This guide provides expert tips to help you create a results-driven resume highlighting your best personal trainer experience.
Key takeaways:
- Use bullet points to showcase your work highlights. Start each bullet point with a strong verb like “created,” “motivated,” or “enhanced.”
- Spell out the results of your past work as a personal trainer. Describe how your efforts helped the gym or facility achieve its goals.
- Emphasize your skills relevant to a personal trainer role, such as strength training or client progress monitoring.
Most Popular Personal Trainer Resumes
Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why this personal trainer resume example is strong:
This resume excels with a prominent skills section showing the different ways the job seeker can add value to an organization.
Certified Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why this personal trainer resume example is strong:
This resume’s experience section contains impressive performance data, showing how the candidate made a positive impact on past employers and customers.
Freelance Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why this personal trainer resume example is strong:
This resume uses dynamic verbs like “expanded” and “collaborated” to express how the applicant has been an active contributor at each organization.
Personal Trainer With No Experience Resume Example

Why this personal trainer resume example is strong:
This resume highlights essential education and certifications while showcasing practical fitness experience through internships and volunteer roles. Key skills like client motivation, injury prevention, and personalized fitness programming make the candidate well-prepared for an entry-level personal trainer role
Entry-Level Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume zeroes in on relevant internships and volunteer roles to demonstrate readiness for a paid training position. The clear, concise achievements show real-world impact and client engagement.
Key Tips
Showcase your earliest hands-on experience to prove practical skills. For guidance on launching your resume, check out How to Write Your First Job Resume.
Independent Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
By spotlighting entrepreneurial achievements and client metrics, this resume proves the candidate’s ability to run an independent training business and deliver results.
Key Tips
Quantify your freelance successes, like client growth or retention, to demonstrate business acumen. For more on essential skills, see Skills to Put on Resume.
Fitness Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This example combines individual and group training successes with clear performance metrics, showing versatility in different fitness settings.
Key Tips
Highlight both one-on-one and group-class achievements to demonstrate versatility. For formatting advice, see Best Resume Formats.
Military Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
By translating military training metrics into civilian fitness outcomes, this resume highlights leadership under pressure and measurable client gains.
Key Tips
Convert military achievements into quantifiable fitness metrics to resonate with civilian employers. For more on actionable resume words, see Resume Action Words.
Virtual Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume underscores digital-first training techniques and retention metrics, proving success in remote environments and adaptability to tech platforms.
Key Tips
Emphasize your virtual-delivery skills and retention rates to show remote-work readiness. For tips on presenting remote roles, see How to Tailor Resume to Job Description.
Group Fitness Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
By quantifying class sizes and repeat attendance, this resume demonstrates leadership in high-volume group settings and proven program development.
Key Tips
Use member-attendance metrics to showcase group-impact skills. For insights on structuring achievements, see Best Resume Formats.
Strength & Conditioning Coach Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jordan’s resume highlights measurable athletic improvements and injury-reduction outcomes, demonstrating both technical expertise and program effectiveness.
Key Tips
Showcase your performance metrics to illustrate real gains. For guidance on presenting achievements, see Best Resume Formats.
Youth Fitness Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Morgan’s resume demonstrates both creative youth-focused programming and strong parent-trainer partnerships, backed by clear improvements in fitness and safety metrics.
Key Tips
Highlight program adherence and safety outcomes when working with youth. For tips on listing volunteer or youth-focused experience, see How to List Volunteer Work Experience on a Resume.
Senior Fitness Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Cameron’s resume quantifies reductions in fall risk and mobility improvements, showcasing specialized expertise in senior fitness and cross-professional teamwork.
Key Tips
Use client-outcome metrics to demonstrate specialized impact. For more on tailoring resumes to populations, see Transferable Skills Resume.
Corporate Wellness Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Riley’s resume links workshop delivery to measurable reductions in stress and sick days, illustrating strong ROI for corporate clients and clear engagement metrics.
Key Tips
Call out ROI and participation metrics to prove program effectiveness. For insights on program design, see What to Put on a Resume.
Wellness & Nutrition Coach Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jamie’s resume ties nutrition coaching to quantified body-composition and behavior changes, demonstrating integrated wellness expertise and high adherence rates.
Key Tips
Underline client success metrics to prove coaching impact. For more on combining fitness and nutrition experience, see What to Put on a Resume.
Rehabilitation Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Pat’s resume quantifies reductions in pain-scores and return-to-function times, showcasing a data-driven approach to rehabilitation training and strong teamwork with medical staff.
Key Tips
Emphasize your collaborative role with healthcare providers to highlight clinical credibility. For guidance on specialty skills, see Hard Skills for a Resume.
Fitness Center Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Alex’s resume links training delivery to membership and revenue growth, illustrating clear business impact in a club environment.
Key Tips
Quantify client-and-business outcomes to demonstrate your value. For ideas on showcasing skills, see Skills to Put on a Resume.
Adaptive Fitness Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Casey’s resume showcases clear impact in adaptive fitness through quantified mobility gains and program retention metrics, highlighting both clinical collaboration and community engagement.
Key Tips
Emphasize measurable client outcomes and specialized certifications to stand out. For advice on naming your skills effectively, see Skills to Put on a Resume.
Aquatic Personal Trainer Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jamie’s resume highlights specialized aquatic outcomes, such as range-of-motion improvements and safety metrics, demonstrating niche expertise and leadership in water-based fitness.
