Support from The Training Room doesn’t end with your course. We give you access to amazing career opportunities in partnership with leading employers in the fitness industry and provides help for three years after you’ve qualified.
When it comes to applying for your dream role your CV plays a crucial part in getting you that job, this is the all-important first impression with potential employees, so it is essential to have a winning CV and an impressive interview technique to go along with it.
Here at The Training Room, we are with you every step of the way and provide help with making sure your CV is the best it can be; we’ll also help you prepare for interviews. With The Training Room, you’re not in this alone.
If you are a Training Room graduate and struggling with your CV or have any questions on interviews, be sure to contact our Career Support team. If you are just looking for some quick tips though, we’ve put together a short guide on some of the main points to consider when writing your CV and how to work an interview to your advantage.
First off, how to produce an impressive CV:
1. Choose A Simple Format.
Keep away from fancy layouts and ensure you stand out for the right reasons by presenting your information in an uncluttered, easy to follow order. Use headings to separate sections and keep sentences short, and tidy things up with bullet points. To avoid boring the reader, limit yourself to a maximum of two pages.
2. Check Your Spelling.
Whilst this may seem obvious, failing to take time to check your CV for spelling and grammar mistakes is an all-too-common error. To be on the safe side, remember to use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double-check what you’ve written.
3. Attach A Covering Letter.
At no more than a few paragraphs, a covering letter introduces you to your prospective employer and is the perfect opportunity to provide a personal touch to your application. Include a brief description of why you’re interested in the job and what you can bring to the role.
Make sure to include relevant points about yourself so employers are fully aware of your personal information, skills, qualification and passions before taking your application to the next step. These include:
Your contact details – full name, address, mobile phone number and email address. Your date of birth isn’t necessary.
Education – list your previous education by date, with the most recent highest on the page. Remember to include any professional qualifications.
Work experience – starting with the most recent/relevant positions, include any internships, voluntary roles or previous jobs with examples of your responsibilities. Top tip, don't just write what you did at each job position, write what you achieved, this will be a more exciting read for the employer then a boring list of mundane tasks.
Skills – this is your chance to mention your abilities such as customer service skills and the ability to work in a team. Look into writing a list of these so that they are evidently clear and can be quickly read.
References – these are typically two people who can provide positive comments on your previous employment or education.
Looking for more information on creating a great CV, check out our blog on how to ‘Detox your CV’.
Although The Training Room guarantees every single one of our Personal Training graduates an interview with one of our partners, it pays to be prepared. Follow our guide to acing your interviews and win the job you want. Good Luck!
Get Ready To Show Off Your Skills
Personal Trainers interviews frequently involve a practical so that recruiters can see your skills first hand. Not just a fitness test, this is your chance to show off your communication and coaching skills. This is your time to display the passion you have on becoming a PT.
Research
Make sure you find out as much as you can about the company and read over the job description; this will help you answer any questions they may ask.
Look The Part
Before the interview, find out what you will be doing – will you be required to teach a class or take charge of a gym induction? This is your cue to think about what you’re going to wear and choose clean, freshly ironed clothing that is suitable for the task at hand.
Location, Location, Location
Confirm where the interview will take place and if necessary, ask for a map or directions and do a trial run. Not only will arriving late make a bad impression, you’ll most likely show up panicked and flustered with no time to calm your nerves.
Practise Makes Perfect
Take time to consider any questions you may be asked and think about how to answer them. Many employers will commonly ask about the qualities you would bring to the company or if you have plans for further training. Remember that interviews are a two-way process, so make sure to have some role-based questions in mind to ask the interviewer.
During The Interview
Don’t rush to provide answers; ask the interviewer to repeat questions if you mishear them. Be sure to sit up straight, maintain eye contact and speak clearly. Your aim is to appear sociable, approachable and the best person for the job, so smile and put your best self forward!
You can also read our blog on ‘How to really impress at a job interview’ and ‘How to land the job!’