After finding her resume on Monster, TruePersonalTrainer offered Linda what sounded like a great deal. If she created a yoga instruction video, True Personal Trainer said, they would sell it on their site and she could make up to $5,000 per week, depending on how many people downloaded it.

Undeterred by the sketchy looking site, Linda made a video and sent it in. She got friends to pay for downloads of the instructional video. The day came for Linda to get paid… and passed, without her receiving a dime.

After multiple calls and emails with no positive response, Linda finally got some money. A check for one dollar…

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This is low, on so many levels. We suspect True Personal Trainer gave Linda a dollar because that’s the minimum amount for them to be able to say “some payment” was given for services rendered.

When we asked Linda if she had noticed the site’s underwhelming appearance, she wrote, “I know I could do a better job of it personally without them with the aid of some of my former colleagues.”

That may be a great route to go, and you’ve already done the hardest part, making your first video.

We see three options:

1. Harass them into paying her what is due
2. Sue them
3. Take the video she made and market it elsewhere

Judging from the looks of their site, they may not be working with a whole lot in the brains or money department. Option 3 might be the best use of Linda’s time and talents.

For the future, if it sounds to good to be true, it often is, especially if it’s also got a bunk-looking website. Also, despite what the commercials say, we’ve never gotten anything but sketchy job offers through Monster.com.

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Here’s the original letter TruePersonalTrainer sent Linda:

From: “True personal trainer”
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:19 PM
To: [redacted]
Subject: RE: Monster Job #50201391 Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor professionals needed. Recruiting through January 30, 2007. Monster Resume #XXXXXXXXX

Linda,

Thank you for submitting your resume. After reviewing it, we wish to continue forward with your recruitment. The first stage of the recruitment procedure is for you to submit one of your fitness programs for us to evaluate. We would like to see what your teaching capabilities are. Once we have reviewed your program and decide we would like to bring you on board, the next step will be to have you complete our mandatory competency form. This form will give us a better idea of when and how we’ll be able to use your services. Once we have reviewed your competency form, we will be able to move to the next stage of recruitment which will involve discussing your exercise program(s), dates of implementation and going over the particulars of your freelance contract which will specifically describe the compensation breakdown as well as other legal interests.

To reiterate, we’ll need one fitness program no longer than one hour and no shorter than 30 minutes to move forward. Your exercise program, which by the way should be recorded in digital format, needs to be ready within two weeks. Once you have it ready, write and let me know so that I may provide you with a username and password that will enable you to upload it directly from your computer or camera onto our website server. I will wait to hear back from you as to when to provide this information.

Aerobic, pilates and yoga instructors may consider utilizing current, popular music during any of your programs. Any and all uploaded programs containing copyrighted music will be protected through our ASCAP and BMI licenses which pay all royalties due from usage of copyrighted music.

Personal trainers should note our most popular exercise programs tend to be:

#1) Abdominal programs (Successful instructors sell in the range of 1000 to 2500 programs a month, grossing $800- $2000 a month per program

#2) Glute/Hip programs (Successful instructors sell in the range of 1000 to 2000 programs a month, grossing $800- $1600 a month per program.

#3) Biceps/Triceps programs (Successful instructors sell in the range of 800 to 1500 programs a month, grossing $600- $1200 a month per program.

Initially we’ll only need one exercise program but once brought on board, you’ll have exclusive rights to submit as many programs as you’d like which will increase your exposure and earning potential.

Contact Melissa from hr (melissa@truepersonaltrainer.com) if you have any questions as we look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Chris Thomas
Vice President of Business Development
TruePersonalTrainer.com
chris@truepersonaltrainer.com
1-800-537-9058

— BEN POPKEN

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