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7 Personal Trainer Resume Examples [& Templates]

Personal Trainer

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Personal Trainer Resume

• Personal Trainer Resumes by Experience
• Personal Trainer Resumes by Role

You build effective fitness programs, and you’re passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. Whether you’re gaining experience or are part of a team of seasoned personal trainers, strengthening your career starts with leveraging a free cover letter generator and making a good resume .

As a trainer, you combine your love for a healthy lifestyle with your desire to bring out the best in people. Your job requires competency regarding equipment, workouts, nutrition, progress analysis, and customer service, among other important aspects!

Now, you need a resume template that showcases your ability to work in these capacities. We’ve got you covered with seven personal trainer resume samples to help you land your next role in 2024.

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Why this resume works

• If you decide to include a  resume summary , pack a lethal punch by customizing it to the job you want and highlighting at least 10+ years of experience in the industry. 
• If you’ve received an honor or award, don’t forget to add it! This can be an effective way to prove you’ve built a solid reputation among your clients. 
• You’ll stand out among the competition if you can put a number on the programs you’ve designed, clients you’ve trained, or sales revenue you’ve brought in! 

Personal Trainer No Experience Resume

• For instance, Davis created podcasts on Anchor and helped expand listenership by 19%. What’s your catchy achievement?
• Take the time to show how indirect experience is still relevant when you write your personal trainer cover letter .

Entry-Level Personal Trainer Resume

• As a rule of thumb, customize your objective to the specific business to which you’re applying to show you’ve done your research.
• Action-packed vocabulary like “people-oriented” and “results-driven” illustrates how your personality can transition seamlessly into a new career like personal training. 
• Show you’re eager to learn and contribute what you already know to the company. 
• Even if your experience is unrelated to the job you want, think about the abilities and responsibilities your career change will require. If you worked as a caregiver, you could highlight client care and your ability to lift heavy equipment.

Certified Personal Trainer Resume

• Add achievements such as faster recovery rates for injured clients to prove the effectiveness of your programs and client-centered services.

Fitness Trainer Resume

• Demonstrates your career advancement
• Proves your adaptability and flexibility to work in various environments 
• Provides further evidence for the  skills on your resume.
• Your most recent job is probably  most  like the fitness trainer job you’re hoping to land. Tap into our free AI-powered  resume checker  if you need a little help getting started or determining if your current resume cuts the mustard.

Self-Employed Personal Trainer Resume

• When you can, quantify your experience because a potential client will be more likely to become a long-term client when seeing results. 
• In reverse-chronological order, the work history showcases career progression and similar and adaptable skills that enhance your current experience. 
• Potential clients will be more likely to give you their business when they know you’ve done the work to earn the certification. 

Personal Training Sales Resume

• When you’re looking for a job where you’ll be responsible for boosting sales, don’t hold back on listing your strengths! Emphasize your greatest strengths, and be eager for the role.
• With that in mind, your personal training sales resume should focus on proving your qualifications through past work that’s afforded you the background and necessary knowledge for the position sought. 

Related resume guides

• Physical Therapist
• Medical Assistant

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Personal Trainer Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Personal Trainer Resume

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Personal Trainer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Danielle Goodman (098) 765-4321 [email protected] 678 First Street, Miami, FL 34567

A Certified Personal Trainer with two years of experience providing effective one-on-one and group training programs. Advanced knowledge of weight management strategies and body composition testing. Talent for creating a welcoming and safe training space and planning effectively for individuals with disabilities and sports injuries. Experienced in using HIIT workouts and resistance training to increase metabolism and improve core strength.

Professional Experience

Personal Trainer, Equinox Fitness Clubs, Miami, FL January 2019 – Present

• Evaluate new clients and deliver gym orientation sessions, demonstrate correct equipment usage and lifting techniques to approximately 15 clients per day and supervise to ensure safe and effective workouts
• Provide client questionnaires to set goals, develop customized fitness programs, and create nutrition plans to support clients in achieving fitness goals
• Adapt existing frameworks to accommodate mobility limitations and physical disabilities
• Monitor gym environment for safety and maintain a clear and appealing workspace
• Metabolic Testing
• Client Relations
• Fitness Training
• Sports Medicine
• Nutrition Plans

Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology University of Miami, Miami, FL, September 2014 – June 2018

Certifications

• Personal Trainer Certificate, National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2018
• CPR and First Aid Certificates, 2020

Francesca Kirby (111) 222-3333 [email protected] 111 My Road, San Francisco, CA 66778

A results-driven personal trainer with eight years of experience supporting clients to meet their fitness goals in commercial gyms. A proven track record of developing innovative fitness programs and nutrition plans to aid clients in managing diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.

Personal Trainer, Bounce Fitness, San Francisco, CA August 2018 – Present

• Conduct detailed consultations and movement assessments to onboard new clients, tailor fitness plans to individual client needs, and create nutrition plans
• Deliver one-on-one and group fitness sessions to six clients per day using a range of training styles and equipment
• Provide specialized support for clients with specific health conditions to allow them to access fitness activities safely

Personal Trainer, Fitness SF, San Francisco, CA January 2013 – August 2018

• Led bi-weekly group yoga classes, including prenatal yoga, to improve clients’ strength, flexibility, and general well-being
• Kept a safe and clean working area, ensuring all equipment remained in good working order
• Created and delivered a 12-week weight loss challenge to attract new clients to the gym, resulting in an 80% adherence

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, September 2008 – August 2012

• Group Fitness Programs
• Personal Fitness Training
• Communication
• Weight Loss Plans
• Thorough understanding of safeguarding and health and safety best practices in commercial gyms
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Warm and encouraging coaching style
• Able to manage challenging workloads with large client lists
• Adept at creating personalized plans considering dietary and physical restrictions
• Personal Trainer Certification, American Council on Exercise, 2013
• Yoga Alliance Certificate, 2015

James Taylor (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Main Street, Orlando, FL 12345

An innovative Personal Trainer with over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry and a passion for supporting diverse clients in achieving personal fitness goals. A strong history of creating inclusive, non-judgemental class environments. Adept at creating weight loss and nutrition plans according to individual client needs.

Personal Trainer, Fun n Fit Gym, Orlando, FL December 2014 – Present

• Counsel clients on proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles, analyze client needs, and develop customized fitness plans to achieve weight loss in 85% of clients
• Lead 30 one-on-one and group training sessions per week with clients of all ages and create unique and engaging classes to attract new clients
• Show clients how to modify exercises to avoid further injury
• Track client progress and help them adapt their programs to continue reaching their goals

Personal Trainer, Creative Style Gym, Orlando, FL August 2008 – November 2014

• Built a strong personal client base with over 95% repeat business
• Guided clients through personal training sessions that were adapted to their fitness level and any injuries they had
• Custom designed nutrition and workout programs that helped clients achieve significant weight-loss results

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Sports The University of Orlando, Orlando, FL, September 2004 – July 2008

• HIIT Workouts
• Group Fitness Training
• Personal Fitness Programs
• First Aid and CPR

Your personal trainer resume is a powerful document showcasing your expertise, qualifications, and passion for helping clients achieve their fitness goals. Maybe you are a seasoned personal trainer with skills in resistance training and creating weight loss and nutrition plans. Or you may be just starting in the field. Either way, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to craft a winning resume.

With real personal trainer resume examples and expert advice, you’ll learn how to effectively communicate your training techniques and the impact you’ve made on your clients. Read on to explore the significance of incorporating keywords, quantifying achievements, and using action verbs to enhance the overall effect of your resume.

1. Write a brief summary of your personal trainer qualifications

Your resume profile should capture the essence of your expertise and feature your unique strengths in just a few sentences. Start by emphasizing your years of experience in the industry, highlighting your commitment to guiding clients along their fitness journey. Use action-oriented keywords to communicate your expertise in program design, strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and nutrition guidance.

Also, incorporate data and metrics for your achievements, such as the number of clients you’ve successfully trained or the percentage of clients who achieved significant results under your guidance. A compelling resume profile shows you’re a results-driven personal trainer passionate about helping individuals transform their lives through fitness.

Senior-Level Profile Example

An innovative personal trainer with over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry and a passion for supporting diverse clients in achieving personal fitness goals. A strong history of creating inclusive, non-judgmental class environments. Adept at designing weight loss and nutrition plans according to individual client needs.

