Sports Psychologist CV Guide

Everything you need to know about getting the perfect Sports Psychologist CV

Sports psychologists specialise in helping athletes, teams, and coaches enhance their performance and well-being. They work with individuals and groups to develop strategies for managing stress, improving focus, building confidence and overcoming mental barriers. The role requires individuals to have specific qualifications, experience, skills and accreditation. Therefore, if you want to apply for sports psychologist jobs, you must demonstrate to hiring managers and recruiters that you are a suitable candidate, and your CV is the first chance you will have to introduce yourself and your academic and professional history.

When you write a CV for a sports psychologist role, you want to provide relevant information and tailor it to the job you are applying for. It should be well-laid-out, concise and professional-looking, emphasising your passion and dedication. The details you include should be specific to you and focus on your education, work experience and skills. You also want to include anything that will help you stand out from other candidates, such as any specialisms, accreditation or memberships.

In this article, we will provide guidance on how to write a sports psychologist CV, what to include, some tips and an example to help you get started. It will hopefully increase your chances of securing an interview and, ultimately, the job.

In this Sports Psychologist CV guide

What to include in a Sports Psychologist CV

Sports psychology is competitive, and your application and CV quality will significantly influence your chances of an interview. Writing a compelling and customised CV rather than sending a generic and unimaginative one will help you get noticed by recruiters and create a lasting impression.

So, what should you include in your CV to set you apart from other candidates? The first thing to do is understand what the employer is looking for in a sports psychologist, which means carefully reading the job description and researching the organisation. You should then look at your qualifications, experience and skills, align them with the job requirements and include relevant details to show recruiters that you have done your homework and are committed to the role.

You may be a recent graduate writing a CV for the first time, or you may already be in the role or have another job and are looking to update your CV. Regardless, it can often be tricky to know where to start. CVs should have main sections, including your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills and references, and you can include others where appropriate. To make it easier, you can break down each section and focus on them one at a time. Let us now look at this in further detail.

Contact information

You will not get far in the application process if hiring managers and recruiters cannot contact you. Therefore, include clear and up-to-date contact information on your CV, which normally goes at the very top above your professional summary. The details to add include:

Your full name – first name and surname; do not worry about a middle name, e.g. “John Jones”.
Your location – add your town, city or county, e.g. “Croydon, London”. Avoid putting your full address; it can take up valuable space and be a privacy risk.
A phone number – it can be a landline or a mobile phone number, e.g. ” +44 1234 567 890″ but make sure you check it regularly.
An email address – add a professional-looking email address, e.g. “[email protected]”.
Other information – you can also add a LinkedIn profile or your own website where applicable and relevant, e.g. “linkedin.com/in/johnjones” and “www.johnjonespsychology.com”.

Once complete, double-check that all contact details are correct. A typo in your email address or phone number can prevent potential employers from reaching you.

There is some information to avoid adding to your CV, such as your date of birth, a photo, national insurance number and other personal information, such as marital status, gender, nationality or religion. This information is irrelevant and can lead to bias, discrimination and security risks.

Professional summary (career objective statement)

The next section of your CV will be your professional summary after your contact information. It is a brief overview highlighting your key achievements and relevant skills and showcases why you are the ideal candidate for the sports psychologist job. This section may also be called a personal statement, executive summary or professional profile.

A well-crafted professional summary quickly grabs the attention of hiring managers and recruiters and encourages them to read through the rest of your CV. It sets the tone and helps them understand your strengths and qualifications quickly. Recruiters often skim through CVs, so having a succinct, professional summary ensures they quickly see the most critical information about you without digging through the entire document.

When you write your professional summary, you want to ideally keep it brief and no longe than five lines and customise your summary for each job application. If you write a larger paragraph, ensure it is succinct, clear and relevant. Your summary should include the following elements:

Start with your professional title and years of experience in the field, e.g. “Experienced sports psychologist with 5 years of expertise…”.
Identify and list your key skills, core competencies and areas of expertise, e.g. performance enhancement, mental health counselling and team dynamics. Mention any specific techniques or methodologies you specialise in.
Summarise your notable achievements and their impact, such as successfully supporting athletes in achieving peak performance or contributing to the success of sports teams. Use specific examples and quantify them where possible. For instance, “Successfully supported over 200 athletes in achieving peak performance”.
Briefly mention your relevant qualifications, such as degrees in psychology or sports science, and any certifications or licences you hold, e.g. “Holding a Master’s degree in Sports Psychology and accredited by the British Psychological Society”.
Highlight personal qualities that make you stand out, such as your ability to build rapport with athletes, your analytical skills and your dedication to continuous learning and professional development.

