personal Training Manager did a group "interview" with a bunch of prospective trainers and stressed over and over the boss wants everyone to know the vision, mission, what sets us apart and our core values. We can't proceed with your 2nd interview without this memorized. He sent them on their way and then I was called to his desk.
For this interview, he asked: Do you like working out? How often do you work out? Do you have reliable transportation? Can you get to work on time? So you'll have no problem being on time? I was never asked anything about my knowledge of training or anything health related. He gave me the Mission/Core Values/Vision, Walk-in and phone scripts packet, told me to memorize it and come back Thursday.
Thursday, I come back, recite the info and swapped 2 lines of the pages of stuff that had to be memorized. He told me I'd have to make sure to have it word for word, OK, that's fine. He told me I'd have to get my NSCA certification completed first. What about the free online certification? I'm sure a free online certification isn't a great one even if it is accredited, but that was the main appeal of taking a minimum wage job for the free cert that I could hold in addition to NSCA's distinguished cert. Without the free certification I was no longer interested in the personal trainer position.