How To Write A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

An effective fitness instructor cover letter can be the deciding factor in determining whether you land a job role, or are passed over in favour of another candidate. 

By following the steps outlined below, you will learn how to write a cover letter for a fitness instructor position that perfectly encapsulates who you are:

• Step 1 - Prepare and Research For Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter
• Step 2 - Plan Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter 
• Step 3 - Writing Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter 
• How To Format A Cover Letter For A Fitness Instructor Position 
• Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Example 
• 6 Tips On Making Your Cover Letter Stand Out 

Enrolling on our Personal Trainer Diploma can help to strengthen your fitness instructor cover letter and lead to exciting opportunities, such as helping you to become a personal trainer. This training will present you as a stronger candidate, as you will be able to offer one-to-one training, in addition to leading fitness classes.

You can also download OriGym’s FREE course prospectus for further information on all our courses.

Step 1 - Prepare And Research For Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

If you want to write an effective cover letter for a fitness instructor position, the first thing you’ll need to do is conduct research into the company and role you’re applying for.

By doing so, you can guarantee that the information on your gym instructor cover letter is reflective of the company in question, and personalised to each job you apply for.

Presenting employers with a generic cover letter that you’ve sent to multiple jobs will present you as a lazy individual who wants any job, not this job specifically.

When creating a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, you should check resources such as the company’s website or LinkedIn Page. This can provide valuable insight into aspects, like the organisation’s: 

• History
• Values
• Aims
• Current projects
• Staff news

For example, take a look at The Gym Group’s LinkedIn Page:

The ‘About’ section alone contains plenty of valuable information about the brand’s identity. You’ll be able to identify what values will resonate with your employer and tailor your cover letter for the fitness instructor position accordingly.

For example, you can see how The Gym Group prioritise candidates who are customer focused:

If you were to create a group fitness instructor cover letter for this position, you’d need to mention traits you possess that demonstrate your commitment to customer service. 

When conducting any kind of research into a prospective employer, you should ask yourself:

• What will I do as a gym instructor at this location?
• What experience and qualifications are required for the role?
• What skills do I need?
• What are the company’s brand values?
• When was the company founded?
• What employee benefits do they offer?
• Do they target a specific area of fitness or demographic? 

These answers can help inform the information you include on your fitness instructor cover letter. By doing so, you’ll present yourself as a candidate who is highly engaged with the role they’re applying for. 

Anything you learn during this research can also be beneficial if you secure an interview, as you will have a wide knowledge of the gym. 

Step 2 - Plan Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Structure

The next step in writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position is to consider how you’re going to structure the piece.

Applying for a fitness instructor job role can be an exciting process, so it’s only natural you’ll want to get started as soon as possible. But the last thing you want to do is begin without a detailed plan. 

Without a clear plan, you could include irrelevant details that detract from the content of your cover letter, and may sway employers to choose another candidate instead.

With this in mind, here is a brief rundown of what to include when writing a fitness instructor cover letter in the UK:

• Your Contact Information 
• Employer Contact Information
• Cover Letter Salutation/Greeting 
• Body of Letter 
• Sign Off
• Your Name/Signature  

To ensure that each section of your cover letter is optimised for employers, you should follow the P.E.E method of writing. This stands for:

• Point
• Evidence 
• Explain

This simply means that you will make a statement, provide evidence for it, and then add a small explanation of why you believe it’s relevant for a fitness instructor role.

For example, let’s say that you wanted to highlight your commitment levels to providing good customer care. You could write something like:

I am a hardworking individual, who puts a great amount of effort into ensuring that every customer has the best possible experience at my fitness classes. I’ve demonstrated thus with my current employer by hosting regular check-ins at the end of every class.

Customers are able to come to me with valuable feedback that helps to shape future classes, ensuring that improvements can be made whenever relevant.

Through structuring your cover letter for a fitness instructor position in this manner, you can ensure that employers only read relevant information. 

Step 3 - Writing Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

We’ve briefly touched on the structure you should follow for your fitness instructor cover letter, but it’s equally important to know what each section should include. 

Let’s break it down into simple steps.

#1 - Start Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter With Your Contact Information

When writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor role, the first thing you will need to include is your contact information. Typically, this will be situated in the top, right-hand side of the page, and will include: 

• Your full name
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number

Some employers may also specifically ask you to include your professional social media account in this section too. 

Even if the inclusion of social media isn’t requested by the gym, featuring it here can help shed more light on who you are as an instructor.

#2 - Should You Include The Gym’s Contact Information?

This next step is optional, as how you send a cover letter for a gym instructor position can influence whether an employer’s contact information is necessary. 