Here is an example of a professional summary to help you craft your own:

“Experienced sports psychologist with 5 years of expertise in enhancing athletic performance and mental resilience. Skilled in applying evidence-based techniques to boost focus, confidence and motivation. Adept at working with athletes and teams to overcome challenges and achieve success. Holding a Master’s degree in Sports Psychology and accredited by the British Psychological Society.”

Education

Your education is another vital section in your CV, which you can add after your professional summary or work experience. Where you situate it within the document will depend on your amount of work experience. If you have less work experience, you may want to put your education section first and focus on your qualifications.

Including an education section in a CV is crucial because it highlights your academic qualifications, demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in relevant fields, and provides evidence of your formal training. It helps employers assess your suitability for the sport psychologist role and can set you apart from other candidates.

As you will need specific qualifications for a sports psychologist role, you should include your degree(s) and other qualifications in chronological order (the most recent first) and add the following details:

Add the full title of your degree, e.g. “Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology”.
List the name of the university or college where you obtained your degree and the location, e.g. “University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh”.
Provide the month and year you graduated, e.g. “Graduated: July 2020”.
You can include your achieved or expected grade where relevant, e.g. “2:1”.
Highlight specific courses or modules particularly relevant to sports psychology, e.g. performance psychology, cognitive-behavioural techniques, or athlete mental health.
Mention any additional certifications or licences relevant to your field, such as accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS) or a certificate in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Include any research projects or dissertations you have completed that are relevant to sports psychology (if applicable).

You do not need to include qualifications below your degrees, such as A Levels and GCSEs, unless the job posting asks for these and you have sufficient space.

Here is an example of an education section:

MSc Sports Psychology University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Graduated: July 2020.

Key coursework: Performance Psychology, Cognitive-Behavioural Techniques, Athlete Mental Health.
Dissertation: “The Impact of Mental Skills Training on Elite Athlete Performance”

BSc (Hons) in Psychology. University of Manchester, Manchester. Graduated: June 2017.

Grade 2:1.
Key coursework: Sports Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience, Abnormal Psychology.
Research Project: “Exploring Stress Management Techniques for Competitive Athletes”.

Certifications

Accredited Member, British Psychological Society (BPS).
Certified in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Work experience/employment history

The next section of your CV is your work experience, which is also known as employment history. It is crucial as it provides potential employers with evidence of your capabilities and achievements, demonstrating how you have applied your knowledge and skills in academic and/or real-world settings. It helps those reviewing your CV to gauge your suitability for the role, understand your contributions in previous positions, and see how your experience aligns with their needs. Essentially, it is a snapshot of your career journey and the value you can bring to their organisation.

Like your education section, your work experience should be added in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Here is what you should add:

Heading: Include a heading, “Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
Job title: Add a job title for each of your previous roles, e.g. “Sports Psychologist” or “Performance Psychologist”.
Employer/organisation name: Include the name of the organisation you worked for or put self-employed if you have worked for yourself.
Location: Add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
Dates of employment: Mention the month and year you started and ended each role. For example, “June 2021 – Present”.
Key duties: List your key responsibilities relevant to sports psychology in bullet point form, and you can also highlight your specific achievements and their impact. Here is an example of how to detail your duties (aim for three to five points):
- Conducted psychological assessments to evaluate athletes’ mental health and performance needs.
- Designed and implemented individualised mental skills training programs.
- Provided counselling and support to athletes dealing with performance anxiety and stress.
- Collaborated with coaches and trainers to integrate psychological strategies into training regimes.
- Implemented a mental resilience program that improved athlete performance by 15%.

If you have not yet had a job as a sports psychologist, focus on any internships, placements, volunteer positions, research projects, etc.

Key skills and achievements

You must also include your key skills in your CV to demonstrate to potential employers that you have specific qualifications, expertise and competencies to excel as a sports psychologist and are committed to personal and professional growth. It helps you stand out from other applicants by showcasing your successes, demonstrating your impact and enabling hiring managers and recruiters to see that you are a strong fit for the role.

Before starting this section, review the job description to identify any key skills the organisation is looking for in a sports psychologist so you can tailor this section to align with your competencies. You also want to include hard and soft skills in this section of your CV, as they are both valuable to the role.

