Working At L.A. Fitness: Advice/Opinions Please?

[DracoMalfoy]

I was recently hired at L.A. Fitness as a Membership Sales Counselor. I needed a job badly so I threw caution to the wind. Everyone seems very shady. The managers keep showing off their Rolex watches. They keep talking about their 100K salaries. It just gives a wrong vibe.

I started researching the actual company and I've discovered alot of negativity from customers and former employees alike.

I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake.

Has anyone worked at L.A. Fitness or has been a former employee? Thanks.

[JH34PG]

horrible..12 a hr

[DracoMalfoy]

Yeah, plus it's only commission. They also seem to have a high turnover rate.

[MVP]

I was recently hired at L.A. Fitness as a Membership Sales Counselor. I needed a job badly so I threw caution to the wind. Everyone seems very shady. The managers keep showing off their Rolex watches. They keep talking about their 100K salaries. It just gives a wrong vibe.

I started researching the actual company and I've discovered alot of negativity from customers and former employees alike.

I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake.

Has anyone worked at L.A. Fitness or has been a former employee? Thanks.

You said it yourself. It's all about making money, just like any other corporate gym. The managers main concern is "how much money are you going to make them"

[HardGainer82]

They offered me the position of a trainer (which is strictly training) or a "Training Assistant Manager" (which is training + sales). I chose the former, and they never called back.

****'s weak.

[kgitaitis]

They offered me the position of a trainer (which is strictly training) or a "Training Assistant Manager" (which is training + sales). I chose the former, and they never called back.

****'s weak.

i had an interview as well with those same two postions... got the vibe of its all about money (although the pay was crappy) he was begging me to take the job, as my sales will help him climb the "ladder'... he told me this!
i decided to not take the job.

[kserajuddin]

Read this:
http://super-trainer.com/welcome-to-...orror-stories/

[BarneyUK]

i work there as a PT so technically i'm not employed by LA. All the people i work with are proper sound towards but there's a lot of bitchiness going on among the staff, managers not doing what they should and its all very profit orientated. I don't mind working there as a PT (even though the rent is massive!!) but i don't think i'd like to work there as an actual employee...

[kserajuddin]

i work there as a PT so technically i'm not employed by LA. All the people i work with are proper sound towards but there's a lot of bitchiness going on among the staff, managers not doing what they should and its all very profit orientated. I don't mind working there as a PT (even though the rent is massive!!) but i don't think i'd like to work there as an actual employee...

They switched to a rent based system? When was this? Maybe they private contract it at each location so the system is different - thanks for the heads up -

[dasixthsun]

def. need more info on that^. but to the op ? it sucks. The sales people are only about money, your only paid 6 dollars per session, and most of the time you will be working around incompetent trainers so the general public who will see you in the same uniform will automatically classify you as incompetent as well.

[timperry]

def. need more info on that^. but to the op ? it sucks. The sales people are only about money, your only paid 6 dollars per session, and most of the time you will be working around incompetent trainers so the general public who will see you in the same uniform will automatically classify you as incompetent as well.

Yep.. you got that right. You are only as good as your weakest trainer!
Members watch you like a hawk and will remember everything negative about you.

[DCov35]

i was a sales manager there..absolutely horrible..i was so burned out and i wanted to punched the GM in the face..the whole company is shady...all the way up to the regional mgr and above..if you can keep making them money your fine.

[alwayspumped001]

I was recently hired at L.A. Fitness as a Membership Sales Counselor. I needed a job badly so I threw caution to the wind. Everyone seems very shady. The managers keep showing off their Rolex watches. They keep talking about their 100K salaries. It just gives a wrong vibe.

I started researching the actual company and I've discovered alot of negativity from customers and former employees alike.

I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake.

Has anyone worked at L.A. Fitness or has been a former employee? Thanks.

I am a current employee, trainer. It is probably the shadiest place to work, it's all about money and who you know. I've been employed with the company for almost two years and honestly, it's been my favorite corporate gym. I am working on my B.S and about to start my masters, so the easy hours work for me. You can make a lot of money on the sales side but you have to be willing to really put your nose to the grindstone and suck it up for a while. The GM of training at my gym is 21 and my last was 22, they were both great and pulling down great salaries. It's an easy place for a female to work as well, so I suppose that may also be my bias. Good luck, and if you put some time and effort into it you might be pretty happy with the results.

[CoQ10]

I worked at L.A. Fitness for a while. Not the worst place, but certainly not the best. I suppose it's good for gaining experience, though.

Good luck.

-C10

[kingarty]

Would 24 be a better gym?

[Mythic Beast]

Would 24 be a better gym?

I think they're all the same, good thing about LA is that you don't HAVE to make sales at all if you're a trainer.

[kingarty]

I think they're all the same, good thing about LA is that you don't HAVE to make sales at all if you're a trainer.

which pays more?

[CoQ10]

which pays more?

24 Hour Fitness pays more, BUT, as previously mentioned, you have to get your own clients.

-C10

[ThaiFighter_83]

I've been working at LA Fitness for over two years. The pay is absolutely horrible, ever since they stopped paying you for hours on the schedule. Now, it's just 8 dollars per 30-minute session.

