Personal Trainer Resume Guide & Examples [+ Cover Letter Tips]

PT resume example
Created by Cake

People are increasingly aware of how important it is to exercise and also how important it is to do it well, with clear objectives. That is why the figure of a personal trainer has more and more relevance and, as a consequence, the demand for this type of professionals is increasing.

In order to stand out, it is important to make a top-notch personal trainer resume. This thorough step-by-step article will help you make a personal trainer resume that is well-rounded just like your physique!

Steps for writing a personal trainer resume

Here are 6 crucial steps before you start writing your personal trainer resume.

✍🏻 Step 1: Understand the differences between a personal trainer resume and a personal trainer CV.

A resume and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) are two different documents.

A personal trainer resume is used to raise interest and land an interview for a job, while a CV is used to show your lifelong personal and professional career in detail. A personal trainer CV has no length limit, while a personal trainer resume does not exceed 2 pages. In most parts of North America, Australia, and Asia, a CV is used for job positions related to academia.

On the other hand, a standard fitness trainer resume is the document preferably used for most job vacancies in fitness.

✍🏻 Step 2: Take a look at personal trainer resume examples online.

Take a glance at a selection of fitness trainer resume samples and templates online and adopt any elements you think are suitable when writing your resume.

✍🏻 Step 3 Choose the best personal trainer resume format.

There is no best format for personal trainers. Nonetheless, choosing the best format depends on your current background and credentials. The formats for a personal trainer resume are chronological, functional, combination, and targeted format.

✍🏻 Step 4: Adjust your fitness trainer resume to the job description.

Tailoring your personal trainer resume according to the job requirements list increases your chances to land the interview.

✍🏻 Step 5: Write a personal trainer cover letter.

This letter can complement your resume by explaining how and why you think you are the best applicant for the vacancy in a personal approach.

✍🏻 Step 6: Proofread your personal trainer resume.

Double-check for any spelling mistakes or unnecessary information in your fitness trainer resume and personal trainer cover letter.

Key sections for a personal trainer resume

You can write a personal trainer resume in no time as long as you know what sections it consists of.

Here is what you need to know for each section in a personal trainer resume.

1. Resume Profile (Contact Information)

This is the first section of a personal trainer resume that includes the most basic information. This is how recruiters will get back to you.

✅ List the following in your personal trainer resume:

  • Full name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • LinkedIn URL
  • Portfolio link (if any)

❌ Avoid including these in your personal trainer resume: 

  • Religion
  • Relationship status
  • Social Security Number 
  • Current Income

2. Resume Headline


A resume headline for a fitness trainer displays a key highlight in your career.

💡 Reminder: A headline consists of one sentence only, which shows how accomplished you are in your career.

Personal Trainer Resume Headline Examples:

  • Certified Personal Trainer Resume Headline Example:
    “Personal Trainer Who Helped Over 200 Clients Achieve Their Fitness Goals”
  • Gym Instructor Resume Headline Example:
    “Gym Instructor With Over 12 Years of Fitness Experience”

3. Resume Summary

A resume summary is a paragraph outlining your career in no more than 4 sentences. It summarizes your past work experience that is relevant for the position you are applying for.

A personal trainer resume summary is ideal for individuals making a resume with solid experience. It shows your value based on your past duties and responsibilities as a fitness trainer.

Fitness Trainer Resume Summary Examples:

  • Fitness trainer with three years of experience across multiple fitness centers. Proven track record in assisting clients and members achieve their fitness goals following customized plans and diet plans. Assisted in developing new fitness programs with management and superiors leading to an increase of sales by 40%.
  • Certified personal trainer with 7 years of experience in developing fitness workshops and assisting marketing campaigns at fitness centers. Proven track record in preparing diet plans based on clients’ needs.

4. Resume Objective

A resume objective is a short statement outlining your career aspirations and how they match the organization. This section is often used by entry-level personal trainers writing a resume with no experience.

While a resume summary is all about showing your qualifications from past experiences, a resume objective for a personal trainer displays your passion and how you can contribute to the organization’s goals and values. 

📝 Note: A career objective is also suitable for personal trainers going through a career change. You can briefly explain why you are switching to this career path in the statement.

Gym Trainer Resume Objective Examples:

  • Professional trainer with more than 6 years of experience in working in CrossFit gyms. Familiar with all procedures and plans offered to customers. Ability to demonstrate energy, drive, enthusiasm and the ability to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle for CrossFit members.
  • Personal trainer with 5 years of experience working across multiple fitness centers. Experienced in managing and leading nationwide fitness content, increasing client registration by 20% in two years. Seeking a position at Fitness Co to assist in increasing revenue in all campaigns and events.”

