Personal trainer CV examples

A Personal Trainer CV is a tool to demonstrate your ability to connect with clients, craft effective training plans, and deliver results.

This guide will help you write a CV that highlights your fitness expertise, certifications, and unique approach to helping clients achieve their goals. Once you’ve finished, you’ll be best equipped to pursue any job in the fitness industry.

Your CV should be as well-structured as your best workout routine: no wasted time, no unnecessary details, just a clear focus on results. Recruiters only have time to skim through applications, so make navigating yours as easy as possible.

Here’s how to structure your Personal Trainer CV:

• Name and contact details – Place your personal details right at the top for easy access. Adding a photo of yourself is entirely up to you and your preference.
• Profile – Start strong with an engaging summary of your experience, skills, and client success stories.
• Core skills – Highlight your abilities, from designing tailored fitness programmes to delivering nutritional advice.
• Work experience – Share your career journey in reverse chronological order, showing the impact you’ve had in each role.
• Education – Include your qualifications and professional certifications to prove your expertise.
• Additional info – Optionally, include hobbies or interests, like your involvement in fitness events or sports teams.

A poorly formatted CV is like skipping leg day – it shows, and no one’s impressed. A Personal Trainer’s CV should look as professional as the training plans you create. A clean, organised layout ensures recruiters focus on your skills and accomplishments: don’t give them a mental workout.

Here’s how to format your Personal Trainer CV:

• Bullet points – These help recruiters skim through your accomplishments quickly and easily.
• Divide sections – Break your CV into distinct sections with clear headings for smooth navigation.
• Use a clean font – Use a simple, professional font and keep your layout uncluttered for maximum readability.
• Keep it the right length – Aim for 2 pages max—enough space to highlight your expertise while keeping the recruiter interested.

Your CV profile is your chance to show recruiters why you’re the perfect fit for the role. Highlight your fitness expertise, experience, and passion for helping clients achieve their goals. Let recruiters see what you bring to the table, and why they should hire you and not anybody else.

Here are some tips on what to include in your Personal Trainer profile:

• Where you’ve worked – Tell the recruiter which gyms, fitness centres, or private settings where you’ve trained clients.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight your impressive certifications like Level 3 Personal Trainer or nutrition coaching.
• Key skills – Include your abilities like programme development, group training, and injury prevention.
• Client success stories – Reference examples of clients achieving results under your guidance.
• Specialist areas – Mention expertise in areas like weight loss, strength training, or rehabilitation.

Your core skills section is like your personal best – highlight the areas where you truly excel and leave out the fluff.

For personal trainers, focus on skills that demonstrate your ability to design tailored programmes, motivate clients, and ensure safety during training sessions.

Tailor it like you would a client’s fitness plan – look at the job description for the skills a hiring manager is looking for.

Your work experience section is where you prove you’re not just good at handing out towels – you’re a results-driven pro who transforms lives who applies their skills in real-world settings. Highlight the gyms, fitness centres, or private clients you’ve worked with and the results you’ve achieved.

List your work history in reverse chronological order, with newer stuff at the top. If you’re just starting out, mention internships, group classes, or even the time you got your best mate to run their first 5K. 

• Outline – Provide an overview of the gym or setting, your role, and the types of clients you worked with.
• Responsibilities – Highlight tasks like programme design, conducting fitness assessments, or leading classes. Use action verbs like “designed,” “motivated,” or “assessed.”
• Achievements – Showcase measurable results, such as helping clients lose a specific amount of weight, improving performance metrics, or increasing gym retention rates. Always list roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.

The education section is where you list your academic background and fitness certifications. Include degrees, diplomas, and training programmes relevant to personal training.

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. For newer trainers, highlight coursework or certifications that demonstrate your potential.