Personal Trainer CV Sample: 25+ Examples and Writing Tips

You’re about to write a personal trainer CV that’s all muscle. But first, think about this—

You’ll be tough on your clients, right?

Guess what?

Gym managers will be tough on hiring you, too.

So prove your knowledge and skills are no bro science and they will put the other CVs “on file.”

This guide will show you:

• Great personal trainer CV examples that get physical trainer jobs.
• How to ace your personal training job description for a powerful CV.
• How to write fitness instructor CVs that get the gym interview.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a job at the gym.

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Before we begin, here’s a personal training CV example:

Personal Trainer CV Sample

1. Choose the Best Personal Trainer CV Format

Your personal trainer CV must be cellulite-free and sculpted like a Greek god.

How can you achieve that?

By formatting the CV for personal training jobs just right:

1. Stay reverse-chronological. Your most recent work history and education entries get listed first, and go back from there.
2. Be strategic with section order. If you’ve never been a personal trainer or corporate trainer before, place education and fitness certifications above work history.
3. Style it right. Use the perfect CV fonts and make good use of white space so the gym owner can easily scan your CV and get to the section they want fast.
4. Write a one-page CV, unless you are as experienced as Gunnar Peterson.
5. Save it in the correct format. To be sure your gym CV renders right on any device, save it in the PDF CV format.

Expert Hint: Section headings (e.g., “Work Experience”) must be labelled clearly to let the gym manager easily find what they’re looking for. Make these section subheadings bold and 2–4 pts larger than the regular CV text.

2. Start with a Personal Trainer CV Objective or Summary that Turns Heads

A compelling personal training profile works like circuit training: it combines a series of strengths, achievements, and skills to blast maximum effect, i.e., landing you the interview.

Got Some Personal Training Experience?

Use the CV summary statement.

A great CV summary statement for trainers:

• Summarises your training history into a brief paragraph
• Shows the gym how your fitness history fits their employment needs
• Gives quantifiable accomplishments to prove your fitness for the job
• Lets the gym manager easily imagine you as their new trainer.

Look at these personal trainer CV examples of summary statements:

Personal Trainer CV Summary—Example

Results-driven ACSM-certified personal trainer with 3+ years experience at large gym with multiple locations. Implemented new workout regime which increased muscle mass by an average of 12% and decreased recovery time by 22% over previous methods.

I have been a personal trainer for 3 years now, and I am skilled in targeting pectoral and quadriceps muscle groups, and cardiovascular training.

Ouch.

Only the first of those personal trainer CV samples will impress the recruiter. It shows measurable achievements that prove core skills.

What If You’ve Got No Training Experience?

Use the CV career objective if writing a CV with no job experience with personal trainer jobs.

A great career objective statement for trainers:

• Tells them where you’re coming from.
• States your career goals and the position you’re applying for.
• Lists your key skills which are relevant to being a personal trainer.
• Makes it simple for the gym to see how they’d benefit from hiring you.

Here are some personal trainer CV objective examples:

Personal Trainer CV Objective With No Experience

Recent university graduate with newly-acquired NASM certification and 4 years’ training experience at American University’s RecFit program as an assistant coach. Seeking to leverage skills in training fellow students on an individual basis and awards as a 2-time Regional Rowing Champion to grow with Jungle Gym as the new personal trainer.

I don’t have experience as a personal trainer, but I have always been good at sports and would like to expand my training-related knowledge working for Jungle Gym.

That second one is weak, but that first one is as solid as your gluteal muscles.

Expert Hint: The gym manager will read your CV objective or summary profile statement first, but it doesn’t mean you have to write it at the beginning. Instead, save it for the end so you can use the rest of your CV to build a better picture.

3. Write the Perfect Personal Trainer Job Description and Skills Sections

When you ask bodybuilders the most important muscle groups to work out, abs will no doubt be near the top of the list.

Well—

Your work experience and skills sections are the “abs” of your CV. They’re the core, so get it right!

To bodybuild a great personal trainer job description for CVs:

• Refer to the personal training job description as you write
• Find CV keywords the gym manager is looking for in the job requirements
• Work those keywords into the skills list and work history sections of the CV
• Start each bullet point entry with powerful verbs
• Quantify your experience using numbers in your CV achievements.

Remember: Most gym managers initially look at your PT CV for just 7 seconds, meaning you had better grab their attention from the very start!

Example of Personal Trainer Job Description

Certified Personal Trainer
Gyminus Maximus
June 2015–December 2018

Key Responsibilities

• Built client base through conducting orientations and PT sessions.
• Determined clients’ goals and prepared fitness programs to match.
• Modelled and promoted rules of the gym for safe and fun workout environment.

Key Achievements

• Implemented new workout routine which increased muscle mass of participants by an avg of 12% and decreased recovery time over previous methods by 22%.
• Initiated new diet plan to coincide with fitness regime which decreased time-to-satisfaction by 27%.

Certified Personal Trainer
Gyminus Maximus
June 2015–December 2018

Key Responsibilities

• Helped people work out.
• Instructed yoga classes.
• Intimidated clients.

See the differences here?

Don’t just list duties. This is as wrong as not stretching before hitting the weight room.

The first example gives personal trainer duties, too, but they are tweaked like a perfect personal workout plan.

On top of that, there are key achievements with numbers to prove you know what you’re talking about.

One other thing to remember—

—the ATS.

Larger gyms with multiple locations, such as Equinox, get way too many applications. They will help out their HR staff by using applicant tracking system software to parse CVs for keywords.

Don’t have the CV keywords they’re looking for?

You’ll get skipped like a Smith machine.

Here is a list of some common skills for personal trainers:

Personal Training Skills for CVs

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Aerobics Training
• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication Skills
• AED/CPR Certification
• CrossFit
• Diet & Nutrition
• Personal Training Techniques
• Exercise Equipment Operation and Maintenance

To make the ATS happy, go word-for-word as the job ad lists them.

Remember: Don’t just copy-paste any list of personal training skills you find on the internet. Hiring managers will quickly see through your trick.

Expert Hint: Stay relevant. Just because you have mad Photoshop skills doesn’t mean they belong on a personal or corporate trainer CV.

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4. Turn Boring Education Into a Reason to Hire You

You know those people who only work out their arms and have chicken legs holding it all up?

Not dedicating enough time to your CV education section is just like skipping the leg day.

Here’s how to add your education for a well-rounded personal training CV:

That’s how you max out the fitness instructor CV education section.

Our example skips using dates and adding a GPA, because too low (GPA) or too old (graduation date) may hurt. It also lists coursework relevant to personal trainer duties.

Finished a university degree? Then don’t add high school. Only add high school if it is the last full thing you’ve finished.

Expert Hint: Move your education section above your work history area if your past work experience is in a different field.

5. Enhance Your Sports Fitness CV with Extras

As a personal trainer, standing out among others is easy for you.

But—

To stand out on paper among 250 other CVs is much harder.

Make use of additional CV sections to set yourself apart:

Personal Trainer CV Sample—Certifications

Personal training certifications are more important than education. Here are some common certs for a fitness instructor CV:

• ACTION Personal Training Certification (NCCA)
• Certified Personal Fitness Trainer (CPFT)
• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
• National Certified Personal Trainer (NCSF)
• Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
• NASM Personal Training Certification
• International Fitness Professionals Association Personal Fitness Training Certification (IFPA - PFT)
• Personal Training Academy Global Certified Personal Trainer (PTA Global CPT)

The most valuable certifications for personal trainers come from these fitness organisations:

• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• American University of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Also, most personal trainers must complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certification programs.

Personal Trainer CV Sample—Languages

Proficiency in a second language might mean the difference in getting hired, especially if the gym’s clientele have a strong minority presence.

Languages

• English—Native Proficiency
• Spanish—Professional Working Proficiency

Personal Trainer CV Sample—Hobbies & Interests

Use hobbies and interests in a CV to show you’re not just muscle and sinew—you’ve got a human side, as well.

List those relevant to personal trainer jobs:

Hobbies & Interests

• Triathlon participation
• Captain of local rugby team

Other awesome sections to include on a CV for personal training jobs include:

• Volunteer experience
• Conferences
• Fitness awards
• CV certifications
• Weightlifting honours
• Health and safety licences
• PT association memberships

Expert Hint: Attach a personal trainer cover letter to your CV. Most recruiters expect it!

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Key Points

Here’s a brief recap on how to write a CV for personal trainers:

• Use the reverse-chronological format to keep it toned and well-defined.
• Write a compelling personal trainer CV summary or CV objective.
• Add quantifiable achievements to your personal trainer responsibilities to beef up your job description.
• Sprinkle relevant keywords around, and list trainer CV skills which pertain to the gym.
• Include relevant coursework in your CV education section to keep it in shape.
• Add personal training certifications and licences to beast it up.

Now that’s a ripped personal training CV!

Got any questions on how to write a sports CV? Not sure how to describe your fitness skills or training achievements? Get at us in the comments below and we’ll chat. Thanks for reading!

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