A CV is your opportunity to grab a potential employer’s or recruiter’s attention. The correct layout, design and content can separate you from the pack and ensure you get the call for that all-important interview.

Contact and personal details

You should Include all of your key details such as name, address, phone number, and e-mail (have a professional e-mail address). You can also include your Personal website and your social media accounts.

Opening statement

This should tell the reader who you are. In a nutshell, how experienced you are, what you want from them, what can you bring to the table, and what you’re hoping to achieve. Keep it short and sweet.

Career history

You may have limited experience if you’re just out of college, for example, or you have may lots of experience but in a very different sector. Think of the transferable skills you may have such as managing projects, customer service or sales. Focus on what you’ve achieved. You should detail the duration of your educational, key roles and responsibilities and how you impacted the business.

Education

You should detail all of your educational achievements, even if they’re not directly related to the fitness industry. Many skills that have been gained in other industries can carry over into the fitness industry, so get it all in there. Your qualifications should be listed in order, starting with what you have gained most recently. Include names of qualifications, dates obtained, and where they were obtained from.

Hobbies and interests

If you have space on your CV, feel free to include this in order to show some personality and commitment to health and fitness. You may not have worked in a gym before, but doing 12 marathons or organising a Tough Mudder team compete for charity can be attractive to the reader.

References

You don’t have to list your references but do think about who you will put forward. Let your referees know in advance, and give them some information about the kind of job you’re applying for so they can give praise and feedback that’s relevant.

A few more tips...

Keep it to two pages max and don’t forget to spellcheck. Have a friend proofread it.

Crazy fonts can be hard to read, and multiple colours can look unprofessional.

Make it interesting. Look up CV templates online. You want to stand out for the right reasons and not blur into a mass of Times New Roman.

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