Entry-Level Profile Example

A certified personal trainer with two years of experience providing effective one-on-one and group training programs. Advanced knowledge of weight management strategies and body composition testing. Talent for creating a welcoming and safe training space and planning effectively for individuals with disabilities and sports injuries. Experienced in using high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts and resistance training to increase metabolism and improve core strength.

2. Add a compelling section featuring your personal trainer experience

An accomplishment-driven professional experience section is critical to your resume and allows you to demonstrate your effectiveness as a personal trainer. Instead of giving a long list of duties and tasks you were responsible for, start by quantifying your experience.

For example, you could cite the number of clients you’ve trained, the percentage of those who achieved their desired outcomes, or the amount of muscle gained or weight lost by those under your guidance. This quantification adds credibility and showcases your ability to produce tangible results. Use action verbs in your writing to add energy and emphasize your active role at work. These words show your proactive approach and highlight the skills and qualities employers seek in a personal trainer.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Personal Trainer, Fun n Fit Gym, Orlando, FL December 2014 – present

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Personal Trainer, Equinox Fitness Clubs, Miami, FL January 2019 – present

• Evaluate new clients and deliver gym orientation sessions, demonstrate correct equipment usage and lifting techniques to approximately 15 clients per day, and supervise to ensure safe and effective workouts

3. Add personal trainer education and certifications

Hiring managers need to know you’ve obtained the necessary education and certifications to provide high-quality training services to clients. Your academic background instills trust and confidence in potential employers who need to know they can rely on your expertise to deliver safe and effective fitness programs. Starting with your highest level of education, provide the degree name, institution, location, and completion date.

In a separate section, highlight any relevant Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) credentials you’ve obtained from reputable organizations like National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), or American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Also include any specialized certifications in nutrition or specific training methodologies. Format this section similarly, listing the certificate title, issuing organization, and date received.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology
• University of Miami, Miami, FL – June 2018
• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] – [Completion Year]
• Personal Trainer Certificate, National Academy of Sports Medicine – 2018

4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to personal trainers

Showcase your capabilities and demonstrate your value to potential employers with a key skills section. These skills show your expertise and serve to differentiate yourself in a competitive job market. Focus on those that directly relate to the role and align with the needs of the industry.

Provide hiring managers with the list of skills you use to create tailored fitness programs, effectively communicate with clients, and provide a safe and supportive training environment. Remember to highlight skills that align with the employer’s needs to increase your chances of standing out and securing an interview. Check out our list of examples below:

How To Pick the Best Personal Trainer Resume Template

A resume template provides a well-structured framework that showcases your relevant professional accomplishments and key skills. The best resume template for a personal trainer is clean, organized, and visually appealing. Choose one that aligns with your professional image and effectively presents your qualifications while ensuring the template allows customization.

The template should reflect your personal style, but avoid overly decorative fonts and loud graphics that could distract from the content of your resume. Remember, the goal is to create a professional and polished document that stands out and communicates your expertise and suitability for the role.

Frequently Asked Questions: Personal Trainer Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for personal trainer resumes -.

Action verbs add an engaging element to your resume, helping to express a sense of energy, expertise, and effectiveness in your role. It's common to struggle with finding the right words to convey what you've accomplished. We've curated a list of common action verbs you can use to communicate your responsibilities as a personal trainer.

Consider using some of these verbs on your personal trainer resume to capture the attention of potential employers:

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , personal trainer employment is projected to grow between 2021 and 2031. Over the decade, the field will grow by 19%, adding over 57,000 new jobs. To stand out among the crowd of applicants racing to fill these new roles, you'll need to align your resume with the job description of the position you want.

Review the job description to identify the key skills, qualifications, and attributes the employer seeks. Customize your resume by matching your relevant experience, certifications, and achievements with those requirements. For example, if an organization is seeking a personal trainer with a strong background in nutrition, you’d highlight your experience developing nutritional programs and diets for your clients.

What is the best personal trainer resume format? -

A personal trainer's most appropriate resume format is typically the reverse chronological format. This resume presents your most recent work experience first while still showing your career progression and accomplishments. It lets you feature relevant experience, including past training positions, certifications, and notable achievements. At the entry level, you can highlight your skills and education more prominently, but it’s still best to avoid the functional resume format. Skill-based resumes are generally considered outdated by recruiters and hiring managers because they lack sufficient detail for your career experience and accomplishments.

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Writing a powerful cover letter can significantly enhance your interview prospects. The key to crafting an impactful cover letter is tailoring it to the organization you're applying to. We invite you to read our comprehensive personal trainer cover letter guide to learn how to create your own. Then, check out related cover letter examples for physical therapists and occupational therapists .

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Personal Trainer Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

How to craft a compelling personal trainer resume

Personal trainers play an influential role in the lives of many people, including those who are working to improve their health, fitness, and overall wellness. To become a personal trainer, you must first craft a stunning resume that showcases your passion for the industry and commitment to your clients.

In this guide, we discuss the five important elements to focus on when writing a personal trainer resume. Keep reading to learn all about:

• Choosing the right format for your personal trainer resume
• Writing an eye-catching summary for your personal trainer resume
• Selecting your top technical and interpersonal skills for a resume
• Describing your experience as a personal trainer effectively
• Listing your key educational and training credentials as a personal trainer

1. Choose the right format for your personal trainer resume

When writing a personal trainer resume, your primary focus ought to be on your real-life experience with clients. As such, the best resume format for most personal trainers is the reverse-chronological resume , which focuses on work experience above all else.

However, if you are new to the industry or have only trained one or two clients since finishing your training and education, you may opt instead for a functional or hybrid resume .

These formats shift the focus away from work experience and onto education, skills, and unpaid experience, with the hybrid formatting spreading the focus out more evenly between all sections.

No matter which format you ultimately select in the end, your resume should always start with a visually appealing header containing your name and contact information.

Here is an example of a well-formated personal trainer resume header

Joe King, Professional Personal Trainer (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linked.com/in.joe-king

2. Write an eye-catching summary for your personal trainer resume

Next up on your writing to-do list is to craft an eye-catching resume summary .

Your resume summary should concisely introduce you to the employer, stating your years of experience and specialized areas of expertise. You can also include additional details about your professional goals or what type of position you are looking for in your summary as well.

Here is an example of an eye-catching summary from a personal trainer’s resume

Motivated and inspired personal trainer with 6+ years of experience developing custom training routines for CrossFit athletes. Looking for a position with opportunities to work with competing athletes and provide crucial mentorship for helping these athletes to succeed and thrive.

Why is this Correct?

Not only does this summary cover the applicant’s overall experience and specializations, but it also offers the employer a glimpse at what this applicant is most passionate about. This will help to establish a great first impression with the employer, especially if they are looking for an applicant with these specific types of specializations. 

3. Select your top technical and interpersonal skills for a resume

After finishing your resume summary, you should now begin brainstorming which key skills you want to include in your personal trainer resume .

Most resumes will include a dedicated skills section where certain skills are listed out with bullet points. In this skills section, you should focus primarily on technical skills that do not require too much additional explanation for the employer to get the point.

Meanwhile, your interpersonal skills should be sprinkled throughout your work experience section, used as descriptors to make your work experience entries more enticing.

Here are 5 examples of technical skills to include on a personal trainer resume

• Nutritional programming
• Developing custom fitness routines
• Assessing client fitness aptitude
• Performing educational lessons
• Maintaining personal physical excellence

Here are 5 examples of interpersonal skills to include on a personal trainer resume

• Communication (both verbal and written)
• Collaboration
• Active listening

Find out your resume score!

4. Describing your experience as a personal trainer effectively

When describing your work experience as a personal trainer, it is crucial to include highly specific, relevant, and quantifiable details whenever possible.

Using bullet points to list out descriptions within your work experience entries will help to keep the information organized and make your resume easily skimmable for employers.

Here is an example of a work experience entry from a personal trainer resume

Personal Trainer | Anytime Fitness Boone, NC | November 2018 to March 2022

• Developed custom fitness routines and nutritional programs for 100+ clients, including weekly updates to these routines and programs.
• Received an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Yelp reviews for personal trainers.
• Submitted research to a fitness research center that helped with the development of a scale that provides a better overall picture of a person’s individual health.

5. List your key educational and training credentials as a personal trainer

As a personal trainer, you may or may not hold a degree in your field.

While many personal trainers do go to college to study their craft, many others work their way up to the position through gym training and certification programs.