For example, if you’re sending the employer a hard copy of a cover letter through the post, you’ll need to include the following information in the top left hand corner of the page:

• Date of sending the letter
• The name of the employer 
• The name of the company
• The company address

On the other hand, if you’re sending this cover letter via email, or through employment websites, you won’t need to include any of the employer’s contact information.

#3 - How to Greet a Hiring Director in a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When writing your gym instructor cover letter, you should include a greeting before your professional correspondence. When writing this greeting it will help to know who will be reading your cover letter, which could be:

• The employer 
• The head of HR
• The hiring director 
• The manager of the department you’ll be working with 

In addition to showing that you’ve taken initiative to research the company, this greeting will also highlight an element of specificity,indicating this letter hasn’t been reused for other roles. 

This will also give you an idea of who will be conducting your fitness instructor interview, should your cover letter be successful. In some instances, vacancies on employment sites such as LinkedIn will provide clarity on who you should address. 

For example, should you decide to apply for this position in Athelis Club & Spa, your cover letter would address Tye Handley, as he is the ‘job poster’.

If this information isn’t immediately available, you should conduct your own research through LinkedIn. If you still can’t find a name, you can use a general greeting in your cover letter, like:

• ‘To the Hiring Director at [Company Name]
• ‘Dear [company name] Recruiter
• ‘To whom it may concern at [Company Name]

This strategy ensures that you’re still personalising the cover letter to the company, rather than using a generic address such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.

#4 - What To Include In The First Paragraph Of A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

The next step in writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position is to tackle the main body of text. In this section, you’re essentially providing the hiring director with information such as:

• What role you’re applying for - There may be multiple vacancies within the company at any given time, so be sure to stress this.
• Why you want to apply for this specific role - Demonstrate how passionate you are about the role.  You should also stress some key skills, such as previous experience leading fitness classes.
• Where you saw the position advertised - Here, you could demonstrate your research skills and state how you saw it advertised across many different platforms.
• When you will be available to start - Employers will need to know this information, as they may have to fill the position urgently. 

The first paragraph acts as a first impression for prospective employers. If they like what they see, they’ll continue reading to learn more about you.

If you’re currently writing a fitness instructor cover letter, an example of what the first paragraph may look like can be found below:

I am writing to you in regards to the Freelance Fitness Instructor advertisement posted on LinkedIn and Indeed. I believe that I would make an excellent candidate for this vacancy, as I already possess 2 years worth of experience leading fitness classes at my current place of employment.  

I am aware of the high standards that your fitness facility has, and wish to contribute to this with my own knowledge and experience for the benefit of your customers. I am even willing to hit the ground running, ready to start in the position whenever I am required!

With our example, you can see the applicant has explained their past experience, touched on where they’re applying for, and when they can start. 

From this, employers will gain insight into why they’re applying for the vacancy, along with some of the experience the applicant possesses.

#5 - Writing The Second Paragraph of a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When writing a gym instructor cover letter, the second paragraph is arguably the most important as it provides the biggest opportunity to sell yourself. In this section you should make reference to relevant:

• Qualifications 
• Skills
• Experience

When looking at job vacancies you should always check what qualifications employers are asking for. 

This will help to inform what is included in your fitness instructor cover letter. For example, if the position only mentions the Level 2 Gym instructor qualification, then you need to make reference to this. 

This doesn’t need to be super detailed, and can be as simple as: 

I initially earned my Level 2 Fitness Instructor certification in 2022 with OriGym Centre of Excellence, with whom I am currently studying for my Level 3 Personal Training qualification. 

As well as discussing relevant qualifications, your gym instructor cover letter should also include relevant skills to support your application. 

For example, when describing their ideal candidate, this advertisement for Frame in London specifies applicants should hold strong communication skills: 

You can use past experiences to demonstrate these strong communication skills, making use of the P.E.E strategy. This doesn’t have to specifically relate to the fitness industry either, as you may be writing a fitness instructor cover letter with no experience:

I have strong communication skills, honed through 3 years of experience in Customer Service Management. In this position, I was responsible for providing customers with assistance, resolving complaints, and answering phone calls to respond to enquiries. 

If chosen for the fitness instructor position, I will therefore feel confident in addressing the class, offering feedback to those struggling, as well as having discussions with customers on how I can better the service I provide.

As you can see from the example, the applicant supports their argument with evidence relating back to their previous/current place of employment. 

In some respects, the second paragraph can touch on what’s included in the ‘work experience’ section of your fitness instructor CV. A cover letter should select the most relevant aspects of your experience and expand upon those. 

#6 - Paragraph 3 Of Your Cover Letter For A Fitness Instructor Position

The next section of your fitness instructor cover letter should demonstrate the knowledge you possess about the company you’re applying for. This is where all of the research you previously conducted will come in handy. 