5. Work Experience

The work experience section in your personal trainer resume should have the following elements:

  • Job title
  • Name of the organization
  • Dates of employment
  • Job duties and responsibilities
  • Work accomplishments, if any

Personal Trainer Work Experience Example:

Personal Trainer
Fitness Warehouse

Nov. 2019 - Nov. 2020

  • Created and personalized exercise programs for more than 200 clients.
  • Organized day-to-day administrative duties on morning and evening shifts.
  • Provided knowledge, know-how, advice on fitness, nutrition, and well-being to clients and colleagues.

6. Skills

Your personal trainer resume skills section is a critical part to getting the desired job interview. Moreover, when creating a fitness trainer resume, combining hard and soft skills is a smart strategy.

Here are some common personal trainer skills for a resume:

🔎 Hard skills

  • Fitness Programs
  • CPR
  • Customer Service 
  • Small-Group Training
  • Equipment Maintenance

🔎 Soft skills

  • Motivation 
  • Communication 
  • Disciplined
  • Self-driven 
  • Listening Skills 

7. Education

The education section in trainers or gym instructor resumes should show the name of the school, graduation year, and location. You can also list your GPA and relevant courses.

Example of a Resume Education Section:

Cornell University  
Bachelor’s Degree in Kiniesology
May 2015

Cake provides the right personal trainer resume templates & formats for you to showcase your skills and experiences. Sign up to create and download the best personal trainer resume now for FREE!

5 tips for the best personal trainer resume

💡 Tailor the personal trainer resume to the job description.

By speaking directly to the position, recruiters will know that you are a personal trainer who took the time to craft a resume for their opening.

💡 Use an ATS-friendly resume layout.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a tool employers use to scan multiple job applications. Avoid using tables, graphs, or fancy layouts and stick to a simple text-based format.

💡 Use keywords from the job post.

Job listings often include relevant keywords, so try to adopt them in your fitness trainer resume to make it more ATS-compatible.

💡 Quantify work results.

Numbers and percentages show that you get results for the organization and clients, such as the number of clients you worked with, or the sales growth rate you contributed to the gym.

💡 Use action verbs.

Using action verbs such as “trained”, “developed”, “supervised”, or “managed” in your personal trainer resume shows you are a candidate that can get things done.

💡 Add an extra resume section.

Whether you are a gym instructor or an independent fitness trainer, your resume can have an extra section that includes certificates or a personal web page. By taking the extra mile, you get a chance of standing out from the competition.

Writing a personal trainer cover letter

For a competitive opening, a cover letter is a must. You can let the employers get to know you on a more personal level.

A cover letter for a fitness trainer is composed of the following parts:

1. Contact Information

This is the first section of your personal trainer cover letter. It shows your name, email address, and phone number.


2. Introduction and Greeting

Start your introduction by stating who you are and your interest in the job vacancy. As a personal trainer, your cover letter introduction should not be a lengthy paragraph.

You can briefly state your background and why you are a good fit for the job. You will explain more on these points in the following paragraphs.


3. Motivation
This is a key part of your cover letter as a personal trainer. In a narrative way, tell them your intention of being a trainer and how you want to be a valuable member of the organization, and how the clients’ physical health and wellbeing are of vital importance to you.


4. Qualifications
The next part is about showing your capabilities based on your past experiences. Choose one or two specific experiences that are most relevant to the job and describe the duties, responsibilities, and any positive results from this experience. This is to show that you are the right candidate for the job position.


5. Closing
Wrap up your personal trainer cover letter by thanking them for taking the time to read your application and you welcome any form of reply.

Personal Trainer Resume Sample

Reece Johnson

Fitness Trainer With 9 Years of Experience in Gyms

001-3993-0103
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/reecejohnson

Professional Summary

Personal fitness trainer with 7+ years of experience working in several fitness facilities and a solid track record of aiding customers and members in achieving their fitness objectives via personalized routine training and dietary plans. Strong interpersonal skills and well-versed in administrative duties.

Work Experience

Personal Fitness Trainer
Health Factory

Jun. 2017 - Apr. 2021

  • Trained groups of 20-25 enthusiastic clients with the same level of physical preparation and common goals
  • Organized regular training sessions both in-person and online with Zoom or Google Meet
  • Provided knowledge, know-how, advice on fitness, nutrition, and well-being to 100+ clients and achieved a 98% satisfactory rate

Gym Assistant Manager
Eyos Sports Center

Jun. 2012 - Apr. 2017

  • Checked and monitored equipment to ensure optimal use.
  • Responded effectively when injuries happened by requesting necessary medical assistance.
  • Demonstrated proper use and techniques on specialized equipment for clients.

Education

Southwell University
Undergraduate Degree in Kiniesology
May 2012

Skills

  • Fitness Assessment
  • Leadership
  • Yoga
  • Self-motivated
  • Weight Training
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Small-Group Classes
  • Energetic
  • Nutrition
  • Emotional Intelligence

--- Originally written by José J. Rosales ---

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