17 Personal Health Coach Interview Questions and Answers

A personal health coach helps people to improve their physical and emotional health by developing personalized plans and providing support. They work one-on-one with their clients, helping them to set and achieve goals, and to make healthy lifestyle changes.

If you’re looking to become a personal health coach, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some common interview questions. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer questions about your experience, your coaching style, and your goals. We’ll also provide you with a list of sample questions and answers that you can use to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the most effective ways to lose weight and keep it off?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with helping clients lose weight. They want to know that you can help your client achieve their goals and keep them motivated throughout the process. In your answer, explain how you helped a client lose weight in the past and what strategies you used to ensure they kept it off.

Example: “I’ve worked with many clients who wanted to lose weight. I always make sure to create an individualized plan for each of my clients based on their specific needs. For example, one of my clients was a busy mom who didn’t have time to exercise every day. Instead, we focused on creating healthy habits like eating more vegetables and limiting sugar intake. She lost 20 pounds within six months.”

What are some of the most common mistakes people make when trying to improve their diet?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you might coach clients to avoid making common mistakes. Use your answer to highlight your ability to teach others about healthy eating and provide them with strategies for avoiding common pitfalls.

Example: “The most common mistake people make when trying to improve their diet is not being realistic about what they’re able to change in their lifestyle. For example, if someone wants to lose weight but also wants to eat fast food every day, it’s unlikely that they’ll be successful. I always encourage my clients to start small by focusing on one or two changes at a time so they don’t get overwhelmed.”

How would you help a client who is struggling to stick to an exercise routine?

Personal health coaches often work with clients who are trying to make positive changes in their lives. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience helping people overcome challenges and achieve their goals. In your answer, share a specific strategy that helped one of your clients stay motivated.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was having trouble sticking to her exercise routine. She would start out strong but then stop going to the gym after a few weeks. I asked her why she started exercising in the first place, and she told me it was because she wanted to feel more confident at work. So, we created an exercise plan that focused on building strength and endurance while also improving posture and confidence. After a few months, she felt so much better about herself that she no longer needed to go to the gym as much.”

What is your process for helping a new client become a long-term client?

This question can help interviewers understand how you plan to work with clients and what your goals are for helping them achieve their health goals. Your answer should include a step-by-step process that you use when working with new clients, including the steps you take to ensure they stay committed to their health goals long after the initial coaching period is over.

Example: “I start by meeting with my client one-on-one to learn more about their current lifestyle habits and any challenges they’re facing in terms of reaching their health goals. I then create an individualized plan based on our discussion and the information I’ve gathered from researching their background. After creating the plan, I send it to my client so they have something to refer back to as we move forward through the coaching process.”

Provide an example of a time when you helped a client reach their health goals.

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach your work and the results you achieve. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation or client that benefited from your coaching and what steps you took to help them reach their goals.

Example: “I had a client who wanted to lose weight but was struggling with her diet because she didn’t know where to start. I helped her create a meal plan that included healthy recipes and portion sizes. She also started exercising three times per week by walking on an incline treadmill for 30 minutes each day. After six months of working together, she lost 20 pounds.”

If a client has a specific condition or disease, do you have any experience working with clients who have that condition?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with clients who have specific conditions or diseases. Use your answer to highlight any previous experience and how it helped you develop your skills as a personal health coach.

Example: “I’ve worked with several clients who had diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions. I find that having this type of experience is beneficial because it helps me understand what my client is going through and how they feel about their condition. This knowledge allows me to create personalized plans for each of my clients based on their unique needs.”

What would you do if a client came to you saying they were hungry after completing an exercise?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, try to show that you have the ability to problem-solve and think critically. You can also use this opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of nutrition and fitness by providing an example of what you might tell them to eat.

Example: “If a client came to me saying they were hungry after completing their exercise, I would first ask them about their current diet and eating habits. If they said they ate healthy meals regularly, I would encourage them to continue doing so. However, if they said they didn’t eat well or often, I would suggest they start with small changes like adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet. I would also recommend they find ways to incorporate more protein into their daily routine.”

How well do you understand the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for vitamins and minerals?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the DRIs, which are a set of recommendations for vitamins and minerals that people should consume. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of these guidelines and how you use them in your work as a personal health coach.

Example: “I understand the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) very well because I have used them in my previous role as a personal health coach. The DRIs provide a list of recommended daily intakes for essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. These recommendations help me determine whether my clients are getting enough nutrients from their diets. If they aren’t, I can recommend changes to their diet or supplements to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.”

Do you have any experience working with clients who have food allergies or dietary restrictions?