Specifically, when referencing your knowledge of the company, you can highlight why you would be a good match for the position, whilst also sharing what attracted you to the role. 

For example, you could research the brand’s core values, and draw on how they resonate and align with your own. For instance, if you applying for a role at David Lloyd, you would find the following information relating to the brand’s core values:

This fitness instructor cover letter sample demonstrates how you could link your own values with David Lloyd:

I particularly resonate with David Lloyd’s Passion to Serve, and greatly admire the company’s dedication to make a real difference. As someone who has held multiple jobs in customer facing roles, I know first hand that even the simplest of actions can make a big impact on their overall perception of the business.

For this reason, I’d strive to deliver the highest possible level of customer service at your gym. This will carry through when completing every role, be it hosting inductions, or confidently leading fitness classes. 

By making connections between the company's beliefs and your own, you are essentially highlighting how you fit in. Employers will want to hire someone who exemplifies their values, so mentioning this is a must. 

While it might be tempting, try to avoid using phrases like “I have wanted to work for your company for as long as I can remember…”, as these phrases are incredibly overused, and don’t hold much meaning as a result. 

#7 - Writing The Final Paragraph Of Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When closing out your group fitness instructor cover letter, you should strive to present yourself as the best possible candidate for the role. This process will involve:

• Offering a brief summary of your application 
• Thanking the employer for taking the time to read your application 
• Mentioning your availability to take part in an interview 
• Share your preferred method of communication

Doing so encourages the employer to move your application forwards since you’re showing a clear interest in chatting with them more.

The following sample cover letter for fitness instructor position demonstrates how you may do this:  

In summary, I believe that I’d make an excellent member of the team, and would strive to uphold the brand’s core identity, with a dedicated work ethic that always places the customer first. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my application and for considering me for the position.  I am available for an interview on Mondays and any other weekday after 6pm, where I would behappy to discuss my application further with you.

Closing out a fitness instructor cover letter is arguably the most straightforward part of the writing process. This doesn’t mean that you can rush it - remember this is the last thing an employer will see, so it’s important to leave on a positive note. 

#8 - How To Sign Off A Gym Instructor Cover Letter

There are a few rules when it comes to signing off a formal fitness instructor cover letter. Through following this advice, you can ensure your ending on a positive note:

• If you know the name of the hiring director - Sign the letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’
• If you don’t know the individual’s name - Sign with ‘Yours Faithfully’ 
• Use a signature if you’re sending a hard copy of the cover letter 
• Electronic signatures may be required but aren’t always necessary for online applications, so be sure to check if the employer requires one.

Whilst this section discussed how to write a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, the next will explore how this written should be formatted.

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If learning about how to write a fitness instructor cover letter interests you, then these other OriGym articles will be of great benefit:

• How to Write A Fitness Instructor CV
• How To Write An Effective Fitness Instructor Bio
• 13 Key Interview Questions for Fitness Instructors

How To Format A Cover Letter For A Fitness Instructor Position

When writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, many applicants prioritise content above all else. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you should also ensure that the format is correct too. 

Employers can see hundreds of cover letters for the same position, and if yours isn’t formatted correctly, it can highlight your inexperience, and paint you in an unprofessional light. 

Therefore, ensure that your gym instructor cover letter is formatted correctly by following these tips:

• Choose a Suitable Font: Pick fonts that are easy to read such as Arial, Times New Roman and Calibri.
• Font Size: For headings and titles use 16pt, and 12pt for all other text. 
• Consistency Between Fitness Instructor Cover Letter and CV: These two documents should share identical font choices and colour schemes. This may seem like a minor detail, but can create a sense of cohesion across your application.
• Paragraphs: Split your cover letter into paragraphs, as large chunks of text could be off putting for employers. 

Formatting is a simple process, but, if done incorrectly, it can have negative effects on the overall perception of your application. You should therefore follow the advice provided above, in order to ensure that your final document is both presentable and professional. 

Complete Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Example

This section includes a fitness instructor cover letter sample so that you can have a look at what a finished document may look like. This example has been created following the guidance we’ve provided in this article:

–

Dear Katie Chadwick (HR Manager):

I am writing this letter to express my interest in your posting on Indeed for a Fitness Instructor position. 

With both a Level 2 gym instructor and Level 3 personal training certificate under my belt, I was able to secure employment working as a receptionist at my local gym. Whilst I enjoy the many responsibilities associated with this role, I am ready to embark on a career change, and believe I would be a valuable asset to your organisation.

Throughout my time working as a gym receptionist, I have shown exemplary communication and problem-solving skills. This is exemplified through the many responsibilities I completed daily, which included resolving customer complaints, as well as answering communication requests. 