Regardless of how you have arrived on this career path, make sure your resume includes your best educational and/or training credentials to show off to employers.

Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a personal trainer’s resume

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN

• Major: Sports Medicine
• Graduated: 2017

Certifications:

• NASM Certified Personal Trainer, 2021 to 2023
• First AID & CPR, valid through 2023

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Personal Trainer Resume: Downloadable Template & Easy Guide

As a Personal Trainer, you know how to assess your client’s fitness levels to get them into the best shape. But have you dedicated as much time to the health of your resume? We can help you build an individualized resume exercise program to get your career fighting fit.

Personal Trainer Resume Example MSWord® Download our free Personal Trainer Resume template in Word and boost the fitness level of your career to the next level.

As a personal trainer, it takes more than just fitness to excel—you have to know how to get under peoples’ skin .

At the end of the day, your trainees will trust you with their physical health, so knowing how to interact with different personalities while exuding charisma and confidence are a must. 

Now, the first test of your “people-savvy-ness” will be your personal trainer resume . 

In case you’re wondering what the best way to impress some old-school gym owners and potential employers are, we’ve prepared just the resume-writing guide for you! The first step is to build up and successfully market your fitness trainer skills—and the job offers will start rolling in no time!

Previous experience and education included, read on to learn how to write a resume for a personal trainer so striking that your schedule will be overflowing with clients !

Personal Trainer Resume Sample

The following personal trainer resume example should provide you with enough inspiration to get started and to know which components to include:

[Britney Atkinson]

[Multi-Certified Personal Trainer]

[Homeville, OR 55555 | (555) 555-5555 | [email protected] | LinkedIn]

Created a weight loss, nutrition, and fitness programs for young people, teens, adults, and senior citizens that are fun, safe, extremely effective, and customized to fit individual needs/goals. Dedicated fitness professional with a passion for improving client health, wellness, and quality of life. Deliver high-energy training using the latest techniques in exercise science, cardio programs, and strength training.

Specialized in body transformation, great at helping diverse populations achieve their fitness, weight loss, and conditioning goals faster than they ever thought possible.

ABC Department of Parks & Recreation — Sometown, OR

Personal Trainer | Group Fitness Instructor,

2017 to Present

• Guided clients through safe workouts modified to their fitness levels and medical considerations
• Custom-designed exercise, nutrition, and strength/conditioning programs
• Built a strong client base with 99% repeat business
• Developed and delivered fitness classes that consistently achieved filled-to-capacity enrollment

DEF University — Homville, OR

Personal Trainer , 2012 to 2016

• Developed the university fitness center’s first preventive-maintenance program for gym equipment
• Ranked #1 for highest number of client bookings 3 years in a row.
• Empowered university student clients to take control of their eating
• Focused on providing personalized training, customized meal plans, knowledgeable instruction, and motivational support
• International Fitness Professionals Association, 2011 to Present
• International Fitness Professionals Association, 2012 to Present
• American Red Cross, 2013 to Present
• Peak Pilates®, 2016 to Present
• American Council on Exercise, 2017 to Present
• Client Goal-Setting & Motivation
• 1-on-1 Personal Training
• Group Fitness Instruction
• Cardiovascular / Endurance Training
• Customized Exercise & Meal Plans
• Strength & Conditioning
• Nutrition Counseling
• Pilates & Bootcamp-Style Workouts

Certificates

• ACE-Certified Health Coach
• Certified Pilates Instructor
• IFPA-Certified Personal Trainer
• IFPA-Certified Sports Nutritionist
• CPR Certified

Hobbies and Interests

• Cross-Training
• Fitness Fission

Format Your Personal Trainer Resume Correctly

To solidify your chances of getting through the elimination rounds (lots of resumes are run through Applicant Tracking System software before reaching the eyes of a human recruiter), you need to know how to properly format your personal trainer resume. 

To get there, you need to bear in mind the two unwritten rules :

• Abide by one of the three main resume formatting options
• Make your resume well-organized and visually pleasing

Personal Trainer Resume Formatting Options

First, let’s elaborate on the three main resume formats you can consider.

Whichever pattern you choose, will cover the principal aspects of how you should group and order your skills and achievements. As for your basic information, it should always be classified as follows: 

• Resume Summary or Objective
• Past Experiences
• Other Activities/ Hobbies/ Extras
• Contact Information

Essentially, these resume formats are the ways in which you present your key information to the recruiter. All patterns give off a different vibe to potential employers, which makes each option suited for different kinds of personal trainer job applicants . As for the resume formats to consider, these are as follow: 

• (Reverse) Chronological Resume Format: you order your information chronologically; start with your resume summary or objective, follow that with your past work experiences, add your education and skills, and finally, feature your “other” activities. This format is best suited for entry-level applicants who want to highlight their professional trainer education.
• Functional Resume Format: similarly, you start out with your summary or objective, but follow the section with your skills. Then come all other categories, in order of relevance. This format is ideal for personal trainer job vacancies which prioritize the applicants’ skills in certain areas. Sports professionals can highly benefit from this format’s outline.
• Combined Resume Format: a combo of the previous two resume types, this one also starts out with a summary or objective (combined with information on your skills). It goes on to cover education and job experiences in parallel, too. It’s best suited for experienced applicants with years’ worth of experience, or ones looking for a career change .

Study these personal trainer resume formats properly before you decide which one suits you best.

Onto the next step. 

Visual Aspect of Your Personal Trainer Resume

There is no need to feel pressured when crafting your resume!

As equally as important as your information, your resume should be clear enough to comprehend and visually appealing so the employee takes an interest in your application. 

The key visual aspects for creating an efficient and professional-looking resume include:

• Try to keep your resume as short as one page
• Use a clean and legible font , and keep it the same throughout your entire resume
• Use bullet points , be precise, don’t repeat yourself
• Avoid using pictures , unless requested in the job description
• Opt for a simplistic, yet elegant and easily-skimmable resume design
• Avoid cramming it with huge chunks of text, and leave considerable margins on both sides
• If you are going to use color on your resume , keep it minimal and neutral
• Double-check for grammar or spelling mistakes
• Try to use numbers to lend gravitas and quantify your achievements
• Prepare multiple resume templates , and customize each to suit every job description you apply for (relying on relevant keywords from each description)

Stick to these formatting suggestions, and you’ll have done more than half of the work !

As for the remaining half, let’s examine the ins and outs of how to write your personal trainer resume objective or summary !

Write a Personal Trainer Resume Objective or Summary

A personal trainer resume summary or objective is that little paragraph at the top of your CV, where you present yourself and succinctly summarize your past achievements — or try to capture the employer’s attention with a strong drive and ambition for the job. 

Truth be told, summaries and objectives aren’t always required , but when they are, they can help you showcase your strengths in the best light. 

They give some insight into who you are as a professional, and a person, and the way you perceive your capabilities. 

In that sense, the rough distinction between a summary and an objective boils down to: 

• Resume summaries are more suited for experienced applicants , with lasting careers in personal training
• Resumes objectives are more suited for first-time applicants , who need to predominantly rely on their goals for personal improvement and career progress to get the job

Depending on your particular case, one is always more suitable for you than the other.

Personal Trainer Resume Summary Example

First, a type of summary that will definitely NOT get you the desired gym trainer job:

CPT, pretty good at physical assessments, selling stuff and creating exercise routines. I’m seeking a position as a fitness professional.

Who could even guess that this is a summary of a personal fitness trainer ? Even the position’s name has been abbreviated (CPT). 

The lack of enthusiasm is showing here, so no gym owner would want you to pass that on to the gym-goers. It’s the last thing they need.

What they do need, though, is something like this:

I’m a highly enthusiastic Certified Personal Trainer with 7+ years experience. Am looking to meet and, even, exceed client goals for Revolve Fitness.

At Sky Bulb Gyms, I got 97% positive customer comment scores and made friends with a number of my clients, many whom might transfer to your gym. At Suvminist Fitness, I managed to beat sales goals by 35% and I received more than 15 client thank-you letters.

Precise, supported by numbers and figures , and, clearly, motivated—this is what a personal trainer summary should look like. 

Use your past success and experience to boost your chances for better employment in the future. 

Spread your fitness motivation to your employers, as well as to all potential personal fitness clients!

How to Write a Resume Objective for a Personal Trainer with No Experience?

How do you sell yourself as a good fitness trainer ?

