Knocking your fitness resume into shape is only half the battle. The clincher that really seals the deal is reaching out and adding that personal touch.
You could call a potential employer, you could include a photograph on your resume but the most effective way to give an overview of who you are is with a cover letter.
But writing a cover letter is not just as simple as putting pen to paper and stating your case. To really make an impression, there are some tips and tricks you can employ to guarantee that your cover letter really makes it to the top of the pile.
With the combination of a winning resume and a cover letter that sells you, you’ll be on that interview list for your dream job in fitness, quicker than you thought possible.
- Keep It Fresh
If your employer wants to read your resume, they will. The secret to a great cover letter is to provide fresh evidence of who you are and information that is not contained within the resume.
There is little point in repeating your qualifications and educational history but there is good reason to spell out some of your personal highlights and to give some context as to who you are.
Now is also the time to go into more detail about why you would be a perfect fit for the job you are applying for and explaining why you are head and shoulders above other candidates.
Marketing Manager at Origin writings Daniel Stokes said: “So many employers read the resume and then just get a carbon copy in the cover letter. It makes them want to see something different, something that stands out and gives them more to look at. A cover letter should provide a full picture, not reiterate the same information.”
- Think About Your Format
It’s often the last thing on anyone’s mind but consider how you’re going to send your information.
While most people have access to a laptop or PC, not everyone uses the same software so decide whether you should send your cover letter as a doc, docx or a PDF.
In general most people can open a PDF and it make sense to send it in this rather more universal format.
When writing your letter, think about what kind of layout and font you want to use that translates well between Windows and a Mac. Avoid novelty style fonts such as comic sans and in general anything that uses a font with tails or serifs. They run the risk of looking rather old fashioned and dated.
- Do Not Make Mistakes
Ever, just don’t send a cover letter with one single spelling mistake or grammatical error. It will get picked up and it has a negative effect for a number of reasons.
At best it paints you as someone who was in rush and couldn’t carve out the time to proofread your work properly. But it also runs the risk of telling a future employer that you are not professional in your working life, that you let mistakes in and don’t take time to do the job properly – something that can be dangerous in the fitness industry.
If you are in any doubt about your cover letter then get someone to proofread it for you. Better still let the professionals take a look and consider running your letter through an online proofreading tools such as Write My X or 1 Day 2 write, which will also help you edit our your mistakes and aid with a re-write.
Once you’re done read through it, then read through it again.
- Set It Out Clearly
No employer wants to read a cover letter that jumps about all over the place. Before you even put pen to paper, or your fingers to a keyboard take the time to plan out exactly the format of your letter and how you are going to start and end it.
Divide it into clear sections, each with a definite purpose and reason for being there. Don’t fill your letter with waffle just to reach a word count instead make every word count towards the whole.
When you are thinking about the opening paragraph, there’s no need to introduce your name or the job you’re applying for – both those pieces of information are known by the employer. Instead start by saying why you are a great fit for that team. Avoid dealing in generalisations but instead state with examples how your experience in the fitness industry is going to pay dividends in this new company.
Follow this up with your fitness career goals and why you want to work for this specific company, finish off by bringing you and the company together and referring to the shared objectives you can both achieve by collaborative working.
- Finish Strong
This is it, the final home run before closing off. Make this last paragraph the one that your potential new boss takes away with them and remembers you by.
The pay off should give your employer every reason to see why you are the perfect fit for the job. Don’t try and overplay it by ending with a question or anything that leaves the reader wondering what you are talking about.
Make your pay off short and sweet, not rambling. Explain who you are and leave it there. If you are the right fit for the job the reader will see it straight away.
In an increasingly competitive job market place, your fitness resume and cover letter needs that something special to make it stand out from the rest of the pack.
Don’t let poor writing, a rambling letter, missing information or a carbon copy of your resume get in the way landing that job you know should be yours.
Instead, apply some of these simple rules and get yourself noticed as a candidate, not just any candidate but the candidate who deserves that dream job.
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