Hard skills – are specific, teachable abilities that can be measured and defined, often acquired through education, training programs or on-the-job experience. Some examples of hard skills for a sports psychologist include psychological assessment, research skills, counselling techniques, performance enhancement strategies, data analysis and report writing.
Soft skills – are more subjective and related to personal attributes, interpersonal skills, and how you work with others. Some examples of soft skills for a sports psychologist may include empathy, active listening, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, conflict resolution and motivation.

Include your key achievements in this section or add them to your list of duties when detailing your work experience. Listing achievements helps you stand out from other applicants by showcasing your unique experiences and successes. We will look at how you can focus on your achievements later.

One important thing to consider when adding your skills to your CV is that many organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which scan for keywords in candidates’ CVs. To help your CV pass through these filters, incorporate relevant keywords
from the job description and ensure you use a clean and simple format when listing your skills and achievements.

Other information

So far, we have covered the main sections to include in your CV, i.e. your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills and achievements. You can include additional sections if you have space on your CV and need to add further information to increase your chances of getting an interview invite. Here are some examples:

Certifications, registration and licences: Any relevant certifications or licences, such as a DBS check or specific psychology credentials, e.g. registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Professional development: Workshops, seminars, conferences, and training sessions attended.
Volunteer experience: Any volunteer work related to sports psychology or working with athletes. You can also mention any roles that involved volunteering in healthcare, mental health, community work or education. If you have limited paid experience, you may want to include any voluntary roles in your work experience section.
Professional memberships: Memberships in organisations like the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
Publications and research: Any research papers, articles, projects or studies you have authored or contributed to.
Presentations and conferences: Talks or presentations you have given at conferences or seminars relating to sports psychology.
Languages: Any additional languages you speak, especially if relevant to the role.
Interests and hobbies: Relevant interests or hobbies that genuinely reflect your passions and are relevant to the role of a sports psychologist, e.g. sports participation, coaching, wellness and fitness, outdoor activities, reading, research, etc.
Testimonials: if you have been self-employed, you could provide positive feedback or testimonials from clients that showcase your effectiveness and expertise.

Including these sections can provide a fuller picture of your background and qualifications, making your CV stand out to potential employers.

References

The final section of your CV will typically be the reference section. It is where you provide contact details of individuals who can vouch for your qualifications, skills, character and work ethic. These are usually former employers, supervisors, professors or other professional contacts who know you well in a work or academic setting.

The reference section is important, as it provides prospective employers with evidence of your academic and professional history and capabilities so they feel confident about your credibility. Recruitment can be costly, so they want to ensure they choose the best candidate for the role.

Before adding references to your CV, always ask your references for permission and ensure they are comfortable being contacted. It is also helpful to provide them with your CV and some context about the roles you are applying for so they can give relevant and supportive information.

Here is what you should include in the references section:

Heading: Label this section as “References” or “Professional References.”
Reference Details:
- Name: Full name of the reference.
- Title: Their job title or position.
- Company/Organisation: Where they work or worked.
- Contact Information: Email address and/or phone number.
- Relationship: Briefly describe how they know you (e.g., former manager, professor, colleague, etc.).

If the job posting does not specifically request reference details at the application stage, you can add the following to your references section: “References available upon request”. If you do add them to your CV, here is an example to help:

References

Dr. Jane Smith, Senior Lecturer, Psychology Department, University of Birmingham. Email: [email protected]. Phone: +44 1234 567890. Relationship: Academic supervisor.
Mr. John Jones. Head Coach, Lions Football Club. Email: [email protected]. Phone: +44 9876 543210. Relationship: Volunteer coaching supervisor.

Tips for writing a Sports Psychologist CV

When writing a CV for a sports psychologist position, you want to ensure that it is well-crafted and engaging. Apart from the sections we have looked at previously, here are some general tips that can help your CV really shine and grab the attention of hiring managers and recruiters:

Tailor your CV for each sports psychologist job – carefully read the job posting and highlight the organisation’s key requirements. Customise your CV for each job application by highlighting your relevant qualifications, experiences and skills that match the job description. You can also include some of the same language they use to demonstrate that you have paid attention to their requirements.
Keep it clear and concise – if your CV is poorly laid out, overly detailed and too large, it will make it difficult for hiring managers and recruiters to read, meaning it may end up at the bottom of the pile. They will usually have to review many applicants’ CVs, so it is important to make it clear, concise and relevant. Ideally, a CV should be no longer than two pages.
Be truthful – while you want to get that interview, exaggerating or adding inaccurate information is not the way to go. If you do get an interview invite, interviewers are likely to catch you out, which can be embarrassing at the least and, at worse, affect your reputation. Always be honest about your qualifications, experience, achievements and skills, even if you do not meet the job criteria.
Use action verbs – start each bullet point with strong action verbs like “managed,” “developed,” “implemented,” or “achieved” to make your accomplishments stand out. Avoid phrases such as “hardworking” or “team player”, as these are overused and lack specificity.
Use professional and consistent formatting – you can help your CV stand out by:
- Using a clean, professional layout with clear sections, headings and bullet points.
- Using professional, simple and clear language, avoiding slang or overly casual expressions.
- Using the same tense throughout your CV. Typically, past tense is used for previous jobs, and present tense is used for your current role.
- Avoiding excessive use of colours and fonts.
- Sticking to a simple font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman and consistent size, e.g. 10-12 points. Avoid fancy fonts and unprofessional-looking ones.
- Ensuring your CV has adequate spacing to make it more visually appealing.
- Avoiding using photos, as it can distract and lead to bias.
- Using a digital format where possible. Save and send your CV as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays intact when viewed on different devices.
Check your CV for errors – a CV full of spelling and grammatical mistakes can look unprofessional and demonstrate to prospective employers that little thought has gone into it. After writing your CV, always proofread before sending it and use a spelling/grammar checker where possible. You could also ask a family member, friend or mentor to review your CV and give feedback.

Remember, your CV is a market tool to get prospective employers to buy into you. Writing an exceptional CV will make you stand out from the candidates and help you get that all-important interview invite.

Focus on achievements

Achievements are notable accomplishments or successes demonstrating your skills, efforts and impact in various contexts, such as work, education or personal projects. They highlight your ability to meet goals and contribute positively. Focusing on achievements in your sports psychologist CV can significantly enhance your application by showcasing your value and effectiveness.

You can have a dedicated “Achievements” or “Key Accomplishments” section in your CV or add them to your work experience or skills section. If you have many impressive achievements, you may want to keep them separate to make them easier for hiring managers and recruiters to find.

Here is some guidance to help you highlight your achievements on your CV:

Tailor your achievements – only add achievements that align with the job description and those most relevant to the sports psychologist role you are applying for. It demonstrates to potential employers that you are the best candidate for the job.
List your achievements – identify your accomplishments in previous roles, academic settings or volunteer work. Focus on achievements demonstrating your skills, expertise and abilities. Place the most impressive and relevant achievements at the top of each section to ensure recruiters see them first and make a strong initial impression.
Use quantifiable metrics – where possible, quantify your achievements to provide concrete evidence of your success. You can use numbers, percentages or other metrics. For instance, mention the number of athletes you have worked with, the percentage improvements in performance or the outcomes of your interventions.
Use action-orientated language – start each bullet point with a strong action verb to clearly describe your accomplishments and stand out. For example, use words like “implemented,” “improved,” “led,” “managed,” “increased,” “reduced,” “developed,” etc.
Focus on the impact – highlight any positive outcomes and impact of your work. Describe how your contributions have benefited athletes, teams or organisations, e.g. improved performance, enhanced well-being or successful behaviour change.

Here are some examples of achievements for a sports psychologist CV:

Developed a mental training program that resulted in a 15% increase in performance scores for athletes in a youth football academy.
Conducted workshops on stress management and resilience, attended by over 100 athletes, leading to a 20% reduction in reported anxiety levels.
Authored a research paper on the impact of mindfulness on athletic performance published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Focusing on your achievements this way makes your CV more credible and compelling. It demonstrates to prospective employers that you have a proven track record in sports psychology, whether academically, professionally or personally, and highlights your strengths. It also helps you stand out from other candidates with similar credentials and increases your chances of getting an interview.

Describe your experience

Your experiences, whether academic, professional or personal, are what make you who you are, and they influence your knowledge, skills, achievements and competencies. Prospective employers will review your CV to see whether you have the necessary experience for the role requirements and are a good fit for the organisation.

When you include your experiences on your CV, you should cover your work experience/employment history, internships, volunteer positions and other professional or relevant roles and incorporate this information throughout. You will then need to describe these experiences in further detail, and here are some examples of where you might do this:

Professional summary – this is the first opportunity to describe your experience. You want to focus on your most relevant and impressive aspects and highlight your key skills, experiences and achievements.
Work experience/employment history – this section is where you will concentrate on your most relevant and significant experiences. When describing your current/previous roles, use concise bullet points and highlight key responsibilities with action verbs.
Achievements – you should detail what you accomplished in each role and how these experiences relate to sports psychology. It will show employers how you use your know-how to achieve actual results.

Remember to tailor your CV and only describe the experiences relevant to the sports psychologist position. If you are applying for your first job and have limited direct experience, you can still create an eye-catching CV. Focus on transferable skills, academic achievements, internships, placements or relevant extracurricular activities. Here are some examples of how you can describe your experience in this situation:

Transferable skills – if you have had other jobs, even part-time while studying, use examples of skills you acquired that are useful in sports psychology, such as communication, leadership, empathy, problem-solving, customer service or analytical skills.
Academic projects – highlight any related research, projects or coursework you undertook while studying, e.g. “Designed and presented a research project on the impact of mindfulness techniques on athlete performance”.
Internships or placements – mention any practical experience during your studies, such as shadowing a sports psychologist or working with athletes, e.g. “Completed a six-week placement with the university’s football team, conducting mental skills training and performance evaluations”.
Volunteering or extracurricular activities – include any voluntary roles or experiences where you supported athletes, teams or performance environments. You can use examples from your education or personal life.
Professional development and certifications – mention any workshops, seminars, courses or additional training related to sports and psychology, and describe your experiences, what you learned and any skills developed.
Demonstrate passion – write a professional summary emphasising your relevant education, transferable skills and commitment to the field. For example, “Motivated sports psychology graduate with a solid understanding of mental resilience and performance techniques. Gained practical experience through university placements, working with athletes to improve focus and confidence. Skilled in delivering evidence-based interventions and fostering teamwork. Passionate about optimising individual and team performance. Ready to contribute innovative solutions to a dynamic sports environment”.

Tailor your CV to the Sports Psychologist position

We have mentioned tailoring a CV quite a few times already, but it is because it is crucial to give you the best possible chances of a successful application. When we say “tailor your CV”, we mean that you should customise it for the job. Instead of a generic document, you adjust the content to highlight your most relevant skills, experiences and achievements that match the job description.

Tailoring a CV can demonstrate attention to detail and a passion for the sports psychologist role. It also shows that you have taken the time to understand the organisation’s needs and values, which creates a good impression and makes your application stand out from your competitors. Here are some pointers to help you tailor your CV to each position:

Carefully read the job description – it seems obvious, but analysing the job description is important, as it will help you identify the key skills (hard and soft), qualifications, and experience the organisation is looking for and align your academic and professional achievements with their requirements. Also, look at the responsibilities detailed in the posting and match your information accordingly.
Research the organisation – look at the organisation’s website and social media pages to identify its goals, ethos, values, mission statement, etc. Use this information in your CV, i.e. use the same language and emphasise how you would be a good fit.
Customise sections of your CV – there are several ways to do this, e.g.:
- Modify your professional summary to reflect your suitability for the role and passion for sports psychology. Address how your background, skills and values align with the organisation and highlight why you are an ideal candidate for the role. You can also mention the role in your summary.
- Customise the bullet points in your work experience section and focus on relevant roles and responsibilities from your previous jobs or where you have gained transferable skills. Use the same language as the job description when possible.
- Avoid listing generic responsibilities. Instead, focus on measurable outcomes and achievements relevant to the role. For example, if the posting details supporting athletes be more specific, i.e. instead of saying “Provided support to athletes,” write “Developed mental training plans, increasing athletes’ confidence and consistency by 20%”.
- Match your skills section to the keywords in the job description and focus on those most relevant to the position and ones you possess, e.g. if the job requires counselling skills, highlight your proficiency in that area.
- If the job description mentions specific certifications, training or professional memberships, include these in your CV where relevant.
Use keywords – as previously mentioned, some organisations use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for specific terms in applicant’s CVs. You can use this to your advantage when tailoring your CV by including exact phrases from the job description. For instance, if the job posting mentions “team performance optimisation,” include it naturally in your descriptions.
Do not forget to tailor your cover letter – your CV is not the only document to tailor. If you are required to send a cover letter with your application, ensure you also customise it. Address it to the specific hiring manager or recruiter and reference the company and role. Highlight relevant skills, achievements and experiences that match the job description. Use examples from your CV to support your claims and detail what makes you a perfect fit for the sports psychologist position.

By tailoring your CV, you demonstrate that you are enthusiastic about the sports psychologist position you are applying for and you are the best candidate for the job. It increases your chances of receiving interview invites and getting your desired role.

Good luck!

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