 Most times, a strong educational background in the subject and a personal trainer certification don’t quite cut it. 

No worries! All you have to do is focus on your exceptional skills , and most importantly, on your passionate drive . You love your job—and your energy is contagious!  

Personal Trainer Resume Objective Example

First, an example of a not-so-good fitness instructor resume objective:

Certified Personal Trainer and fitness professional wanting to work at Revolve Fitness. I’ve no job experience yet but am keen to learn. I’m friendly and enthusiastic and know my way around the gym.

This resume says “professional” and “enthusiastic” but only shows indifference.

To avoid sounding like this guy, go for something like this:

I am a passionate entry-level personal trainer with private experience helping friends and family reach difficult fitness goals. I helped one friend reduce their body mass to a healthier range over a 7 month period by writing them a detailed exercise plan. I helped another one lose stubborn fats around the triceps and thighs through targeted gym routines.

The difference is obvious. This objective oozes confidence , it backs all claims with concrete examples.

What’s more, it also shows the applicant’s interest and knowledge in health and medicine—They’re already discussing stubborn fats, and body mass index levels!

Experienced or not, if you’re an applicant like this, then the gym owners will definitely be interested in having you on their team!

Describe Your Trainer Experience on a Resume

The second, and arguably most important aspect of your resume is experience .

When writing the relevant experience section in your personal trainer resume, you need to be both short and concise , without sacrificing details. 

The best way to achieve this is to quantify your past achievements : the number of years you worked at “gym so-and-so”, the number of clients you managed , and your most successful client results. 

Organize this information into bullet points and leave out any unnecessary details. If you don’t have much or any work experience yet , remember to list your experience in personal training or fitness in other scenarios, such as at college, volunteering, or in your free time.

Personal Trainer Job Description for a Resume

If you’re still wondering what your past experience section on your resume should look like, here are some examples:

Revolve Fitness 2018 – 2021

• Wrote different client programs.
• Responsible for PT trainer duties at a busy gym.
• Covered all daily sales requirements.
• Performed individual fitness assessments.
• Helped clients meet their nutrition goals.

On paper, this example covers everything that it should. In reality, however, it says nothing about the applicant’s capabilities, enthusiasm, or success rate. 

Now. Let’s see how much better a resume sounds when all these aspects are covered.

Certified Personal Trainer

Revolve Fitness. 2018 – 2021

• Personal trainer and sales employee at a high traffic fitness business.
• Crafted unique fitness assessments for many different clients. 
• Overcame employer’s sales goals by an average of 37% per quarter, by creating highly positive client interactions that encouraged organic word-of-mouth marketing. 
• Received 30+ thank you letters from grateful clients after exceeding their fitness goals.
• Paid close attention to clients needs and wants in order to create truly individualized programs.

As you can tell, the vibe is completely different. This trainer seems enthusiastic and proud of their past achievements. 

Also, they know how much they contributed to the gym where they used to work—and want their potential employer to know it as well. 

How to Write a Personal Trainer Resume No Experience?

As a personal trainer, there will come a time when you apply for a job without any past experience. You shouldn’t worry too much, though, even if you’re a novice. 

There’s always something to put under the experience label—participating in a training workshop, or tactics of how you helped your overweight friend lose weight, for instance. 

Or, perhaps you are skilled in fitness, while also being good at managing people one-on-one . Anything relevant to the position you’re applying for is useful.

Below, you’ll find great comparing examples of the types of activities and extracurriculars you can insert in this section. 

Entry-Level Personal Trainer Resume Sample

In order to illustrate it more clearly, here are some examples of gym instructors’ experience:

Personal Trainer Experience:

• No on-the-job experience yet.
• I’m a fitness enthusiast.

Other Experience:

Sorry to break it to you— no gym owner cares if you’ve been a bartender or a barista. It’s kind of irrelevant and will make you seem unfocused.

Unlike with the following sample:

Freelance Personal Trainer

2018 – 2021

• Assisted a personal client create an individualized exercise and nutrition program that reduced fat to healthy levels for their body type in 1 year.
• Crafted a daily exercise program for my friend to help him build healthy habits and provide a framework to help him improve his mental health. 
• Helped a client boost their low iron blood levels and reduce high cholesterol numbers by passing on detailed nutritional plans.

That’s how you sell yourself! Discuss your past freelance experiences as if they were professional, and all future employers will see a serious and committed person when they review your application.

This example also demonstrates great people skills such as communication , team-work, and active listening.

And on that topic, there’s no better way to show that you’re serious than to have the proper education.

Mention Your Fitness Instructor Education

It’s true that, when it comes to being a personal trainer, your education is rarely the most important thing employers will be looking at. 

At the end of the day, a personal trainer certification is more than enough to testify that you have sufficient theoretical knowledge to help gym-goers pump iron and lose weight. 

Yet, the education section is precisely that little power asset that will help you go the extra mile. The cherry on top, if you will .  

Having gone to university—especially one related to physical health and wellbeing—shows how dedicated you are to your profession. Did you regularly make the Dean’s List? Add it to your resume!

So, as long as you clearly and shortly put forward the essential aspects of your education : your degree, the length of your studies, and the institution where you studied, you’re good to go!

Personal Trainers Resume: Education Section

Let’s see what it should all look like in practice! 

First, a not-so-excellent example of a gym instructor education section :

Christ Church High School

2008 – 2012

• Took part in core classes; Maths, Science, English.
• Got my degree.
• GPA of 3.4.

A big NO. The education is not connected to the application in any way, and it says literally nothing about you; neither as a fitness trainer nor as a student. 

Compare that to this:

Boston 2008 – 2012

• Captain of Soccer team
• Rowing for Mental health core member

Shenton University

Boston 2019 – Present

• Progressing through a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science.
• Maintaining highest scores in Personal Training coursework.
• Made the Dean’s List for three consecutive trimesters

Both high-school interests and relevant coursework at university are emphasized in order to build them up as a competent personal trainer and as someone interested in how people’s bodies work.

It all paints the picture of a young, curious person, who you’d be willing to trust with your health and fitness .

Yet, education alone won’t do the trick in scoring you that job, so alongside your education or experience, you’ll also need to emphasize your skills.

Personal Trainer Skills Resume

Your fitness skills are the main criterion for you to become a qualified personal trainer . 

This is why it is essential to know how to organize the skills section of your resume . 

First off, you need to prove that you’re proficient in physical exercises , but also in creating good nutrition plans and managing nutrition-fitness balance for different clients of different body types. 

Moreover, you need to prove that you’re good at motivating people , listening to their needs . boosting their confidence and morale, and encouraging them to want to improve their shape and health. 

Here are some examples of what your personal trainer resume skills section should and shouldn’t look like.

Fitness Instructor Resume Example Skills

First, the bad example :

Personal Trainer Skills: social, creative, fitness enthusiast, good leader, follow all safety regulations, hardworking, experienced in nutrition and yoga, lifted weights for 10 years, appreciate aerobics for rehabilitation. 

Well, this applicant might have as well made a list of every skill ever invented. If you did this congratulations, you’ve already put your application reviewer to sleep. 

This is a hard no !

Just listing random fitness-related skills will get you nowhere. 

Let’s look at the winner.

Peronal Trainer Skills:

• My specially curated workout programs received 98% positive customer scores from my clients.
• Built custom nutritional plans by listening to my client’s needs.
• 95% of my clients beat their individual goals on health scores such as cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar levels and reported elevated feelings of health. 
• Demonstrated proper form for heavy weight lifts to my clients, preventing injury and improving outcomes of exercise programs.

This one’s organized in bullet points and it addresses at least two of the responsibilities involved in being a personal trainer: creating custom nutrition plans and creating custom workout programs . 

Stating the client satisfaction score as a number is an extra bonus. 

Yet, regardless of how good this example is, we understand that you may still be somewhat confused when it comes to listing your skills. 

This is why we’ll let you in on a tip.

List of Skills to Put on a Personal Trainer Resume

Knowing which gym trainer skills to include in your resume can be tricky whichever way you approach it. 

To make all of this simpler, we’ll organize the types of relevant skills into two groups. 

• Hard (technical) skills 
• Soft skills . 

