Kickstart your Pilates career
Whether you’re newly certified, have recently moved, or are looking for new teaching opportunities, searching for Pilates jobs can be nerve-racking.
When I moved to Toronto as a newly Pilates mat instructor, I wanted to experience different types of teaching opportunities.
It took a bit of persistence, but within a few months, I was teaching in gyms, studios and corporate settings throughout the city.
Here are a few tips to help you get started in your Pilates job search:
Get your resume together
Jane Aronovitch wrote a great article “Resumes that get you in the door” so check it out.
Start with the places you have in mind first
This may seem obvious, but if you have some contacts in the industry or ideas of where you’d like to teach Pilates, then approach these first.
Get on the internet and start your search
Here are some ideas for where to start:
• www.craigslist.com
• www.kijiji.com
• Local classifieds
• www.google.com
3 ways to get the most out of your search
• See if anything comes up with a “your city + pilates jobs” search
• Search “your city + Pilates” – look up the Pilates and Yoga studio websites and see if there are job postings there
• Look into gyms, community centres, chiropractic offices, wellness centres, physiotherapy offices, etc. based on your interests
Keep checking back frequently
If you don’t find something right away, make sure to keep checking back regularly. Most classifieds websites are updated daily. Many facilities do most of their hiring in August / September and December / January, but they may hire at other times as needed.
Do your homework
A word of caution: make sure you research the facilities you want to approach and know something about the programming they offer before calling them. Check the company website, google them, ask friends in the biz about what they know.
For example, find out the number of Pilates classes that are offered over a week and the number of instructors on staff. Also find out if they hire inexperienced as well as experienced instructors.
Other things you may want to check out is instructor bios of those who work there. You may notice something you could add to your cover letter or resume.
Make Contact
When making your first contact with the facility you are applying to, make sure to follow the guidelines on the job posting. If they have specific requests, such as no phone calls, then make sure to abide by their rules.
Do be enthusiastic and confident. Don’t sound desperate, or like you are trying to reorganize a facility’s program direction.
Don’t forget to share with others
Tell everyone you know that you are certified, available and enthusiastic to start teaching. The more you talk about your plans to everyone around you, the more of a ripple effect you can expect. You never know whom a friend of a friend may know and what opportunities may show up because someone bothered to mention your intentions to someone else.
Be seen and get known
Go to classes and start to spend time at the facilities that interest you the most. Get to know the instructors on staff, and be friendly with the clients and the front desk. Make it known to everyone that you are interested in being considered for an audition when a teaching position opens up.
Question for YOU!
How did you find your first Pilates teaching job? Do you have any other sources for searching job postings? Please share in the comments section below.
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Author: Larisa Makuch
Larisa Makuch is a Pilates & Movement teacher, teacher trainer and ELDOA instructor. She draws on her experiences to create innovative teaching and business strategies. Larisa has a Body Harmonics Comprehensive Pilates diploma, several Specialist diplomas and a BA.
“For me it’s all about helping people move better, feel better and build their confidence each and every day. I especially enjoy those ‘aha’ moments when clients and colleagues make discoveries that translate into more freedom, more joy and less pain in their lives.”
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Thank you, Larisa, for your posting on “How to find Pilates job postings and opportunities”. This was a very timely, inspiring, and helpful posting.
Moving to a new city with no contacts and looking for pilates teaching opportunities has been daunting, especially when I haven’t had to seek employment for over 25 years. I found that when I broadened my search to include settings that I ignored initially, such as recreation centres and gyms, opportunities started to open up. I was just checking out the classes available and during the conversation I learned they were looking for a pilates instructor. The places I had in mind first – physiotherapy, chiropractic and wellness centres – did not have positions available. But, as you mentioned, I will keep checking back. Surprisingly, I found a job posting on a pilates studio website.
Another setting I’m going to approach is retirement communities and see if they have any established exercise programs and an exercise room and if they would entertain a pilates class for older adults.
Good advice on sharing your intentions with others and getting out there and get known. Sometimes self promotion in person can be more impressionable than what is seen on a resume.
Cate Hachigian