Personal Training as a job in Asia

This is just for my personal research, but does anyone have any first hand experience working as a Personal Trainer in Asia?

I'm not certified (though what I don't have on paper, I make up for in years of experience).

My question is, is it possible for an expat to secure employment as a Personal Trainer in an Asian gym, just by experience and looks alone?

I'd be interested in doing this as a side thing while travelling.

I live in Hong Kong and have also lived in Singapore. Just going by gyms I have belonged to and used in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bejiing and Shanghai, there are already a LOT of trainers here already. Most are locals and don't require to be sponsored for a work permit. Many have paper qualifications as well and speak English as well as the local languages. Sorry to say, but you would have some pretty tough competition in getting a job in these cities. I am not sure any gym would hire you on a temp basis (they can't sponsor you for a work permit and can't legally hire you without a work permit).

You might be able to get a job as a trainer at a hotel or resort, you might try contacting the major chains like Marriott, Starwood, Four Seasons, etc. You may do better by actually waiting until you here and are at a paricular resort, as hiring decisision at that level are usually made by the hotel itself.

There is a chains of health clubs in Asia called California Fitness where you might start, go to www.calfitness.com.hk (has a Hong Kong address as the clubs head offices are there)

Also try Clark Hatch: http://www.clarkhatchthailand.com. They have about 10 clubs in various locations in Asia.

Also, check with any health club in the US where you currently work to see if they have an associate relationship with a chain in Asia, that might be a place to start.

Finally, you might try the various YMCAs in each city, take a look at http://www.asiapacificymca.org/aboutus/ymca_link.html for a listing.

Sandy, in order to work in Asia, you need to have a work permit before you arrive. The idea that you could find a job "as a side thing" while you are traveling is not realistic.

Well speaking strictly for Singapore and Hong Kong where I have experience at this, you do NOT need a work permit before you arrive. I have never had one, even though I already had a job and in fact was working for a few weeks while my permit was being processed. I just this for the third time in 15 year this past July when I arrived on a tourist visa and applied for my work permit which was granted in late August, but I was working since mid-July.

Immigration will give you a bit of a slide here if you are in fact working briefly on a tourist visa while your work permit is being processed; what they won't permit is long term working on a tourist visa. That isn't really possible anyway as your tourist visa is only good for 90 days, and they do start to catch on if you go in and out every 90 days.

I think sandy456 will have trouble finding work, but if she finds an employer will to sponsor her in Hong Kong or S'pore, she won't have a problem converting a tourist visa to a work visa. That is done all the time. I cannot speak to other countries, but I believe the same is true for most of SE Asia.

I've met farang trainers at a few resorts in Thailand, so there are job opportunities in this field. I have no idea how one goes about getting into this type of work but if you found a few farang trainers and talked with them you'll get some leads. Another option is to search the internet for resort & gyms and blitz them with your CV. If you are accepted for a position the company will process your work permit then. A Thai WP is issued for a specific job, so it cann't be issued beforehand.

sandy456:
I was just talking to Clark Hatch, who is a client of mine, and he was lamenting the fact that they were having problems finding qualified workers at his facilities. You should post an application online at his website asap.
Aloha!