In most cases, you’ll need to possess both in order to qualify for the personal trainer job. These are the fitness skills that you should be looking for:

Hard Skills

• Creating exercise programs and nutrition planning
• Weight, endurance training, and physical assessment
• Weight lifting
• Operating gym machines
• Knowledge of the human body
• Particular sports training

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Friendliness
• Organization
• Determination
• Approachableness
• Technical Knowledge
• Fitness Knowledge

Of course, more skills can be added to both categories, but you get the gist.

Just know, that you shouldn’t list all skills you have, but select a few essential ones and integrate them into statements organized as bullet points and backed by numbers. Make sure you keep this part of your resume truthful !

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to really impress with your certifications .

Add Certifications to Personal Trainer Resumes

If your skills are the practical proof of ability that you need to possess in order to qualify as a personal trainer, your certifications are the essential enrichment you need in order to add to your resume to have it stand out.

To put it bluntly—if you don’t have at least one professional certification , your application may not even be considered for the position.

So, once you’ve gone and gotten one (or more) of these relevant documents that vouch for your abilities and competency, it’s time to work them into your resume.

Certification Options

It’s quite simple really—list all of your fitness-related, personal trainer certificates as bullet points, followed by the dates you completed them. For example:

• ACSM Certified Personal Trainers, April 2023
• NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), January 2022
• Health Coach Certification, December 2021
• AED/CPR and First Aid, American Red Cross, June 2021

Now, onto the “extra” section.

Add Other Sections for an Effective Resume

We all have lives outside work, so it’s completely normal to have interests and activities that are not directly related to being a personal trainer. Hence, the “Other Sections” section in your fitness trainer resume. 

The key here, however, is to actually include interests and activities which are, at least somehow, related to your main application . If nothing, try to stress how much you love physical activities, or how dedicated you are to the things that interest you. 

Personal Trainer Resume Sample “Other” Sections

For instance, a good sample that includes your published written work would look this:

Publications

Guest Article writing about little known weightlifting hacks on “ShredSmart”Blog Post on effective vegan diet published in “Earth & Gains”Conferences2020 TELF Gym Life Conference, on a panel discussing mental health and exercise.

2018 CLL Live Weights Workshop Cleveland.

Additional Activities

Teacher of Aerobics twice a week.

Ran my first triathlon in Santa Monica, 2016.

All “extras” only serve to show how widespread the applicant’s interests in fitnes s are. They may include:

Any sort of hobbies or extracurriculars that you do on the side, such as courses, sports training, or competitions.

Articles or essays can go under publications! You can write about anything, of course, but given your field, any publication should probably be related to fitness or personal training . Use this section to draw attention to it. 

Conferences

Finally, it’s your time to shine! If you’ve happened to attend any conference related to your field, do yourself a favor and include it. That way, you’ll seem even more serious and invested in what you’re doing.

One thing to bear in mind is not to make your “Other” section look like this:

• Road tripping

Come on now, road tripping ? 

This is so vague and completely unrelated to training, that it has absolutely no place in any resume, let alone a personal trainer resume. 

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with adding the “activities” subsection, but it’s more difficult to get right than it seems at first glance.

If you happen to want to include some activities which don’t fall under hobbies, or courses, for example, you can still do that. Just try to make them precise and as inconspicuous as possible . For example, something like playing tennis, or swimming.

Like, for instance:

• Monthly Dad & Son golf rounds at local course
• Occasionally play tennis and lawn bawls.

Once you have completed all these sections, it is time to check over your resume for any mistakes in spelling, punctuation, formatting, etc.

Key Takeaway

Now that all’s said and done, these are the main things to take away from our guide:

• Clearly respond to what the job description is asking of you
• Put your skills and experience at the forefront
• Don’t forget the personal trainer certificate(s) !
• Be short, accurate, and to-the-point
• Use numbers to accompany your claims
• Format the personal trainer resume properly
• Everything is in bullet points

All the best and good luck with your application!

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1 Personal Trainer Resume Example for Your 2024 Job Search

Personal trainers are experts at helping people reach their fitness goals. As a personal trainer, your resume is just like a fitness plan. It should be tailored to the needs, wants, and desires of the audience you're speaking to, and should be designed to help you reach your goals. In this guide, we'll review personal trainer resume examples to help you get in shape for success in 2023.

Resume Examples

Resume guidance.

• High Level Resume Tips
• Must-Have Information
• Why Resume Headlines & Titles are Important
• Writing an Exceptional Resume Summary
• How to Impress with Your Work Experience
• Top Skills & Keywords
• Go Above & Beyond with a Cover Letter
• Resume FAQs
• Related Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Personal Trainer Resumes:

• Develop individualized fitness plans for clients based on their goals and needs
• Monitor client progress and adjust plans as needed
• Educate clients on proper exercise techniques and safety
• Lead group exercise classes
• Provide nutritional guidance and advice
• Create and implement new fitness programs
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients
• Track and record client data
• Maintain a safe and clean exercise environment
• Stay up-to-date on the latest fitness trends and techniques
• Participate in continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Assist clients in setting and achieving their fitness goals

You can use the examples above as a starting point to help you brainstorm tasks, accomplishments for your work experience section.

Personal Trainer Resume Example:

• Developed and implemented a new fitness program for a corporate client, resulting in a 25% increase in employee participation and a 15% improvement in overall fitness levels.
• Collaborated with a physical therapist to create personalized exercise plans for clients with injuries or chronic conditions, leading to a 20% reduction in pain and an increase in mobility for those clients.
• Consistently exceeded monthly sales goals by 10%, through building strong relationships with clients and providing exceptional customer service.
• Lead group exercise classes for a local gym, resulting in a 30% increase in class attendance and a 15% increase in gym membership sign-ups.
• Developed and implemented a nutrition program for clients, resulting in a 10% increase in overall weight loss and a 20% improvement in energy levels.
• Managed client data and tracked progress using a CRM system, resulting in a 25% increase in client retention and satisfaction.
• Created and implemented a new fitness program for a high-end luxury hotel, resulting in a 50% increase in guest satisfaction and a 20% increase in revenue for the hotel.
• Developed and maintained relationships with clients, resulting in a 40% increase in referrals and a 15% increase in repeat business.
• Stayed up-to-date on the latest fitness trends and techniques, resulting in a 30% increase in client engagement and satisfaction.
• Fitness program development
• Injury rehabilitation
• Sales and customer service
• Group exercise instruction
• Nutrition planning
• CRM system management
• Client relationship building
• Fitness trend analysis
• Client progress tracking
• Referral generation
• Personalized exercise planning
• Corporate wellness programs
• Physical therapy collaboration
• Client retention strategies
• High-end clientele management

High Level Resume Tips for Personal Trainers:

Must-have information for a personal trainer resume:.

Here are the essential sections that should exist in an Personal Trainer resume:

• Contact Information
• Resume Headline
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Work Experience & Achievements
• Skills & Competencies

Additionally, if you're eager to make an impression and gain an edge over other Personal Trainer candidates, you may want to consider adding in these sections:

• Certifications/Training

Let's start with resume headlines.

Why Resume Headlines & Titles are Important for Personal Trainers:

Personal trainer resume headline examples:, strong headlines.

• Certified Personal Trainer with a passion for helping clients achieve their fitness goals through customized workout plans and nutritional guidance
• Experienced Personal Trainer with a proven track record of increasing client retention rates by 25% through engaging and challenging workout routines
• Results-oriented Personal Trainer with expertise in weight loss and body transformation, helping clients lose an average of 15 pounds in just 12 weeks

Why these are strong: These resume headlines are strong for Personal Trainers as they showcase key strengths and accomplishments that are relevant to their roles. The first headline emphasizes the candidate's certification and passion for helping clients achieve their fitness goals, which is crucial for building trust with potential clients. The second headline highlights the candidate's experience and success in increasing client retention rates, which is important for gym owners and managers. Finally, the third headline showcases the candidate's expertise in weight loss and body transformation, which is a common goal for many clients seeking the help of a Personal Trainer.

Weak Headlines

• Certified Personal Trainer with Experience in Fitness Programs
• Fitness Expert with Knowledge in Nutrition and Exercise Science
• Personal Trainer Skilled in Motivating Clients to Reach Their Goals

Why these are weak: These resume headlines need improvement for Personal Trainers as they lack specificity and don't emphasize the unique value or accomplishments that the candidates bring to the table. The first headline mentions certification and experience, but doesn't provide any context or results, such as the number of clients trained or the types of fitness programs developed. The second headline highlights knowledge in nutrition and exercise science, but doesn't showcase any measurable achievements or certifications that could strengthen the candidate's profile. The third headline mentions skill in motivating clients, but fails to provide any examples or statistics that demonstrate the candidate's effectiveness in this area.