If the employer asks this question, it’s likely that they want to know if you have experience working with clients who have food allergies or dietary restrictions. This is because personal health coaches often work with clients who are trying to lose weight and improve their overall health by making healthy lifestyle changes.

Example: “I’ve worked with several clients in the past who had food allergies or dietary restrictions. I always make sure to ask my clients about any food allergies or dietary restrictions before creating a meal plan for them. If they do have food allergies or dietary restrictions, I find substitutes for ingredients that fit within their diet. For example, if a client can’t eat gluten, I’ll use gluten-free flours when baking recipes.”

When recommending exercises to a client, how do you determine the intensity level?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your decision-making skills and how you apply them in the workplace. Your answer should show that you can make informed decisions based on research, experience and client preferences.

Example: “I always recommend exercises at an intensity level that is challenging for my clients but not so difficult that they cannot complete it. I also consider their current fitness levels when determining the intensity of each exercise. For example, if someone has never exercised before, I would start them off with low-intensity exercises such as walking or stretching. As they become more fit, I would then increase the intensity by introducing moderate-intensity exercises such as jogging or cycling.”

We want to help our clients achieve long-term success. How would you help a client stay motivated to continue working on their health goals?

Personal health coaches need to be able to motivate their clients and help them stay on track with their goals. This question helps the interviewer determine how you would keep your clients motivated and ensure they achieve success. In your answer, explain a few strategies you use to help your clients stay motivated and committed to their health goals.

Example: “I find that one of the best ways to help my clients stay motivated is by creating an individualized plan for each client based on their specific needs. I also like to create weekly check-in meetings so we can discuss progress and make any necessary adjustments to their plans. Another way I help my clients stay motivated is by celebrating small successes along the way. For example, when a client loses five pounds, I will celebrate with them and give them a reward.”

Describe your process for tracking your clients’ progress.

This question can help interviewers understand how you use technology to support your clients. It can also show them how you organize and manage information in a way that helps you stay organized and efficient.

Example: “I have several different methods for tracking my client’s progress, depending on the type of work I am doing with them. For example, if I am helping someone lose weight, I will track their daily calorie intake and exercise routine using an app like MyFitnessPal. This allows me to see what they are eating and how many calories they are burning each day. If I am working with someone who has more serious health issues, such as diabetes or heart disease, I may use a program like Medscape to monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol levels and other vital signs.”

What makes you a good fit for our company?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel about their company. Before your interview, research the organization thoroughly so you can answer this question with confidence. Think of specific qualities that make you a good fit for the role and relate them back to the job description.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others achieve their health goals. I believe in the mission of this company, which is to help people live healthier lives. I also think my background as a personal trainer makes me a great candidate for this position because it gives me the skills needed to support clients through their journey toward better health.”

Which diet and exercise programs have you used in the past?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your experience and expertise in personal health coaching. You can answer this question by listing a few of the diet and exercise programs you’ve used in the past, along with what you liked or disliked about them.

Example: “I have tried several different diets and exercise programs over the years. I found that some were too restrictive for me to follow long-term while others didn’t provide enough variety. The program I enjoyed most was one where I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I kept track of my calories. This helped me stay motivated because I knew I could enjoy treats every once in a while.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of a healthy lifestyle?

This question can help the interviewer determine your personal philosophy on health and wellness. Your answer should reflect your own values, but it can also give insight into how you might approach coaching clients to achieve their goals.

Example: “I think that a healthy lifestyle is about more than just eating right or exercising. It’s important to have a positive outlook on life, to be mindful of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it and to surround ourselves with people who support our goals. I believe that if someone has all those things in place, they’ll naturally make good choices for themselves.”

How often should a person exercise each week?

This question can help interviewers understand your exercise philosophy. They may also want to know how you plan workouts for clients. In your answer, try to show that you have a strong understanding of the benefits of regular exercise and how it can improve people’s health. You can also share any personal experiences with exercising regularly.

Example: “I recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days per week. This is the minimum amount of exercise needed to see significant improvements in health. However, I encourage my clients to aim for 60 minutes or more each day. Exercise should be something they enjoy so they’re motivated to do it regularly.”

There is a new fad diet that becomes popular among your clients. How would you respond?

This question is an opportunity to show your critical thinking skills and how you would respond to a challenging situation. You can use this question to showcase your ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of your clients, even if they conflict with popular opinion.

Example: “I have seen many fad diets come and go over my career as a personal health coach. I always encourage my clients to focus on eating whole foods rather than following any specific diet plan. While it may be tempting to follow these new trends, I believe that focusing on healthy habits will lead to long-term success.”