This position also utilised and developed my organisation and multi-tasking skills. If chosen for this position, these can be transferred into liaising with multiple customers at the same time, ensuring that everyone receives a fully-rounded class. 

I am also someone that is incredibly passionate about collaborative work, having been heavily involved in group collaborations throughout my professional and educational careers. 

Truthfully, this is why I felt such a strong connection to your company, as your website clearly lays out a dedication to a ‘Joint Effort Value’. I believe that I would make an excellent addition to your team, gelling well with fellow employees to deliver a high calibre service.

In summary, I believe that I’d make an excellent member of the team and would dedicate myself to not only honing my existing skills, but to developing new ones too. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my application and for considering me for the position. 

I am available for an interview on Mondays and any other weekday after 6pm when I would be happy to discuss my application further with you.

Yours sincerely, 

John Smith

–

Remember, the sample cover letter for fitness instructors displayed above is just an example. You shouldn’t copy what we’ve written above word for word, as all cover letters should be specific to the job you are applying for.

This sample was created to provide you with insight into what a full cover letter should look like. 

6 Tips On Making Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Stand Out 

This next section will focus on providing guidance for how you can make your cover letter stand out. The following list of tips has been created to offer guidance on what you should keep in mind during the writing process.

#1 - Earning a Personal Training Qualification Can Set Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Apart

Following the completion of a Level 2 Fitness instructor course you should consider obtaining a Level 3 Personal Training qualification. This achievement will strengthen your cover letter for a fitness instructor position by presenting you as a candidate with more experience and knowledge.

For reference, whilst enrolled on this course you will build on the pre-existing knowledge acquired on your Level 2 qualification. Specifically, through becoming a certified personal trainer you can begin training clients on a one-to-one basis.

This will be something you’ll want to stress on your fitness instructor cover letter, as it will highlight to employers that you will be able to offer specific training advice for customers, rather than just holistic advice for an entire class. 

Some employers will even stress that this is a preferred additional qualification to have, meaning that these applicants will be favoured during the hiring process. This can be seen below in an advertisement for LifeStyles Fitness:

From this example, you will be able to understand how a personal training qualification can help you stand out among other applicants. It simply highlights to the employer that you have more knowledge and experience to draw from, meaning that you can take on more responsibilities in the workplace.

#2 - Be Concise When Writing a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

One of the most important things that you can do when it comes to writing a cover letter is to be concise. Waffling will likely deter employers from reading your entire application, as it will present you as someone who lacks clear focus.

You should only include relevant information, and try to keep the contents of the letter to one side of A4. 

#3 - Check Your Spelling and Grammar Before Submitting Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter

Whilst this may seem obvious to some, the importance of ‘spell checking’ your cover letter cannot be overstated. 

Even the smallest of mistakes could deter potential employers from selecting your application, so be on the lookout for any grammatical or factual errors.

With tools like free tools such as Spell Check and Grammarly at your disposal, there is simply no excuse for these mistakes to arise. 

#4 - Use Examples In Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

As mentioned throughout this article, when writing a cover letter you should always opt to use the PEE structure (Point, Evidence, Explain). 

Anyone can claim to have a diverse range of skills suitable for a particular job role, but without evidence to back you up, these claims will be unfounded. 

For example, if you want to discuss how you have developed strong selling skills,  you could support this by using stats to show how you increased fitness class attendance in your current place of employment.

Using evidence to support your claims will essentially verify the content of your cover letter. Without it, employers may be unwilling to believe the legitimacy of your abilities. 

#5 - Be Honest When Writing a Group Fitness Instructor Cover Letter 

If you find a job vacancy that you really want, it can be tempting to embellish the truth to get ahead of other applicants - but in truth, this is never worth it! 

No matter how insignificant it may seem to you, if an employer discovers that you’ve lied on your CV or Cover Letter, they could terminate your application immediately.

Even worse yet, should you become employed when this information comes to light, these employers could take legal action against you for false representation.

#6 - Follow Up After Sending In Your Cover Letter

Once your application has been submitted you may think it’s time to relax and await a response, but remember employers can sometimes receive hundreds of applications at once. 

For this reason, there is a chance that your application may have gotten lost in the post, or redirected to an ‘unread’ or ‘spam’ folder. 

You should always receive some form of confirmation that your application has been received, so if this does not occur you will have to conduct your own follow up.

This can be in the form of an email to simply ask whether your application was received by the employer. In doing so, you will receive reassurance that your cover letter has been processed through the right channels.

Before You Go!

Now that you’re equipped with all the necessary information, you can begin working on your own fitness instructor cover letter. 

Completing a Personal Trainer Diploma can improve your perception among employers. Through this course, you’ll learn how to lead bespoke training sessions, and make yourself a much more attractive prospect for employers.

Our FREE course prospectus is also available to download here!