Writing an Exceptional Personal Trainer Resume Summary:

Resume summaries are crucial for Personal Trainers as they provide a concise yet powerful way to showcase their skills, experience, and unique value proposition. A well-crafted summary can immediately capture the attention of hiring managers, setting the tone for the rest of the resume and positioning the candidate as an ideal fit for the role.

For Personal Trainers specifically, an effective resume summary is one that highlights their ability to:

Motivate and Inspire Clients: Boldly mention your experience in motivating and inspiring clients to achieve their fitness goals. Highlight any notable achievements or career highlights, such as helping clients lose a significant amount of weight or training clients for a specific event.

Design Customized Fitness Programs: Showcase your ability to design customized fitness programs based on individual client needs and goals. Mention any relevant certifications or specializations, such as working with seniors or clients with injuries.

Provide Nutritional Guidance: Emphasize your knowledge of nutrition and your ability to provide guidance to clients on healthy eating habits. Mention any relevant certifications or specializations, such as sports nutrition or weight management.

Track Progress and Adjust Programs: Highlight your ability to track client progress and adjust fitness programs accordingly. Mention any relevant software or tools you use to track progress, such as fitness apps or wearable technology.

Create a Positive and Supportive Environment: Emphasize your ability to create a positive and supportive environment for clients, helping them feel comfortable and confident in their fitness journey. Mention any relevant experience in group fitness or leading fitness classes.

To nail the resume summary, use your best judgment to choose the right combination of these that align closest with the individual role you’re applying for. Remember, your resume summary will be one of the first things that a potential employer will see about you and your personal training career.

Here are some key writing tips to help you make the most of it:

Tailor the Summary: Customize your summary for each job application, ensuring that it aligns with the specific requirements and expectations of the hiring company.

Be Concise: Keep your summary brief and to-the-point, ideally within 3-4 sentences. Avoid using buzzwords or jargon, and focus on concrete skills and accomplishments.

Use Metrics and Tangible Outcomes: Whenever possible, include quantitative data to back up your claims, such as client success stories or the number of clients you have trained.

Begin with a Strong Statement: Start your summary with a compelling statement that captures your unique value proposition as a Personal Trainer, and then build on that foundation with your key attributes and experiences.

Proofread and Revise: Ensure your summary is free of grammatical errors and typos, and refine the language to make it as clear and impactful as possible.

Personal Trainer Resume Summary Examples:

Strong summaries.

• Passionate Personal Trainer with 5 years of experience designing and implementing customized fitness plans for clients of all ages and fitness levels. Skilled in motivating and inspiring individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals, resulting in a 90% client retention rate and numerous success stories.
• Certified Personal Trainer with expertise in strength training and injury prevention, leveraging a background in physical therapy to create safe and effective workout programs. Proven track record of helping clients overcome injuries and achieve significant improvements in strength and mobility.
• Dynamic Personal Trainer with a focus on holistic wellness, combining fitness training with nutrition coaching and stress management techniques. Skilled in building strong relationships with clients and creating a supportive and empowering environment, resulting in a 100% satisfaction rate and numerous referrals.

Why these are strong: These resume summaries are strong for Personal Trainers as they highlight the candidates' key strengths, accomplishments, and areas of expertise. The first summary emphasizes the candidate's passion for helping clients achieve their goals and their impressive client retention rate. The second summary showcases the candidate's unique background in physical therapy and their ability to help clients overcome injuries. Lastly, the third summary demonstrates the candidate's holistic approach to wellness and their ability to build strong relationships with clients, making them highly appealing to potential employers.

Weak Summaries

• Personal Trainer with experience in designing workout plans and motivating clients to achieve their fitness goals, seeking a new opportunity to work in a challenging environment.
• Experienced Personal Trainer skilled in various training techniques and nutrition, with a passion for helping clients achieve their fitness goals, looking to join a reputable gym or fitness center.
• Personal Trainer with a focus on creating personalized workout plans and providing exceptional customer service, committed to helping clients achieve their fitness goals and improve their overall health.

Why these are weak: These resume summaries need improvement for Personal Trainers as they lack specific details on the candidate's achievements, certifications, or areas of expertise. The first summary only mentions designing workout plans and motivating clients, without providing any examples of successful client transformations or measurable results. The second summary mentions various training techniques and nutrition, but doesn't specify which ones or how the candidate has used them to help clients. The third summary mentions personalized workout plans and exceptional customer service, but doesn't provide any examples of how the candidate has gone above and beyond to meet client needs or improve their satisfaction. Overall, these summaries need more specific and quantifiable information to make the candidate stand out to potential employers.

Resume Objective Examples for Personal Trainers:

Strong objectives.

• Energetic and dedicated Personal Trainer with a passion for helping clients achieve their fitness goals, seeking an entry-level position to apply my knowledge of exercise science, nutrition, and motivational techniques to create personalized training plans and foster a positive gym environment.
• Certified Personal Trainer with experience in group fitness instruction and client management, seeking a position in a health and wellness facility to utilize my skills in program development, goal setting, and progress tracking to help clients achieve long-term success.
• Results-driven and client-focused Personal Trainer with a background in sports performance training, seeking a challenging position to leverage my expertise in strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and corrective exercise to help clients of all levels reach their full potential.

Why these are strong: These resume objectives are strong for up and coming Personal Trainers because they showcase the candidates' passion, education, and relevant skills, while also highlighting their eagerness to learn and contribute to the success of their clients. The first objective emphasizes the candidate's dedication and knowledge of exercise science, which are important attributes for a Personal Trainer. The second objective showcases the candidate's experience in client management and program development, demonstrating a strong foundation for success in the role. Lastly, the third objective highlights the candidate's expertise in sports performance training, making them a promising fit for a Personal Trainer position where they can further develop their skills and help clients achieve their fitness goals.

Weak Objectives

• Seeking a Personal Trainer position where I can help clients achieve their fitness goals and improve their overall health.
• Aspiring Personal Trainer with some experience in gym settings, seeking to develop my career in the fitness industry.
• Recent graduate with a passion for fitness and wellness, interested in a Personal Trainer role to gain hands-on experience and further my knowledge in the field.

Why these are weak: These resume objectives need improvement for up and coming Personal Trainers because they lack specificity and don't effectively showcase the unique value or skills the candidates possess. The first objective is generic and doesn't provide any information about the candidate's background, certifications, or specific areas of expertise. The second objective hints at some experience in gym settings, but it doesn't mention any specific achievements, education, or specialties the candidate is interested in. The third objective, although it mentions a passion for fitness and wellness, doesn't elaborate on the candidate's certifications, skills, or any particular area of personal training they are passionate about, which would make their profile more appealing to potential employers.

Write a More Targeted Resume with AI

Speed up your resume creation process with the resume builder . generate tailored resume summaries in seconds., how to impress with your personal trainer work experience:, best practices for your work experience section:.

• Focus on specific client success stories: Highlight how you helped clients achieve their fitness goals, whether it be weight loss, muscle gain, or improved overall health.
• Quantify your impact: Use numbers to showcase how many clients you trained, how much weight they lost/gained, or how much their fitness levels improved.
• Describe your training style and methodology: Explain how you approach training sessions, whether it be through high-intensity interval training, strength training, or other methods.
• Highlight any certifications or specialized training: Mention any certifications or specialized training you have received, such as in nutrition or injury prevention.
• Showcase your ability to adapt to different clients: Discuss how you tailor your training programs to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual client.
• Mention any experience with group fitness classes: If you have experience leading group fitness classes, highlight how you were able to motivate and inspire a group of individuals to achieve their fitness goals.
• Emphasize your ability to build relationships with clients: Discuss how you establish trust and rapport with clients, and how you maintain long-term relationships with them.
• Use industry-specific language: Make sure to use terminology that is familiar to hiring managers in the fitness industry, such as "reps," "sets," and "macros."

Example Work Experiences for Personal Trainers:

Strong experiences.

Successfully trained and coached a client to lose 50 pounds in 6 months through personalized workout plans and nutritional guidance, resulting in improved health and increased self-confidence.

Developed and led group fitness classes for up to 20 participants, creating a positive and motivating environment that resulted in a 90% retention rate and increased gym membership sales.

