A fitness career sure has a lot of benefits, both to your health and the health of others. It’s an industry that is thriving and full of energy, with all sorts of roles available – you could work as a nutritionist, personal trainer, cycling coach or all sorts of other roles. If you’re looking to start a fitness based career, you’ll need a resume that stands out from the crowd and is tailored towards fitness specifically. Perhaps you’re currently working in the fitness sector but are looking to make a positive change to new position? Whether just starting out or furthering your career, your Resume shouldn’t be stagnant and should be a reflection of your best qualities.
First impressions are everything – your resume is only likely to be read for 30 seconds maximum, so how can you grab someone’s attention straight away? Here we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to writing a top resume for the fitness sector.
Fit and healthy mind engaged, let’s get going!
1. Correct Formatting
It goes without saying that your resume should reflect the slick and fit individual that you are, so put all your most relevant up to date information at the top such as your name, telephone, email and address near the top. Make your name stand out and resonate throughout by placing it large in font, but not obnoxiously large that it takes someone’s eye out. The fitness industry is one that is generally full of cheeky and boisterous individuals, but resist the temptations to make nicknames for now – save it for the gym! Always have professionalism in mind when you write your resume.
2. Education
Depending on whether you’re a new college grad or if you’re a long standing fitness professional, list your education before work experience for the former and after work experience for the latter. You should think of the most attractive features that you think your prospective employer should see first in order to get the best first impression.
In terms of education, your degree should come first, but make sure any fitness certifications and specializations also follow. Don’t shy away from writing any qualification, however large or small it may be because it’s all about showcasing your skills in the fitness field. This should follow on in your work experience.
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3. Work Experience
The field of fitness is quite niche but still there are many opportunities for transferable skills to shine. It’s a great idea to list all of the work experience that has given you the most important transferable skills for the fitness industry. Previous lines of work especially those emphasizing selling, leadership, customer service roles, management and multi-tasking should be included – of course these jobs don’t relate to nutrition or exercise directly, but prospective employers will look highly upon the skills that you’ve developed within your roles. If you haven’t had any of these lines of work in particular, think about what kind of skills you’ve developed in your roles over time. Emphasise all of your responsibilities whilst focusing on specific skills you’ve learnt. How can you convince someone that you have the skills to get you far?
4. Other Special Information
Writing an effective fitness resume isn’t an exact science. Each resume is different and showcases something unique about you, so list any important information that employers should know about you which will help you stand out as an applicant. Think about any special skills you’ve developed other than through your work that can help you out. Perhaps you’ve participated in various sporting events, sportives, fitness workshops or have attended any conventions? Have you undertaken any charity work where you’ve learnt something valuable along the way? A lot of other information that sums up your character can’t only be expressed through your education and career, so have a think about what you could mention.
Often employers are not only looking at your education and background but also your soft skills: team leading, a hard working attitude, communication skills and punctuality are vitally important in the fitness world. Think about a way you can showcase these skills through your resume.
5. Reference Section
You’re not going to give every single person you know, nor are you looking to add your friends and family here. Common practice in the fitness field is to put down your previous employer and one other key reference. Try to put down someone in a related fitness or health field and also think about who could act as the best vouch for your character, giving you the highest chance of succeeding. References of people in positions of authority and responsibility are also considered highly favourable by prospective employers.
If you’d like you could even finish your resume off with a line such as “excellent references available on request”, or if not, make sure you include them on a separate piece of paper – it’s much easier and more visually appealing this way.
6. Cover Letter
A lot of the time companies won’t even bother with your resume unless you include a cover letter too. This needn’t be a rewording of your resume but rather a short introduction to your persona, skill set and how you’ve come to apply at the position on offer. Make sure every cover letter is highly personalized and thank the reader for consideration of your application.
The old cliche of “less is more” certainly runs true – if you want your document to be easily scanned and well received, you’ll want to remove the clutter and focus on how you can showcase yourself as best you can. Less is certainly more in the fitness resume world.
Conclusion
Once everything is in order, it’s best to get your resume reviewed and criticized by a significant other. Do you have any friends in the industry or know of anyone in a higher up professional position? It’s best to get all the help you can before sending.
About the Author:
Richard Nolan is a professional educator and team building coach, sharing his experience in spheres of writing, blogging, entrepreneurship, fitness, and psychology.
He loves to stay up-to-date on the latest sports news and events. Currently, Richard works as an editor-in-chief for EssayWriterSite. Follow him on Facebook.
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