Trainers can be like therapists in some ways or even personal tutors.  You want to be able to relate to them and have them know how to work with you so that you can get the maximum workouts, encouragement, and ultimately results without going too far, without hurting yourself, and without otherwise seeming disinterested or otherwise.  I’ve heard of trainers that walk away while you’re working, which is actually rather common.  Sometimes they work in intervals with different clients, sometimes they talk to other trainers and return a few minutes later. 

But a true fitness professional won’t worry so much about promoting and will focus on working with their clients, knowing that if they do a good job, they will automatically get the referrals they need for work.  If you go to a common health club or gym, you are likely to find the above mentioned kinds of trainers.  But keep in mind, they may make as little as $15-$20 per session in some lower end gyms or even what seem like high end clubs.  So they’re not particularly motivated. 

It may seem like $20 is pretty good, but not really for a trainer.  They compare their wages to their peers who work in private gyms and get $75-$150 per session.  Those trainers therefore feel more inclined to devote more attention to their clients.  So the trick is to hire someone directly, not through a gym or club and experiment around.