The health and fitness industry is massive, with a broad range of different career opportunities within it. If you’re a health and fitness fanatic, then the idea of working in the industry will be an exciting one. But what are the best jobs in the sports industry? We’ve listed some of our top career ideas for people who love health and fitness.
Gym owner
If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit, why not consider opening your own gym? There is lots of help available for new businesses, whether it’s financial support in the form of a new business loan or practical advice on devising a plan.
PE teacher
Teaching as a career is usually considered to be very rewarding and quite lucrative; so, if you’re into health and fitness, then a job in physical education teaching is ideal. Depending on what country or state you live in, there are different qualifications you’ll need to become a PE teacher, but generally, you’ll need higher or university education. Check with the relevant authorities in your area to determine exactly what qualifications you need.
Sports therapist / physiotherapist
If you’re interested in the medical side of fitness, then a sports therapist or physiotherapist might just be for you. As someone who’s familiar with the world of fitness, you’ll already know that sports injuries are extremely common. Pulled muscles and torn tendons are a painful reality for many athletes and usually the only way to fix these injuries is through physical therapy. This is where a sports therapist or physiotherapist can help. These professionals will identify injuries and then devise a programme to aid with the individual’s recovery.
Personal trainer
Working as a personal trainer can be very rewarding. Furthermore, a qualification in personal training opens a lot of doors to you within the fitness industry. Many people who have studied courses for personal trainers go on to run their own business or work in gyms or sports centres. A qualification in personal training can also be a good solid grounding for further education in sports and fitness or for a future career in athletic training where you work with professional athletes.
Sports journalist
If you enjoy writing and fitness, then sports journalism might be the ideal opportunity for you. However, keep in mind that you might have to start out in regular news journalism before breaking out into the sport side of things. While there are lots of qualifications in journalism, many newspapers and broadcasters favour practical experience, so try to get as much of that as you can. Offer to help at your local newspaper – start small and you can work your way up. Many newspapers have a dedicated sports desk, so you might be able to get the relevant work experience through that.
Athlete
If you’re especially skilled in a particular sport, then you might consider following a professional career in it. Whether it’s weightlifting, judo, gymnastics, horse show-jumping, swimming, or any other activity, there is a vast range of sports that can be played at professional or semi-professional level. The best way to start on this path is to join a local club in your chosen sport and see how you progress to see if it’s worth pursuing as a serious career.
Sportswear designer
If you’re talented at art but also love health and fitness, then why not consider a career in designing fitness apparel? Combining your two passions in the one job will be inspiring and uplifting. Plus, by being a sporty person yourself, you’ll be able to better understand your target customer, which will help you in your designs.
Conclusion
Whether you want to inspire others through teaching or personal training, you want to start your own business, or you want to get into the medical or creative side of sport, there is a career in health and fitness to suit all interests and skills.
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