Collaborated with physical therapists to create rehabilitation plans for clients with injuries, resulting in successful recoveries and improved mobility.

Implemented a new client assessment process that improved client retention by 25% and increased revenue by 15% within the first year.

Created and managed social media content to promote personal training services, resulting in a 50% increase in online engagement and new client inquiries.

Coordinated and led outdoor fitness events for the community, increasing brand awareness and generating new client leads.

Why these are strong:

• These work experiences are strong because they showcase the Personal Trainer's ability to create personalized plans for clients, lead group fitness classes, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals. The use of specific metrics and achievements demonstrates the candidate's ability to drive results and improve business outcomes. Additionally, the candidate's ability to create engaging content and lead community events highlights their marketing and networking skills.

Weak Experiences

Conducted one-on-one personal training sessions with clients, developing customized workout plans based on their fitness goals and abilities.

Assisted with gym maintenance tasks such as cleaning equipment and restocking supplies.

Participated in team meetings and training sessions to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.

Led group fitness classes, including yoga and spin, for up to 20 participants.

Provided nutritional guidance and meal planning advice to clients.

Assisted with front desk duties such as checking in members and answering phone calls.

Why these are weak:

• The provided work experiences lack specificity and quantifiable results. They do not showcase the impact of the individual's work or the benefits brought to the gym or clients. To improve these bullet points, the candidate should focus on incorporating metrics to highlight their achievements, using more powerful action verbs, and providing clear context that demonstrates their leadership qualities and direct contributions to successful outcomes.

Top Skills & Keywords for Personal Trainer Resumes:

Top hard & soft skills for personal trainers, hard skills.

• Fitness Program Design
• Strength Training Techniques
• Cardiovascular Training Techniques
• Nutrition Planning and Counseling
• Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
• Fitness Assessment and Evaluation
• Goal Setting and Progress Tracking
• Group Fitness Instruction
• Functional Movement Screening
• Exercise Physiology
• Anatomy and Kinesiology
• CPR and First Aid Certification

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Motivation and Inspiration
• Empathy and Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Organization
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Patience and Understanding
• Positive Attitude and Energy
• Accountability and Responsibility
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Attention to Detail and Precision
• Customer Service and Satisfaction

Go Above & Beyond with a Personal Trainer Cover Letter

Personal trainer cover letter example: (based on resume).

As a Personal Trainer, you understand the importance of building strong relationships with your clients and helping them achieve their fitness goals. Similarly, pairing your resume with a well-crafted cover letter can help you establish a connection with potential employers and increase your chances of landing an interview. A cover letter is an extension of your resume, an opportunity to showcase your passion for fitness and your relevant experience in the industry. Contrary to common belief, crafting a compelling cover letter doesn't have to be a daunting task, and the benefits far outweigh the effort required.

Here are some compelling reasons for submitting a cover letter as a Personal Trainer:

• Personalize your application and showcase your genuine interest in the gym or fitness center you're applying to
• Illustrate your unique approach to fitness and how it aligns with the gym's philosophy and values
• Communicate your understanding of the gym's clientele and how you plan to tailor your training programs to meet their needs
• Share success stories and client testimonials that demonstrate your ability to deliver results and build lasting relationships
• Demonstrate your writing and communication skills, which are essential for Personal Trainers who need to effectively communicate with clients
• Differentiate yourself from other applicants who might have opted not to submit a cover letter and show that you're willing to go the extra mile to land the job.

By submitting a cover letter along with your resume, you can showcase your passion for fitness, your understanding of the gym's needs, and your ability to deliver results for clients. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a strong first impression and stand out from the competition.

Resume FAQs for Personal Trainers:

How long should i make my personal trainer resume.

A Personal Trainer resume should ideally be one to two pages long. It should be concise and highlight the most relevant information about the candidate's experience, education, and skills. Personal Trainers should focus on including information that is specific to the fitness industry, such as certifications, areas of expertise, and client success stories. It's important to keep in mind that hiring managers often receive a large number of resumes, so it's crucial to make a strong impression quickly and efficiently. A shorter, more focused resume is more likely to catch their attention and lead to an interview.

What is the best way to format a Personal Trainer resume?

The best way to format a Personal Trainer resume is to start with a clear and concise summary statement that highlights your experience and qualifications. Use bullet points to list your relevant skills, certifications, and education. It is important to include any relevant experience, such as previous personal training jobs or volunteer work, and to highlight any achievements or awards you have received. Additionally, make sure to include any relevant software or technology skills you possess, such as experience with fitness tracking apps or social media marketing. Finally, make sure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read, with clear headings and consistent formatting throughout. Remember, your resume is your first impression to potential employers, so make sure it showcases your skills and experience in the best possible light.

Which Personal Trainer skills are most important to highlight in a resume?

Firstly, it's important to highlight your technical skills, such as your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and exercise science. This shows that you have a strong foundation in the principles of fitness and can design effective workout plans for your clients. Secondly, communication skills are crucial for Personal Trainers. You need to be able to effectively communicate with your clients to understand their goals, needs, and limitations. You also need to be able to motivate and encourage them during workouts, as well as provide clear instructions on proper form and technique. Thirdly, interpersonal skills are important for building relationships with clients and creating a positive and supportive environment. This includes being friendly, approachable, and empathetic towards your clients. Lastly, organizational skills are important for managing your schedule, tracking client progress, and maintaining accurate records. This shows that you are reliable and professional in your approach to Personal Training. Overall, highlighting a combination of technical, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills in your resume can help you stand out as a qualified and competent Personal Trainer.

How should you write a resume if you have no experience as a Personal Trainer?

If you have no experience as a Personal Trainer, there are still ways to create a strong resume that highlights your skills and qualifications. Here are some tips: 1. Start with a strong objective statement: Begin your resume with a clear and concise objective statement that highlights your passion for fitness and your desire to become a Personal Trainer. This will show potential employers that you are serious about pursuing a career in this field. 2. Highlight relevant education and certifications: Even if you don't have experience as a Personal Trainer, you may have completed relevant coursework or obtained certifications that demonstrate your knowledge and skills. Be sure to list these prominently on your resume. 3. Emphasize transferable skills: Think about the skills you have acquired in other jobs or activities that could be relevant to Personal Training. For example, if you have experience in customer service, you could highlight your ability to communicate effectively with clients and provide excellent service. 4. Include any relevant experience: While you may not have worked as a Personal Trainer

Compare Your Personal Trainer Resume to a Job Description:

See how your Personal Trainer resume compares to the job description of the role you're applying for. Our free Resume and Job Description Match tool will analyze and score your resume based on how well it aligns with the position. Here's how you can use the comparison tool to improve your Personal Trainer resume, and increase your chances of landing the interview:

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Personal Trainer job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

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• Dog Trainer

Dog Trainer resume examples & templates

Education Section Example

Working with animals takes intuition, patience, and caring. Congratulations! You have all those traits and are ready to create a great dog trainer resume to show them off.

Resume.io can help you build a successful resume that clearly conveys your ability to teach dogs and promote their better behavior and learned responses. Our job search resources include more than 350 occupation-specific writing guides with corresponding resume examples .

The guide you’re reading now is designed specifically for dog trainers. It includes sample wording from a dog trainer resume to illustrate each step in the writing process. You are free to adapt as much as you like for your own job application. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What dog trainers do and the employment outlook
• The correct resume structure and best format for your dog trainer resume
• Optimizing the impact of each resume section: header, profile, work history, education and skills
• Layout and design tips so your resume looks as good as it sounds

What does a dog trainer do?

A dog trainer is an expert in dog behavior and knows how to train dogs to follow commands and abide by certain rules and expectations. They work with clients to develop individualized plans to achieve behavior goals for their dogs. Dog trainers have an in-depth understanding of canines and their negative behavior patterns, and they are adept in using training skills and techniques to effectively train dogs. 

Some dog trainers work in specialized environments, such as those who train police dogs or service dogs. But most are either self-employed, working directly with individual clients or groups, or they provide services in a pet store or facility such as an adoption shelter, dog daycare or boarding kennel. In any case, a resume will tell potential clients or employers why you are the right fit for them.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment growth for animal care and service workers overall is expected to grow by a remarkable 33% between 2020 and 2030. That’s more than four times faster than the 8% occupational average. Although there is no separate BLS category for dog trainers, the Bureau's projected growth rate for animal trainers during the same decade is 28%.

