If you’re passionate about helping people get in shape and reach their fitness goals, the personal trainer role was made for you. You have a chance to make a real difference in your clients lives and guide them on their journey to strength and confidence.
For as wonderful as the field of sports and fitness is, finding your way as a personal trainer can be tough – especially early in your career. Resume.io is here to help. As with any exercise, a great cover letter example takes practice and patience. Sweating may be normal in your job, but it shouldn’t be a part of writing your personal trainer cover letter.
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding personal trainer cover letter example, we’ll cover the following topics to help you land the perfect role for your skills and experience:
- How to choose the best format for a personal trainer cover letter sample
- The importance of an attractive header for your cover letter
- A great personal trainer cover letter sample even with no experience
- Key mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter example
As more people recognize the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the need for personal trainers is expected to grow over the coming decade – by a whopping 15%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many of these jobs will focus on helping office workers keep fit, while other positions will open to care for an aging but still active population.
Resume.io’s free cover letter examples are designed with you in mind. Whether you’re just starting out or changing positions as a career veteran, we’ve got tips and resources to make your next move easier than ever.
Best format for a personal trainer cover letter example
A great personal trainer cover letter format should contain many of the same elements found in other cover letter examples. These sections lend structure to the document and help guide the hiring manager or client through your experience and professional story.
The format of a personal trainer cover letter should contain the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
If you’re looking for more in-depth advice on how to write each of these sections, you can find it in our comprehensive cover letter guide. Check it out for more tips, tricks and cover letter sample sentences.
Now let’s take a look at our adaptable personal trainer cover letter example.
Dear Mr. Lawnstill,
Having worked as a personal trainer both in gyms and for private clients for the past five years, I feel well qualified for the role at Everfit. My background in yoga and martial arts would also be a great fit for the wider range of classes that you offer.
Collaborating with 400+ clients over my career has taught me about what motivates different people to take the next steps in their fitness journey. I am a student of behavioural psychology, having studied it as a minor alongside my sports science degree. I always lead my sessions with the needs of my clients in mind and seek to help them find how hard they want to push their training rather than forcing an impossible plan on them.
I have run specialist weight-loss seasonal classes, with 85% of clients hitting their weight-loss goals, improving their aerobic fitness and improving their health outcomes. I know that health-related personal training is a large proportion of your client base, and this is definitely the part of my job that brings me the most satisfaction.
I am certified to train clients on all the latest exercise equipment and regularly attend the latest classes on training methodologies. I ran a “train the trainer” class for starter yoga practitioners at my previous workplace and enjoy helping my colleagues to improve their knowledge. I firmly believe that if you give to others, they will give back to you.
My clients have described me as a patient communicator, relentless motivator and knowledgeable educator. There are so many more ways to add value to fitness clients than yelling at them to do one more rep.
I would love the opportunity to come to the gym and take a trial class to show you my approach to getting the most out of a training session.
Sincerely,
Lee Cowell
In need of more inspiration? Have a look at our other related sport & fitness guides and cover letter samples listed here below:
Cover letter header
The cover letter header takes up the space at the very top of document, so it’s likely the first thing a gym manager or client will see. The header is where you’ll want to put your name and contact information so you can be easily contacted for an interview. A splash of color or a bold font can go a long way in making your page stand out.
The aim of the cover letter header: Create an attractive format to showcase your name, phone number and email so that a gym manager can get in touch with you right away.
When the hiring manager is sifting through a sea of black-and-white cover letters, a pop of color or another design element can quickly move yours to the top of the pile.
The header is likely the place you’ll get to add these stylish touches. When designing your cover letter, make sure to keep in mind the branding of the gym you’re applying to and adapt your tone appropriately.
If you need a little help in creating an attractive format, a free cover letter template can make for a great starting point.
Cover letter greeting
The greeting plays an important role in establishing a friendly and respectful tone for the rest of your cover letter. Whenever possible, try to use the name of the hiring manager or gym manager in your greeting to show your interest in the position and make a personal connection. Even if you’re unable to find the name of the letter recipient, don’t resort to an outdated and generic greeting like “To Whom It May Concern.” The best option is to address your letter to a collective noun like “Dear (Company Name) Management Team” or even “Dear (Gym Name) Fitness Family” if it matches the company branding.
The aim of letter greeting / salutation: Use “Dear” followed by the appropriate salutation and last name (whenever possible) to create a personal connection and respectful tone.
Cover letter introduction
The first 1-2 sentences of your cover letter make up the introduction section. Naturally, the goal is to introduce yourself, but also to catch the gym manager’s attention and encourage them to keep reading throughout your cover letter. Some of the best ways to accomplish this are through an interesting anecdote, exciting personal statement or relevant fact. Make sure to avoid bland opening lines, although if the gym is large and hiring for many positions at once, it’s a good idea to mention the specific role you’re applying to.
The aim of the cover letter intro: Pique the hiring manager’s interest with a relevant story, skill or statistic that entices them to read through the rest of your cover letter.