Key Tips
Quantify both safety and performance improvements to show your dual value. For insights on structuring niche-specialty resumes, see Best Resume Formats.
CrossFit Coach Resume Example

Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Cameron’s resume ties CrossFit programming to performance metrics, competition success, and community growth, showcasing leadership both on and off the floor.
Key Tips
Link specialized programming to measurable athlete gains to emphasize your coaching impact. For more on highlighting technical skills, see Technical Skills in IT Resume.
Personal Trainer Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
How To Write a Personal Trainer Resume
Using a template can help you write an effective personal trainer resume. Your personal trainer resume should usually include these sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
1. Share your contact information
Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and links to any online professional profiles. Ensure your contact information is current so employers can reach you for an interview.
Example
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, State Abbreviation Zip Code | LinkedIn
2. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your personal trainer qualifications
Impress hiring managers at the top of your resume by giving the three to five primary reasons you can excel as their next personal trainer. These key selling points may include your:
- Years of related work experience
- Main strengths or specialties in exercise science
- Work style or approach to customer service
- College degrees or certifications in your field
Example
Dedicated and certified personal trainer with a strong background in exercise science and kinesiology and over five years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Proven ability to develop personalized fitness plans, monitor client progress, and provide education on exercise techniques and nutrition. Recognized for improving client health outcomes and satisfaction and contributing to company wellness programs.
3. Add a compelling section featuring your personal trainer experience
Please use the experience section to provide detailed examples of your work and success in past personal trainer roles.
Example
Senior Personal Trainer, Johnson & Johnson, New York, NY | January 2020 to present
- Developed and implemented personalized fitness programs for over 100 clients, improving fitness goals by 25% on average
- Held educational sessions on fitness, nutrition, and injury prevention, increasing client retention by 30%
- Tracked client progress, adjusting workout plans as needed and providing consistent feedback and motivation
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
When possible, use relevant performance data and metrics to show the results you’ve achieved as a personal trainer. Hard numbers put your work in context and give recruiters a better sense of your scope and impact.
Do
- “Designed and led group fitness classes for university students and staff, increasing class attendance by 20%”
Don’t
- “Designed and led group fitness classes for university students and staff, increasing class attendance ”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Most organizations rely on some form of applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job openings. To get your resume through the initial screening and into the hiring manager’s hands, incorporate keywords from the job posting directly into your profile and skills section.
What if you don’t have experience as a personal trainer?
Writing a resume can be hard if you don’t have real-world experience. But remember, you still have valuable skills and knowledge from your education and training. Highlight any relevant coursework you’ve done or certifications you’ve earned. Also, consider including volunteer work or internships you’ve completed in your field, and emphasize your work ethic and willingness to learn. By focusing on these qualities, you can show how you’d be an asset to any team.
4. Include education and certifications relevant to a personal trainer
With the education and certifications sections, you can show you have a strong knowledge base in your field. Cite any credentials you’ve earned that speak to your abilities as a personal trainer. Following are templates to help you organize this information on your resume (note, years are optional).
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework or honors]
Example:
Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
5. List personal trainer-related skills and proficiencies
A separate skills section lets you quickly display the different ways you can help clients or add value to an exercise facility. Below, you’ll find a list of key terms and skills to consider for this section:
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Cardiovascular workouts | Client progress monitoring |
Customer relations | Customer retention |
Fitness education | Fitness training methods |
Health and wellness education | Injury prevention |
Lifestyle modification counseling | Nutrition and diet planning |
Personalized fitness plans | Strength training |
Resume writer’s tip: Use descriptive action verbs
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your personal trainer resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Created | Decreased |
Educated | Enhanced |
Evaluated | Fostered |
Generated | Grew |
Improved | Increased |
Introduced | Lowered |
Motivated | Prevented |
Ranked | Reduced |
Streamlined | Trained |
Updated | Won |
How To Pick the Best Personal Trainer Resume Template
A resume is a simple tool for professional communication and should be formatted accordingly. Choose a clear and straightforward template, and avoid any template with elaborate graphics or various colors and font styles. Simple resume design helps a hiring manager scan for relevant information. It also helps you tailor the document to each job application and make updates to your work history going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions: Personal Trainer Resume Examples and Advice
First, look closely at the job post text and highlight words that are repeated or emphasized. Compare these highlighted phrases to the language you're using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, seek ways to align your resume language with the job posting while not copying phrases or misstating your background.
For example, if the organization seeks someone collaborative, call out that aspect of your experience in your profile. Or say the gym has many non-English speaking members. Highlight your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each opportunity.
The combination or hybrid format, which merges a functional resume's profile section with a chronological resume's experience section. Most modern resumes (including the three on this page) follow this format because it gives hiring managers the clearest view of an applicant's strengths and work history.
To make your Personal Trainer CV stand out, focus on quantifying achievements and showing measurable results from your previous roles. Whether it's improving processes, reducing costs, or increasing efficiency, showcasing the tangible impact you made will make your CV more compelling. Also, ensure that the design is clean and easy to read, with relevant keywords strategically placed.
Include a cover letter with your resume
A good cover letter makes a valuable addition to most job applications. To write a standout letter, get specific. Tell the hiring manager why you’re interested in their organization and the specific personal trainer role they hope to fill.
Check Out Related Examples
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.