Although your own background may not be exactly the same as what others in your field have in the way of training and experience, you likely share some common ground that should come across in your dog trainer resume.

Naturally, you’ll want to convey your ability to work well with dogs, and to create and implement successful dog training programs. It is important to emphasize your experience working with dogs of different breeds and ages.

Almost equally important is your ability to work with and communicate with dog owners. After all, they are your clients and will have to learn from you how to handle their animals.

Your resume should showcase your ability to encourage and reinforce positive behavior and work to stop bad behavior. You should also call attention to your knowledge of positive lifestyle choices for dogs including diet, nutrition, exercise, and socialization. 

How to write a dog trainer resume

A universal rule for all resumes, regardless of occupation or industry, is that a different customized version is needed for each specific job application. That means the skills and work experiences you emphasize should be geared to the employer’s needs and expectations.

On the other hand, all resumes have the same universally applied structure of parts. Your dog trainer resume will consist of these components: 

• Employment history section
• Education section
• Skills section

Choosing the best resume format for a dog trainer

Generally, there are three possible resume formats for organizing your professional qualifications as a dog trainer. If you have worked primarily in employee positions, then the most commonly used chronologica l resume format is recommended. It’s also preferred by hiring managers as being the easiest way to review your work history. Each position you've held is listed below the employer heading, in reverse chronological order from most recent to earliest dates.

But if you are a self-employed dog trainer with a background working for diverse clients, the functional resume format may be more suitable. It enables you to emphasize your most relevant dog training skills, rather than previous positions and work settings. Or you could even arrange that information by canine client, as we’ll suggest later on. 

The hybrid (combination) resume format is even more versatile, with both chronological and functional elements.

Resume header

Whether the great first impression you are trying to make is with a dog, the dog’s owner or your next boss, it’s something you’ll only get to do once. Think of your dog trainer resume the same way by choosing a header design that gets noticed for the right reasons.

Professional, composed and well-organized are the characteristics you can express visually to set your job application apart visually from everyone else’s. An eye-pleasing resume header draws the reader’s eyes to the most easily noticed and remembered information on the page: your name, occupation and contact information. Double the impact with a matching cover letter and resume header.

Dog trainer resume summary example

Your resume summary — sometimes called profile or personal statement — gives you a chance to explain your philosophy of dog training and showcase your successes to recruiters. Get a little creative with this short, but important, paragraph, as dog owners like to know that you are serious about training, but also can be playful with their animals. Your personality is particularly important when you work so closely with people and the dogs they may consider part of their family.

Keep it professional, but don’t be shy here. Use strong action words to highlight your key achievements as a dog trainer.

Consider using this format:

• One or two sentences that detail your philosophy of working with dogs
• One sentence that describes your greatest success
• One sentence that explains your qualifications.

Below is a dog trainer resume sample summary you can customize.

Certified Dog Trainer with a proven track record of achieving goals and resolving negative behavior patterns in dogs. Adept at assessing root causes of behavior problems, stresses, and social anxieties in dogs. Over 15 years of experience working with many different breeds and ages of dogs, using positive reinforcement and a variety of training methods. Knowledgeable about proper nutrition, diet, and exercise for dogs, and committed to helping find desired solutions.  

Employment history sample

This section should outline your key work experience with dogs, pointing to a proven track record of success. As noted previously, if you have worked for employers, a simple listing in reverse chronological order is the best method. Within each job, use those strong action verbs to convey your achievements.

If you are self-employed, you can take more of a narrative approach. Try listing jobs using the name of the dog and then describing how you worked with both the dog and its owners. Include the dog’s breed and age, and describe what its daily life is like. Mention any history that you know: Was it adopted from a shelter? Purchased from a breeder? This approach will illustrate that you are familiar with a wide variety of situations and know how to approach each one of them.

To frame your work experience as achievements, consider using the PAR format for describing the p roblem , explain the a ction you took, and tell the r esult . This works well when enumerating work with a specific dog. An alternative approach is the STAR method, with s ituation and t ask replacing the problem.

If your dog training experience is relatively limited, then list other animal care positions that have some relevance. Working with animals in another capacity, such as kennel attendant or pet groomer, is valid. For reference, check out our farm worker resume example and zookeeper resume example . Any type of customer service experience can also be relevant, or working with clients in another industry. Take a look at these writing guides and sample resumes: personal trainer resume example , freelancer resume example and career change resume example . 

Below is a dog trainer employment history resume sample you can modify.

Dog Trainer at DS Dog Training, Austin June 2012 - Present

• Work with 200-230 individual clients per year on average, tailoring programs to meet their needs and those of their dog.
• Average 93% “excellent” or “outstanding” satisfaction scores for 12-18 group training sessions held annually, from one-day workshops to 6-week series, including obedience, fun play, and agility classes for all levels.
• Thoroughly assess dog behavior problems to identify causes and resolve.
• Educate clients about at-home practices to strengthen and reinforce positive behaviors and diminish or eliminate negative ones.
• Provide information about new products and services that would benefit individual dogs and their owners.

Canine Groomer at Petco, Dallas October 2007 - April 2012

• Worked with dogs and owners to provide an enjoyable and satisfactory grooming experience, ensuring any specialized care instructions were followed closely.
• Credited with helping the business achieve a 19% increase in new customers and 23% retention improvement during my employment.
• Utilized gentle grooming approaches and behavioral techniques to comfort dogs during the grooming process.
• Maintained a clean and welcoming environment, sanitized grooming tools between clients and kept accurate inventory of products.
• Worked well independently and also alongside colleagues.
• Consistently punctual and reliable with no absences, while agreeing to cover extra shifts for absent colleagues.

While a college degree is not necessary to find employment as a dog trainer, any degrees that you do have should be listed in your resume's education section. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor’s degree, you may leave out your high school. 

Because it is not necessary to complete formal postsecondary education programs to become a dog trainer, be sure to list a certification or diploma related to canines is beneficial. any mentoring or on-the-job training you received.

If you've completed any certificate or diploma programs related to canines or dog training specifically, they belong here too. For example, you have a certificate from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) or the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

Also, be sure to mention any mentoring or on-the-job training you received.

Here is the education section from a dog trainer resume you can adapt.

Canine Training and Behavior Specialist, Starmark Academy, Austin May 2009 - May 2010

High School Diploma, Dallas High School, Dallas September 2005 - May 2009

CV skills example

This CV section offers potential employers and clients a brief glimpse of the talents you want to highlight. Consisting of five to 10 skills, it is simply a list, but a very important one. When confronted with dozens of resumes or options for dog trainers, people will scan quickly to eliminate candidates who don’t fit the bill. Make sure you think carefully about what skills are most desired in a dog trainer and include those here. Look through the job listing for the position you seek and match the skills that the employer requires with the ones you indicate.

Naturally, your list will include a number of impressive hard skills that qualify you as a dog trainer. Remember that you are training the dog owners as well as the dog. So in addition, you need various soft skills to function well as a professional. These include:

• Flexibility
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Clear communication

Of course, you need respect and love for dogs, too!

Check out a dog trainer CV sample for the skills section below.

• Specialized Knowledge of Canines
• Advanced Dog Training Expertise
• Positive Reinforcement Techniques
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Empathy and Compassion
• Patience and Persistence

Resume layout, design and formatting

Complete your amazing resume with a clean, professional-looking layout. Resume.io's ready-made resume templates make it easy to avoid common design errors and make a great first visual impression. For your dog trainer resume, we suggest a design from the creative or modern categories, but you can also choose from professional or simple styles.

The Resume.io online builder makes it easy to develop a great resume. When you are completely satisfied, be sure to save your file as a PDF to avoid formatting errors between word processing programs. 

Key takeaways for a dog trainer resume

• Career prospects for dog trainers are exceptionally bright as the demand for animal care and service workers is expected to skyrocket in the decade ahead. An outstanding dog trainer resume is essential to pursue the most attractive jobs.
• Whether you are self-employed or are applying to work for a pet retailer or care facility, your resume should be tailored specifically to the employer’s or client’s needs.
• Pay close attention to the posted job ad to determine what skills should be listed in your resume, and which professional experience to highlight.
• A professional resume template — just like the one used to create our adaptable dog trainer resume example — ensures your resume looks impressive at first glance and is easy to read throughout.

With this guide and Resume.io’s handy tools and resume templates, you are well on your way to your next rewarding job! 

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates