Do you have a passion for education and enjoy working with students? Here’s how you can become a tutor!
1. Determine your flexibility. For in-home tutoring services, one of the primary draws for families is having a tutor that will work around their schedule (as opposed to learning centers that are open during specific hours). As a result, you should start by determining if your schedule allows flexibility. For people with “on-call” schedules or unpredictable responsibilities, tutoring may not be the best fit. On the other hand, tutoring is often an ideal match for individuals who have generally consistent schedules (like college students). Families will often ask for tutoring during after-school hours or weekends, so it’s important to make sure you have availability during these peak times.
2. Determine your area of expertise. You’re going to want to consider your favorite academic subjects, as most of the students you will tutor are going to have needs in specific areas. Math and English are always the two most common subjects, but there is always a demand for tutors in other areas as well – science topics, elective classes, early childhood education, and more. It’s also important to think about whether or not you can tackle more challenging areas – AP courses, SAT/ACT test prep, and even college course material. If you are confident in your ability to teach students in any of these “speciality” areas, definitely note them on your resume as they are always in high demand!
3. Prepare your resume and personal statement. Before you start seeking out tutoring jobs, make sure you have a resume and a personal statement prepared in advance. Your personal statement should be brief while describing both your own personal ambitions, academic interests, and reasons for tutoring. If you are applying for a tutoring company, be sure to add academic-based accomplishments to your resume as well! This would include GPA, test scores, volunteer work, and education-related internships/jobs. All of these will improve your marketability as a tutor!
4. Apply for a tutoring job! The hardest part about starting out as a tutor? Finding students who need help! This is the main reason tutoring companies work to provide a valuable service: matching families who are actively pursuing tutoring with driven individuals currently looking to tutor. In addition, tutoring companies also support tutors with academic tools, online resources, and technology to make the process easier for everyone involved (from scheduling to keeping track of session reports). It’s also important to note that many parents seek out tutoring companies because they can be assured the tutor they will be working with is trustworthy and reliable. As a result, it’s fairly common for tutors to submit to a full criminal background check prior to employment. Applicants should factor in that these requirements may add time to the overall “startup” process.
Want to learn more about the skills and personal traits that make an excellent tutor? Check out our blog on the topic!