50 Common Interview Questions
For Health & Fitness Professionals
General Questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep it professional and relevant. Cover your education, key experience, and why you're interested in this role. 60-90 seconds max.
2. Why are you interested in this position?
Show you've researched the company. Connect your skills and goals to their specific needs.
3. What do you know about our company/facility?
Research their mission, programs, clientele, and recent news. Show genuine interest.
4. Why did you choose to study Kinesiology?
Share your passion authentically. Connect personal experiences to your career choice.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Show ambition while indicating commitment to the field. Mention certifications or specializations you want to pursue.
Experience & Skills
6. Describe your experience with fitness assessments.
Be specific about protocols you've used: body composition, cardiovascular, flexibility, strength testing.
7. How do you design exercise programs for clients?
Explain your process: assessment → goal setting → program design → progression → reassessment.
8. What populations have you worked with?
Mention specific groups: athletes, seniors, rehab patients, general fitness, special populations.
9. What certifications do you hold or plan to obtain?
List current certifications and show initiative by discussing future plans.
10. How do you stay current with industry trends?
Mention journals, podcasts, continuing education, professional organizations, conferences.
Behavioral Questions (Use STAR Method)
11. Tell me about a time you helped a client achieve a difficult goal.
Use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Quantify the outcome if possible.
Sample Structure: "I worked with a client who wanted to lose 30 pounds but had struggled with consistency. I created a progressive program with weekly check-ins and adjusted their nutrition guidance. After 4 months, they exceeded their goal and lost 35 pounds."
12. Describe a challenging client interaction and how you handled it.
Show professionalism, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
13. Give an example of when you had to adapt a program on the spot.
Demonstrate flexibility and quick thinking while maintaining safety.
14. Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team.
Highlight collaboration, communication, and contribution to group success.
15. Describe a situation where you had to learn something new quickly.
Show adaptability and eagerness to grow professionally.
Technical Questions
16. What are the components of a comprehensive fitness assessment?
Cover: health history, resting vitals, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility, posture.
17. How do you determine appropriate exercise intensity for a client?
Discuss heart rate methods, RPE, talk test, and individual factors like fitness level and goals.
18. What precautions do you take with clients who have hypertension?
Mention physician clearance, avoiding Valsalva, monitoring BP, appropriate intensity, and contraindicated exercises.
19. Explain the principle of progressive overload.
Define the concept and give practical examples of how you'd apply it.
20. How would you modify exercises for a client with low back pain?
Discuss assessment, physician clearance, core stability, avoiding flexion-based exercises, and gradual progression.
Client Scenarios
21. A client isn't seeing results and wants to quit. What do you do?
Show empathy, reassess goals and program, discuss adherence, celebrate non-scale victories.
22. How do you motivate clients who lack consistency?
Discuss goal setting, accountability, finding intrinsic motivation, and making exercise enjoyable.
23. A client asks for nutrition advice beyond your scope. How do you respond?
Explain scope of practice, refer to RD/nutritionist, discuss what guidance you CAN provide.
24. How do you handle a client who wants to do exercises you consider unsafe?
Educate on risks, offer safe alternatives, document conversations, maintain professional boundaries.
25. What would you do if a client experienced dizziness during a session?
Stop exercise, ensure safety, check vitals, determine cause, document, and follow emergency procedures if needed.
Professionalism & Ethics
26. How do you maintain professional boundaries with clients?
Discuss appropriate communication, scheduling, social media policies, and ethical guidelines.
27. What does client confidentiality mean to you?
Explain HIPAA basics, protecting personal information, and professional standards.
28. How do you handle conflicts with coworkers?
Show maturity: direct communication, focusing on solutions, involving management when appropriate.
29. Describe your approach to time management.
Discuss scheduling, preparation, punctuality, and balancing multiple clients/responsibilities.
30. How do you handle criticism or feedback?
Show openness to learning and professional growth.
Situational Questions
31. How would you handle a busy gym floor with multiple clients needing attention?
32. A client's emergency contact calls asking about their progress. What do you do?
33. You notice a member using equipment unsafely. How do you approach them?
34. How would you onboard a new client on their first day?
35. A client consistently cancels last minute. How do you address this?
Company-Specific & Role Questions
36. What makes you a good fit for our facility specifically?
37. How would you contribute to our team culture?
38. What experience do you have with [specific equipment/programs they offer]?
39. How do you feel about sales/membership quotas?
40. Are you comfortable working early mornings/evenings/weekends?
Personal & Closing Questions
41. What's your personal fitness routine?
42. What's your greatest strength as a fitness professional?
43. What's an area you're working to improve?
44. How do you handle stress?
45. What motivates you in this field?
46. Describe your ideal work environment.
47. What questions do you have for us?
ALWAYS have questions prepared. See our "Questions to Ask Employers" guide.
48. What are your salary expectations?
Research market rates beforehand. Give a range based on your research.
50. Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Use this to reinforce your strengths or address anything not covered.