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The perfect personal trainer CV outlines how you help clients reach their personal fitness goals. This is highlighted through a combination of qualifications (degrees and diplomas), key skills such as injury recovery and nutrition knowledge, and years of professional experience in personal training and fitness instruction roles.
Our personal trainer CV example (UK) can show you how it’s done, from the right layout and design to the all-important personal trainer specialist skills. We’ve paired that with expert advice on personal trainer requirements and duties, plus a choice of personal trainer UK CV templates to get you started.
Personal trainer CV templates
Top tips for your personal trainer CV
Want to create something that’s in the same league as our personal trainer CV UK sample? Here’s how to show you’re ready for personal trainer duties and responsibilities.
Choose the right format
In most cases, the best personal trainer CV format is reverse-chronological. That means listing your experience with the most recent job first like our personal trainer CV example. This is the most familiar format for recruiters, giving them a snapshot of your background. However, if you have no working experience at all, a skills-based CV could work better. This puts the focus on your skills and capabilities, making it ideal for those taking their first step as a personal trainer.
Tick the must-have boxes
While there aren’t any personal trainer UK legal requirements other than insurance, recruiters will be looking for qualifications from the outset. You can make this easier with an education section outlining your relevant qualifications, with a level 2 or level 3 diploma required for most jobs. You can also mention key personal trainer requirements in your personal statement to show that you fit the bill from the get-go.
Flex the right muscles
Look at any personal trainer job description example and you’ll find a number of key skills, capabilities, and personal trainer duties and responsibilities. But they’re not always exactly the same. One role might involve group work, while another is solely one to one. It’s important that your CV reflects the specific personal trainer job description you’re applying for to show that you’re up to the task at hand.
Put it into numbers
Numbers aren’t just useful when it comes to reps. They’re a great way to quantify your track record as a personal trainer. Whether it’s the number of clients you work with, sessions delivered per week, or different types of workouts you teach, it will show recruiters how you’re capable of the personal trainer job duties and responsibilities.
Make it transferable
Whether you’re newly qualified or coming from a different role, not all personal trainers have a working history to match the role. When it comes to your personal trainer CV, no experience can be tricky – but it’s not a lost cause. The best advice is to tailor any experience you do have to the personal trainer job description. For example, customer service from a retail role, health and safety in a warehouse job, or teamwork on a project during your degree or diploma.
Key skills to include in your personal trainer CV
It’s not enough to simply sprinkle in a few personal trainer skills. CV writing success is about simplicity and clarity. To really hit home, it’s best to include a bullet-point list, combining hard and soft skills.
Personal trainer specialist skills
- One-to-one coaching
- Programme design
- Activity planning
- Group classes
- Nutrition expertise
- Muscle system knowledge
Additional personal trainer CV skills
- Sport specialism
- Passion for fitness
- Injury prevention and recovery
- Motivation skills
- Great time management
- Rapport building
Top FAQs about your personal trainer CV
What is a personal trainer?
A personal trainer is someone who helps clients work towards health goals such as weight loss, muscle gain, or training for a specific event like a marathon. They can work for a gym or for themselves, usually assisting people on a one-to-one basis. However, they might also hold group sessions and classes for their clients or the gym’s members.
What does a personal trainer do?
There are a wide range of personal trainer duties and responsibilities. You’ll be required to instruct and demonstrate for exercise, stretches, and gym equipment. You’ll also need to advise on nutrition and design tailored fitness programmes depending on someone’s goals. Group classes are another common responsibility that you might be asked to take on.
What qualifications do I need to be a personal trainer?
To be a personal trainer you do not need to have a degree, but you do need a recognised qualification such as a diploma in health, fitness and exercise instruction. This would ideally be complemented by a further qualification relevant to personal training, like a diploma in fitness instruction.
How to become a personal trainer (UK)?
The first step is to meet the personal trainer requirements with a level 2 or level 3 diploma. You’ll then need to gain some experience, either working for a gym or on a freelance basis. If you’re struggling, consider volunteering at a gym you already use. You can commit to a few hours a week to hone your personal trainer skills, while still earning money in another role.
How long does it take to become a personal trainer?
The length of time it takes to become a personal trainer depends on the route you take. A bachelor’s degree usually takes three years, while a level 2 diploma can be completed in six months to a year, and a level 3 qualification usually adds another year.
How to get clients as a personal trainer?
There are a few different ways to build your client base as a personal trainer if you’re working for yourself:
- Help people at the gym and tell them about your services, as long as you’re not infringing any gym-specific rules in doing so
- Offer your services to the gym to see if they’d like to work in partnership
- Speak to friends and family to see if anyone is interested, and tell them to spread the word
- Create a social media page and connect with people from your target audience
What makes a good personal trainer?
A good personal trainer has relevant qualifications such as a degree in sports therapy or personal training diploma. They’re caring, compassionate, and outgoing with strong customer-focused skills, as well as being driven and knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition.
How much do personal trainers make?
The average personal trainer salary (UK) is around £30,000 a year but it depends massively on your experience and the number of hours you’re willing to work. A beginner personal trainer salary at a gym will be around £22,000. As with many jobs, freelance personal trainers can make a lot more per hour but have to spend time acquiring their own clients.
The perfect warm up for your personal trainer CV
You wouldn’t exercise without warming up and stretching to get your muscles ready. Your personal statement does a similar job for your CV, introducing your application to recruiters.
Keep your personal trainer CV profile to 3-4 sentences, picking out your best qualities and specialist skills like “motivational” or “nutrition expert”. As with our personal trainer CV example, you can also sum up your experience to display what kind of personal training you’re familiar with, like “one-on-one sessions” or “group training”.
Get your personal trainer CV in shape!
When you’re motivated by reps and personal bests, it can be hard to get excited about writing a personal trainer CV. Thankfully, myPerfectCV can help. Our online builder is loaded full of pre-written content and ready-made templates for you to choose from. Simply select the personal trainer duties and responsibilities that work for you then finish it off with a few extra details. It’s career gains made easy!
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