Resumes: Sins of Omission & Commission
In strength and conditioning, your reputation travels fast. Say too much, leave out too much, or imply too much, and eventually someone will check.
By Ashley Jones
Quick note: In a small profession, honesty is not optional. Small exaggerations and carefully omitted details have a way of catching up with people.
Why Resumes Start Blending
A few years ago, I was tasked with recruiting two interns. These were unpaid roles on a tropical island working with a national sporting team. Flights were not covered, but accommodation was provided within the High Performance unit. In other words, a foot in the door.
We received over 100 applications.
What stood out was not excellence. It was sameness. Every resume looked almost identical. Same structure, same buzzwords, same claims. It quickly became clear: if everyone looks the same on paper, selection becomes arbitrary. The only way to separate yourself is with a genuine point of difference.
If everyone looks the same on paper, selection becomes arbitrary. The only way to separate yourself is with a genuine point of difference.
Strength and conditioning is a small world. The idea of six degrees of separation is closer to three. Your reputation will travel faster than you think. Integrity matters. If you misrepresent yourself, either by outright lying or by misleading through omission, you will get found out.
Commission
Years ago, while working in New Zealand, I received a call from another Head of S&C about an applicant. This individual claimed to have been an assistant coach under me at a previous role in Australia.
I did not remember them.
Then it clicked. They had spent a single day observing during the off-season. That was the extent of it. I never had an assistant in that role, and I never saw them again.
They did not get the job.
Takeaway: Inflation is easy to write and hard to defend. In a profession this small, a claim only has to reach one person who knows better.
Omission
On another occasion, I reviewed a resume listing a well-known organization, but no job title.
Details matter. In sport, you do not get credit for almost scoring. You either cross the line, or you do not.
Leaving out the role implied involvement with the senior team. In reality, the individual worked as an assistant at the academy level. There is no issue with that. Everyone starts somewhere. But misrepresenting it, even indirectly, raises questions about credibility.
Be honest about where you are. Getting a foot on the ladder is something to be proud of. Many never get that far.
A Small World
Over the years, I have seen countless examples like these. It will not stop. If anything, it will increase as more candidates compete for fewer roles.
As a side note, rugby has given many S&C coaches the opportunity to meet briefly with heads of state. These individuals have likely spoken with global religious leaders—people who, in theory, have a direct line to a higher authority.
So be careful what you put on your resume. Those six degrees of separation may be reduced to two or three in the world of strength and conditioning.
What I Look for in a Resume
These are not ranked, but they reflect what I consider when shortlisting candidates.
1. Relevant Certifications
NSCA, ASCA, or UKSCA accreditation, with active membership.
2. Coaching Qualifications
Recognized weightlifting federation certifications. Exposure to systems such as Westside Barbell methods is a plus.
3. Training & Competition Experience
A solid training background. You do not need to be elite, but you do need time under the bar.
4. Ongoing Education
Evidence of consistent learning:
- Websites: elitefts, Westside Barbell, NSCA
- Books: Supertraining, Science and Practice of Strength Training, Encyclopaedia of Weightlifting
- Authors: Simmons, Tate, Thibaudeau, Starr, Kubik
- Journals: MILO, Strength and Conditioning Journal
- Conferences attended in the past 12 months
5. Program Design & Application
Show your work. Provide examples of programs and demonstrate the ability to coach in a live setting.
6. Coaching Experience & References
Who have you coached? Expect your references to be contacted and asked whether they would work with you again.
7. Formal Education
Relevant degrees show commitment and the ability to complete long-term goals. That said, great coaches exist without them.
8. Coaching Philosophy
What do you stand for? If you cannot define it, you do not have one.
If you are hiring, do your due diligence. Verify backgrounds. Speak directly to references. Do not rely on what is written. Dig deeper. Informal conversations often reveal more than formal ones. Watch for those red flags.
I once brought on an intern who had never heard of Louie Simmons or Dave Tate. That is on me. I should have asked better questions earlier.
The lesson is simple: details matter, honesty matters, and reputation is everything.
Ashley Jones is a strength & conditioning coach with 30+ years in professional sport across seven countries, best known for his work in rugby from club to international levels—including two Rugby World Cups with teams from both hemispheres. He was named NSCA Professional Coach of the Year (2016) and received the NSCA Boyd Epley Lifetime Achievement Award (2023). He’s also a long-time Elitefts columnist.
