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

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!

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.

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.

2. Resume Headline

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

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.

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. 

5. Work Experience

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

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:

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.

💡 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.

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: