How to Write a Personal Trainer CV: Guide with Tips and Examples

A career as a personal trainer in the health and wellness industry can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you're a seasoned fitness expert or newly-qualified with little to no work experience, we show you how to write an good CV to get noticed in this competitive field.

There’s a growing demand for fitness professionals in the UK, and this health sector is valued at over £5 billion annually. Therefore, it’s crucial to present your skills, qualifications, and expertise using a modern CV to make an impact on employers.

In this article, we cover:

• How to highlight your experience, qualifications, and skills.

• Tailoring your CV for different fitness industry jobs.

• Formatting additional sections, including achievements and courses.

• How to improve your CV for career success.

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Henry highlights five years of experience in fitness program design, nutrition counselling, and client assessment in this personal trainer CV sample. His Personal Training certification and Sports Science degree demonstrate his qualifications and commitment to professional growth. This CV template for a personal trainer is well-formatted and tailored to his career goals. 

Looking for a short cover letter? Enhance your job application to set yourself up for success.

How do you write a CV for a personal trainer with no experience? 

Starting out as a personal trainer can feel challenging, but remember, everyone begins somewhere. Your passion, knowledge, and dedication are your strongest assets. Let’s turn your enthusiasm for fitness into a compelling CV that showcases your potential.

• Focus on transferable skills: highlight skills like communication, time management, and leadership that can be applied to personal training. 

• Emphasise education and certifications: List your personal training certifications, such as Level 3 Personal Training qualification and any first aid or CPR training.

• Include volunteer work: mention any unpaid experience, such as helping friends with workout plans or volunteering at sports events, to demonstrate your commitment to fitness.

• Create a skills-based CV: structure your CV around key skills and qualifications rather than work history.

• Learning and training programs: consider internships or apprenticeships, perfect for school leavers seeking opportunities to gain hands-on experience.

• Pair your CV: Match your CVa simple cover letter to boost your application and impress potential employers.

What to include in a personal trainer CV? 

Before applying for jobs, it’s helpful to create a master CV that includes an overview of your professional background. Use this document to create a tailored, job-specific CV, then regularly update your CV as your career evolves.

Starting to write can feel overwhelming, especially if it's a CV for a first job. However, it becomes much more manageable with a clear structure. We recommend the following steps to ensure you include all the necessary elements to stand out:

1. Contact information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, for a professional personal trainer CV format.

2. Personal profile: Write a compelling personal trainer CV profile summarising your expertise, accomplishments, and interpersonal skills.

3. Educational background: List relevant qualifications such as Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification and Level 3 Personal Training Qualification. Mention if you’ve specialised in areas like Strength and Conditioning (S&C) or rehabilitation.

4. Work experience: Present your work experience in reverse chronological format and list measurable achievements.

5. Skills: Include a skills section highlighting technical and interpersonal skills, such as client consultations, rehabilitation techniques, and sports therapy. Tailor your skills to match the job description and list practical knowledge such as cleaning and maintaining gym equipment or pool and water testing.

6. Additional sections: List any awards, certifications, or volunteer work that reinforce your commitment to making fitness accessible and show your continuous professional development. For example, language skills or personal hobbies and interests.  

If you are shortlisted for a job interview, potential employers may request to see evidence of liability insurance and a passed enhanced background check. 

How to write a CV for a personal trainer job in 5 steps 

1. Warm up with a compelling personal profile on a personal trainer CV

A personal trainer CV profile is where you get to introduce yourself to your future employer. It should:

• Highlight your strengths, achievements, years of experience, and qualifications.

• Include your job title and specific areas of expertise, such as Strength and Conditioning (S&C), rehabilitation, or sports therapy.

• Showcase your soft skills like communication, motivation, and adaptability, which are crucial for helping clients achieve their fitness goals.

• Emphasise top skills employers look for, such as emotional intelligence when helping clients lose weight or recover from injury.

• If you're Level 3 qualified, hold specialised certifications such as Certifications in Circuit Training and Kettlebells, or have specific career goals, you can mention them in this section.

Examples of 'About me' for a personal trainer CV

2. List essential skills for a personal trainer CV 

You must showcase diverse skills on your CV, which include hard and soft skills. Soft skills should be weaved into the personal profile and work experience sections but hard skills should be listed in a section on their own.

Hard or technical skills on your CV should demonstrate your qualifications and ability to deliver exceptional fitness training and client experiences. Focus on exercise physiology, technical fitness expertise, and program design. If you’re just starting, use a skills-based CV  to emphasise transferable skills and a commitment to professional growth.

Essential skills for a personal trainer CV:

• Communication: effectively instruct clients and provide feedback on their fitness goals.

• Physical fitness techniques: knowledge of exercise routines, strength and conditioning (S&C), and injury prevention.

• Interpersonal skills: build strong client relationships and foster a motivating training environment.

• Program design: create customised fitness plans, including rehabilitation and sports therapy.

• Time management: efficiently schedule sessions and manage multiple clients’ training plans.

Still not sure which skills to add to your CV? Explore these similar CV examples:

• Dancer CV

• Sports CV

• Footballer CV

• Physiotherapist CV.

3. Work experience is the core of your personal trainer CV 

If you want to show off your fitness expertise and contributions, this is the CV section to do so. Use action verbs and quantifiable results to highlight your roles in gyms, fitness centres, or private training. In this section, provide a clear, organised overview of your work responsibilities, emphasising your tasks and key achievements for each job in 3-4 sentences and then bullet points for specific achievements.

• Experienced gym trainers: emphasise achievements, like "increased client retention by 30% through personalised programs" or “led a fitness challenge that resulted in a 15% improvement in client strength and endurance." Avoid vague statements like "helped clients with workouts." 

• Newly-qualified personal trainers: if you're a recent school leaver or student with little relevant work experience, focus on transferable skills gained from customer service focused roles. Explore courses and hands-on training opportunities such as apprenticeships.

• Specialised fitness trainer roles: pursue courses in strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, pilates and yoga, or sports therapy to boost your CV. Explore current opportunities at NRPT.

• Career change: highlight transferable skills from previous part-time jobs, such as time management, communication, and leadership. For more ideas, see our career change CV example.

Work experience examples for fitness trainer CV

Fitness Studio Trainer | FitLife Studios, Coventry, UK | 2021 - Present\ Conduct one-on-one and group training sessions, customising workout plans to individual client needs and fitness levels. Perform comprehensive fitness assessments to evaluate clients' strengths, weaknesses, and goals, creating data-driven workout strategies. Consistently meet or exceed client expectations by closely monitoring progress and adjusting training programs accordingly.

• Successfully led fitness challenges, resulting in an average 10% improvement in participants' strength and endurance.

• Achieved a 20% increase in client retention through personalised training programs.

• Implemented nutritional guidance, resulting in a 15% improvement in clients' overall health and fitness.

Gym Instructor | Peak Fitness Club, Birmingham, UK | 2019 - Present\ Instruct clients on proper equipment usage and exercise form, ensuring their safety and effectiveness in achieving fitness goals. Conduct comprehensive fitness assessments to evaluate clients' physical condition, strengths, weaknesses, and fitness goals. Provide ongoing guidance and motivation to clients, tracking their progress and adjusting exercise plans to ensure continuous improvement.

• Develop and recommend tailored exercise programs resulting in a 15% increase in gym membership conversions.

• Led various group fitness classes and received positive feedback from 100% of all participants in a survey.

• Achieved an impressive 20% improvement in clients' overall cardiovascular fitness levels through specialised cardiovascular training programs.

Personal Trainer Apprenticeship | StartRite Fitness Center, London, UK | 2023 - Present\ Shadow and assist senior trainers in conducting comprehensive fitness assessments, gaining hands-on experience evaluating client levels and needs. Actively participate in workshops, seminars, and educational sessions led by experienced mentors. Assist in the overall operation of the fitness centre, ensuring equipment maintenance and gym cleanliness to provide a welcoming environment for members.

• Achieved an outstanding 80% pass rate in certification exams, demonstrating a solid commitment to professional growth.

• Assisted in conducting fitness assessments and received positive feedback, contributing to a 10% improvement in client satisfaction.

Personal trainer with little to no work experience:

Personal trainer Intern | Dynamic Moves Fitness Center, Manchester, UK | 2022 - Present\ Assist senior trainers in conducting fitness assessments and tracking client progress. Support the development of personalised workout plans for clients, promoting a positive training atmosphere. Actively pursuing additional certifications and staying updated on fitness industry trends.

• Collaborated with senior trainers in fitness assessments and contributed to a 15% increase in client satisfaction.

• Attained an exceptional 90% pass rate in certification exams.

Check out the internship CV example for more inspiration or our more extensive guide if you have little to no experience in the industry. For more insights read how to add work experience to your CV.

Use these examples to get started

Begin your CV now

4. Gain strength with the education section on your personal trainer CV 

Employers generally don't require higher education qualifications for personal trainer roles. However, if you are a graduate in fitness and personal training, health and fitness management, nutrition, or sports science, it can be beneficial.Here are other ways to gain educational qualifications on your CV:

• Online learning: Explore courses and webinars from UK-based providers like Future Fit and HFE. These platforms offer specialised and quick courses that you can complete at home. Find a course relevant to your career goals with the National Careers Service.

• REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals): REPs is a UK-based organisation accrediting fitness professionals. They offer various training courses and workshops in sports-specific training, exercise referral, and nutrition. Check their website for available courses. 

How to format the CV education section

UK GCSEs:

• [n] GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)

  [School Name], [School Location], [Years Attended]

• Hillside High School, Manchester, UK, 2014 - 2016

  10 GCSEs in grades A–C, including Physical Education and Science.

College diploma

• [Diploma/Course name], [College name], [Location], [Date of completion of expected date]

• Fitness and Personal Training | Level 3, East Anglia City College, East Anglia, 2020

A Levels:

• [A Level] in [Subject 1], [Subject 2], [Subject 3]

  [School Name], [School Location], [Years Attended]

• Physical Education (A), Biology (B), Sports Science (C)

  Manchester College, Manchester, UK, 2016 - 2018

University degree:

• [Degree] in [program name], [institution/school name], [Location], [date range, year of graduation, or in progress]

• Bachelor of Science in Sports Science, University of Birmingham, 2016

For more guidance, read how to list the education section on your CV and refer to our career advice for entering the workforce after graduation.

5. Show your motivation with additional sections

While there are no strict educational requirements for becoming a personal trainer in the UK, including an additional section can make your personal trainer CV stand out from other candidates. Create separate headings to make your CV easy to navigate and focus on critical areas of expertise. 

How to list courses and certificates

Consider pursuing courses and certificates for your CV from accredited organisations like (CIMSPA), UK Coaching, or the (REPs). Credentials can be gained through academic studies, apprenticeships, or specialised training programs. Obtaining first aid and CPR certification is also essential. 

How to format certificates:

[Course Name], [Issuer], [Issued Date] [Completion/In Progress]

Examples:

Level 3 Personal Training Qualification, REPs, 2023

Sports Nutrition Certification, UK Coaching, 2022

How to include further training

Use this section to list any supplementary training, webinars, or workshops you've completed that enhance your training capabilities.

Examples:

Advanced Kettlebell Training Workshop, Future Fit, 2022

CPR and First Aid Certification, St. John Ambulance, 2021.

How to list additional achievements

Here, detail any significant accomplishments from your personal training experience, such as client success stories, awards, or results. You can highlight these outside of your work experience section if it's applicable to your education or course sections.

Examples:

Successfully coached a client to lose 25 kg over 12 months, improving overall health and fitness.

• Helped a client recover from a knee injury, enabling them to return to running within six months through a tailored rehabilitation plan.

How to include hobbies and interests

Incorporating hobbies and interests can add value to your personal trainer CV if they demonstrate relevant skills or passion for fitness. Avoid generic hobbies that don’t contribute to your personal trainer profile.  

Include activities like:

• Weightlifting

• Yoga or pilates

• Nutrition coaching

• Marathon training

• Volunteering at fitness events.

Key takeaways 

Writing an professional CV tailored to application tracking systems (ATS) is essential to standing out in the competitive and evolving fitness industry. Complete courses and qualifications from reputable organisations to showcase your expertise and skills. Include client-focused work experience, specialised training, and relevant accomplishments. If you’re an experienced trainer, conclude with references from satisfied clients or colleagues.

Next steps? 

If you’re newly qualified, use our expert CV Writing Service to craft a tailored CV to land your dream role. We can help you increase your chances of being shortlisted for a job interview. For more inspiration, browse our CV examples for insight into the biggest industries in the UK today. Explore our career blog for expert tips and advice, including emailing your CV and preparing for video interviews.

FAQ 

What qualifications do I need to be a personal trainer in the UK? 

In the UK, you typically need a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training or an equivalent qualification accredited by organisations like REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals). Additional certifications and specialisations, such as nutrition or sports-specific training, can further enhance your CV.

How long does it take to become a personal trainer in the UK? 

Completing a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training takes 3 to 6 months. Pursuing additional certifications or undergraduate degrees will take longer.

Do personal trainers need a CV? 

You should have a CV when seeking employment opportunities and applying for certain roles. A well-structured CV should ideally be 1 page and highlight your qualifications, experience, and skills. Refer to our how long should a CV be article for more information.

What is a personal trainer's CV personal statement?

A personal trainer CV profile is your chance to introduce yourself using a summary. Express your passion for fitness, dedication to helping clients achieve their goals, and commitment to professional development. Mention relevant expertise, career goals, interpersonal skills, and notable achievements, such as client success stories.

What experience do I need to be a personal trainer in the UK? 

You need a Level 2 Gym Instructor or Level 3 Personal Training qualification and practical experience working with clients. Volunteering or internships in gyms and fitness events can be beneficial. 

Are personal trainers in demand in the UK?

Yes, personal trainers are in demand across the UK due to increasing health and fitness awareness. Positions are available in gyms, fitness centres, and health clubs. Explore more in-demand jobs for inspiration.