I’m a 22-year-old woman who has consistently trained at the gym for over four years, and I believe I’m in good shape (often receiving comments from both men and women about my physique). I’m currently working towards obtaining my personal trainer qualification, so I began applying for jobs in that field and secured an interview with a well-known gym group.
During the interview, the interviewer made derogatory comments about my body type, suggesting that my more slender, feminine physique was only suitable for yoga and Pilates and that no clients would trust me to be their trainer. He also repeatedly conveyed that my contributions to the company would be minimal, and my compensation would reflect that, but they were willing to “give me a try” and offered me the job.
This experience left me feeling disheartened. Despite four years of dedicated effort, it seems I don’t fit the stereotypical image of a “personal trainer.” Additionally, the interviewer persisted in asking about my background, noting that I appeared to have a Latina ethnicity. I found it challenging to contribute to the conversation, which has led me to reconsider if I’ve made the correct career choice.