Dear Mr. Lawnstill,
Having worked as a personal trainer both in gyms and for private clients for the past five years, I feel well qualified for the role at Everfit. My background in yoga and martial arts would also be a great fit for the wider range of classes that you offer.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters is where you really have the space and flexibility to expand on your skills and traits. In these 2-3 paragraphs, you should help a hiring manager envision you working in their gym. One way to do this is through the STAR method: first describe a Situation and the Task required of you. Then explain the Action you took and the positive Result which followed. These short anecdotes should help to showcase your skills and your approach as a personal trainer. You can also mention any relevant certifications if these are particularly important for the position.
The aim of the body of your cover letter: Draw attention to your accomplishments and achievements through short anecdotes, highlight your skills, personality traits and certifications.
Collaborating with 400+ clients over my career has taught me about what motivates different people to take the next steps in their fitness journey. I am a student of behavioural psychology, having studied it as a minor alongside my sports science degree. I always lead my sessions with the needs of my clients in mind and seek to help them find how hard they want to push their training rather than forcing an impossible plan on them.
I have run specialist weight-loss seasonal classes, with 85% of clients hitting their weight-loss goals, improving their aerobic fitness and improving their health outcomes. I know that health-related personal training is a large proportion of your client base, and this is definitely the part of my job that brings me the most satisfaction.
I am certified to train clients on all the latest exercise equipment and regularly attend the latest classes on training methodologies. I ran a “train the trainer” class for starter yoga practitioners at my previous workplace and enjoy helping my colleagues to improve their knowledge. I firmly believe that if you give to others, they will give back to you.
My clients have described me as a patient communicator, relentless motivator and knowledgeable educator. There are so many more ways to add value to fitness clients than yelling at them to do one more rep.
As a personal trainer, your focus is on achieving results for your clients and bringing in revenue for the gym (and yourself!) Therefore, it’s important to focus your cover letter sample on your effectiveness and customer satisfaction. Make sure to include numbers, facts and statistics that add weight to your experience and help quantify your impact. You don't just want the gym manager to know you’re successful – you want to make them understand just how successful you are.
How to close a personal trainer cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Congratulations on reaching the conclusion of your cover letter! The hard work is behind you. Now it’s time to convince a hiring manager to give you a shot. Do this by creating a Call to Action (CTA). This sentence expresses your interest in the position and invites the gym manager to get in touch.
Now all that’s left to do is close your letter with a respectful sign-off like “Sincerely,” “Best regards” or “Thank you for your consideration.”
The aim of the conclusion of your cover letter: Create an effective Call to Action and then finish the letter with a polite and friendly sign off.
I would love the opportunity to come to the gym and take a trial class to show you my approach to getting the most out of a training session.
Sincerely,
Lee Cowell
Personal trainer cover letter with no experience
If you want to land a personal trainer position with no experience, you’re going to need a really convincing cover letter. That’s because entry-level personal trainer positions tend to be quite competitive and usually require some sort of degree or certification. Nevertheless, you can begin building your own business and learn the ropes if you’re committed to learning and staying professional for the long haul.
Here are some steps you can take to craft your personal trainer cover letter if you have no experience:
- Focus on related jobs: Having already worked in a gym or in the world of fitness can give you a leg up on candidates who are not familiar with the workplace. Make sure your cover letter mentions any jobs that show you are passionate about health and wellness.
- Highlight transferable skills: Any position that has allowed you to work one-on-one with clients is great training for the personal trainer role. Likewise, if you plan to lead group fitness classes, make sure to showcase previous roles that demonstrate your ability to command the room.
- Exhibit the right traits: Personal trainers should be charismatic, confident and approachable. A great cover letter sample will clearly highlight these character traits and make it clear why you’re perfect for the role.
- Tell your own fitness story: There’s likely a reason why you decided to become a personal trainer. Your cover letter sample is a great place to share your own fitness journey and explain why you’re passionate about the profession.
Basic mistakes in a personal trainer application letter (and how to avoid them)
In a field as tough as personal training, it’s important that your cover letter is devoid of mistakes if you want to have the best chance of making a great first impression. Luckily, you can put yourself ahead of myriads of other candidates just by avoiding these basic errors:
- Poor formatting: A great first impression makes a world of a difference in getting a hiring manager to remember you. Make sure your layout is organized and attractive to increase your chances of landing the interview. Professionally designed cover letter templates can help you with this.
- Spelling and grammar mistakes: These simple errors show you aren’t paying enough attention to the details. Luckily you can quickly solve these problems through spellcheck or by asking a friend to proofread your cover letter before you submit.
- A generic cover letter: One of the most important things you can do to prove your interest in the position is to customize your cover letter to the specific needs of the gym or company. A manager will be much more impressed by a cover letter that fills the requirements of the job description than one that is clearly written to be sent around to many openings.
Key takeaways
- A cover letter helps convince a hiring manager that you have the right skills and traits for their personal trainer position.
- This field is expected to grow much faster than others over the coming decade. That means there are plenty of openings waiting for you once your application is ready.
- Keep your cover letter concise and focused on the right experience for the exact gym you are applying to.
- Don’t forget about appearance – make sure your layout is polished and makes a great first impression.
- Never submit your cover letter without proofreading it yourself or asking a friend to read it over.
