Personal Trainer Example

If you’re pursuing a career in personal training, you’ve picked a good time. Exercise has soared in popularity in the UK, with recent research showing that one in five people name it as one of the top 5 activities important to their lifestyle.

You’ll need a Level 3 personal training qualification to work legally as a PT in the UK, ideally certified by UK Coaching or the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). These courses can take about three weeks to complete if you’re studying full-time or five months on a part-time course. Also, personal trainer apprenticeships are another great way to get certified if you haven’t already qualified.

But even once you’ve got your certifications, finding the right personal trainer job can be tricky — especially if you’re newly qualified. But you can land the role you want by building an engaging CV for personal trainer work.

So we’ve worked out six tips on how to write an effective personal trainer CV:

1. Work out the right personal trainer CV format

You wouldn’t ask a beginner to jump straight into a deadlift, and that same principle applies to your CV’s format. In other words, the proper format for your CV depends on your level of experience. If you’re:

• newly qualified, make a skills-based CV that emphasises your skills and education at the top, followed by any work, volunteer, or internship experience that you can connect to your ability to succeed as a personal trainer
• an experienced trainer, highlight that fact in a chronological CV that places your relevant work experience under your CV introduction, and then moves to your education and skills

But don’t feel like you have to stick to a certain order for your CV sections. Give whatever information you believe is most relevant to the job you want (based on your research and the job advert) priority in your CV’s layout.

2. Make an impression with your personal training CV profile

Your personal training CV profile (also called a personal statement or CV summary) is the first thing your employer sees and the last thing you should write. Remember, you’re applying for a customer-facing role requiring strong communication skills, so this is your chance to sell yourself as a confident, approachable hire.

So in 3–5 sentences, give an engaging overview of your relevant work experience, qualifications, and critical skills using action verbs that leap off the page to employers. To find those words, search the job advert and similar postings for keywords that will catch your reader’s attention.

Here’s a well-written personal trainer profile example:

3. Include the right personal trainer skills

Being a great personal trainer takes more than physical strength and stamina. Employers will look for various skills on your CV, including teaching strategies, sales, administration, and an understanding of nutrition and physiology.

The most valuable personal trainer skills vary from advert to advert. So tailor your CV skills section to your target job’s requirements.

You’ll want to include both hard skills and soft skills. Common skills for personal trainer jobs include:

4. Include any relevant certifications

Any certifications important to the job you’re applying for should appear at the top of your CV, above your work experience and education section.

Level 3 personal training is a requirement for almost all PT work, but most employers will also want to see a first aid certificate, ideally including CPR.

Additionally, you may want to include other certifications specific to the job advert. For example, a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Children) or Nutrition Level 3.

Here’s an example of how to format certifications on your personal trainer CV:

5. Demonstrate relevant work experience

Highlighting work experience on your CV may seem difficult, especially if you’re a newly qualified personal trainer. Remember, there’s more to personal training than experience with proper equipment use and teaching your clients the correct posture. You should also have experience in sales, mentorship, administration, and customer service, all of which are abilities that are transferable from other professions.

So before you start writing your CV, study the job advert.

Whether your target employer is looking for someone who can promote supplements to clients, write up personalised exercise plans, or deliver health MOTs and consultations, you may find significant crossover with your experience in and outside the gym.

Maximise your work experience by writing about achievements, instead of just listing your responsibilities. Include hard numbers to give your employer a vivid picture of what you can achieve for them. For example, instead of writing:

Helped a client lose weight

Write something like this:

Wrote a personalised plan to help a client achieve a 4-kg weight-loss goal over 4 months

6. Share the right hobbies and interests

No one pursues a career as a personal trainer if they aren’t excited about fitness. Therefore, the hobbies and interests section of your CV is valuable to your application, especially if you’re a newly qualified trainer.

Perhaps you’re part of a cycling club, just ran your first marathon, or are striking out as an amateur powerlifter. All these activities show that training isn’t just a job to you — it’s a lifestyle.

Aside from being a sign that you see personal training as more than a paycheque, including relevant hobbies and interests on your CV suggests you have the practical experience to provide safe and proper instruction in the gym.