I just got my CSCS two months ago, and I was hoping to find another job. Unfortunately, there's a recession, so it's been super hard, even with a BS in Kinesiology, a CSCS, and filling out applications like crazy for the last couple months. At the moment, I like the new boss we just got, and I'm just looking to stay busy and keep working, so I'm cool for now. I'm just grateful to even have a job with the way things are going with the economy. My cousin just got a master's from a really good school, and even SHE can't find a job! And many of my clients keep telling me about how either they've gotten laid off, or how their coworkers have.

All I can hope for is the recession to be over with already. Until then, just do what you love and hold onto whatever job you have, no matter how bad the pay is!

One thing I will give to LA Fitness is that the schedule couldn't be more flexible. The thing I've always loved about it is that it gives me all the time I need to do my own workouts and training for Muay Thai and MMA. I wouldn't be able to do that with some 8-5'er, and I'd be absolutely miserable. The whole reason why I got into personal training was to teach people what I've learned in my years of working out, and to actually HAVE TIME to work out.

[alwayspumped001]

which pays more?

What is it exactly that you're looking for?? A good environment, to make great money, gain experience, ect????

You run your own schedule at LA, most other clubs are much more stringent! I started running my own private business out of the people that I met there, as far as networking goes it works well. If you're looking to train as a career, you don't belong in a gym. If you just want to sell training and move up the cooperate latter, then LA fit is the best place to do it. They pay the GM's, VP's, ect, very well. You can move up quickly if you're willing to bust your butt for a bit because of the high volume turn over.

Good luck

[AmericanPsycho]

I doubt this is it but are you talking about LA Fitness in Long Beach, CA?

[BC02]

the ones in az suck

[kserajuddin]

The whole reason why I got into personal training was to teach people what I've learned in my years of working out, and to actually HAVE TIME to work out.

Exactly. If you're working long, inflexible hours, etc, and don't have the time or energy to work YOURSELF out, that hurts your image as a trainer - you're client looks up to you to model your health lifestyle.

[BIEN_DIESEL]

I was recently hired at L.A. Fitness as a Membership Sales Counselor. I needed a job badly so I threw caution to the wind. Everyone seems very shady. The managers keep showing off their Rolex watches. They keep talking about their 100K salaries. It just gives a wrong vibe.

I started researching the actual company and I've discovered alot of negativity from customers and former employees alike.

I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake.

Has anyone worked at L.A. Fitness or has been a former employee? Thanks.

LA FITNESS IS A HORRIBLE JOB TO BE WORKING THERE, A NEW WORKER EACH DAY, SOMEONE GETS FIRED EVERYDAY

THE FAT MANAGER GETS FATTER, THEY DONT EVEN WORKOUT AND IF U DONT MAKE ENOUGH SALES, UR FIRED!

[devil2687]

LA FITNESS IS A HORRIBLE JOB TO BE WORKING THERE, A NEW WORKER EACH DAY, SOMEONE GETS FIRED EVERYDAY

THE FAT MANAGER GETS FATTER, THEY DONT EVEN WORKOUT AND IF U DONT MAKE ENOUGH SALES, UR FIRED!

your just not good at sales bud its all about money what company isnt im doin great. makin money and movin up fast you just have to put in the time.... you just dont have the personality or skill you have to learn it can be a very rewarding job and you can be gettin ROLEX watches if thats what you choose to spend money on all these people have failed thats why they are negative so if you think you have what it takes go for it!!!!

[Steven619]

I agree with devil. You have to put in the work stay motivated and positive and be a people friendly person in order to be successful where ever you work. I work at an LA Fitness in the San Diego area. Its a pretty busy gym and personal training is pretty popular there. I see opportunity to make a decent amount of money there. But than again you should never put all yours eggs into one basket.

[silverlightning]

i work out there. at my gym, a few trainers were fired a couple years back. staff comes and goes. that's all I know. as long as I get a good w/o in without it being crowded, i'm good.

good luck. try it. quite if you don't like it.

[CoQ10]

I agree with devil. You have to put in the work stay motivated and positive and be a people friendly person in order to be successful where ever you work. I work at an LA Fitness in the San Diego area. Its a pretty busy gym and personal training is pretty popular there. I see opportunity to make a decent amount of money there. But than again you should never put all yours eggs into one basket.

Hey Steven,

Just out of curiosity, who's managing the La Mesa gym now?

Thanks,
C10

[jando]

Why isn't anyone calling this out?
LA Fitness is the absolute bottom of the barrel. You could start at most Gold's (every franchise is different) or 24 hour and double your money easily. If you have no other option to work there start looking for another job right away.

LA Fitness is not personal trianing. You get an assembly line of half hour clients which you never really get to prescreen your clients and find out goals injuries and do postural assessments on ect.

[Aeries]

I went for a job interview at the salisbury LA Fitness in the uk. The equipment was out of date and I'd have had to go around disturbing members constantly to get 20 sessions a week. I'd have had to pay over 700 pounds (about 1400 dollars I think) a month just to work there. I didn't get the job in the end due to a "lack of experience in business skills" but now I run my own business and work far less hours than I would have done if offerd a job at LA Fitness. I'm making a decent amount so its all good for me.