Becoming a tutor is one of the most popular part-time jobs, particularly among university students. Have you ever wondered how to become a tutor in Australia? With more and more parents considering hiring a private tutor, demand for tutors is growing.
Tutoring has many benefits such as flexible hours, the ability to grow your leadership skills, and earning some extra income. It’s easy to see why this is a popular job. If you are interested in becoming a primary or high school tutor or tutoring for university students, keep reading!
Why should I become a tutor?
Tutoring jobs are a rewarding experience because you know you are making a real difference. You’ll work with students from various backgrounds and help them reach their fullest academic potential.
You’ll also be able to choose the areas you tutor in and put your skills and expertise to good use. If you are looking to earn extra money, becoming a tutor may also be a good option.
Tutoring is also a great part-time option if you are still studying at university. You can set your hours to work around your university schedule. Tutoring also looks good on your resume and can help to increase your employability for future jobs.
What skills do I need to become a tutor?
Depending on the area you want to teach in, you’ll need strong skills in that area. Suppose you’re going to be an English tutor. In that case, you need to demonstrate your skills in this area. If you want to be a Maths tutor, you’ll need a good understanding of mathematical concepts and how to apply them.
To become a tutor, you’ll also need to have excellent oral communication skills. You’ll need to know how to answer students’ questions and explain complex concepts to them. You should also communicate effectively with parents about their child’s progress.
Sometimes, students will want to know how they can succeed in exams and need help with exam techniques. It will be important to teach your students to revise and how to manage their time during an exam.
As a tutor, you should be able to move beyond the curriculum and teach broader skills. You should encourage students to develop their critical thinking rather than just route learning content.
Providing a broader view of the subject outside of just the curriculum is helpful. It helps to motivate students to learn and gain a deeper understanding of the subject.
What qualifications do I need to be a tutor?
Generally, qualifications aren’t compulsory for most areas of tutoring. Parents will often look for tutors who have qualifications in the area in which their child needs assistance.
If you’re a recent Year 12 graduate, you’ll also have more experience with specific curriculum content and exam preparation techniques. Some areas of tutoring don’t require academic knowledge at all! Such subjects include drawing, yoga, and singing.
Personal qualities of a good tutor
Although experience and skill are key qualities that a tutor should have, the most important are personal qualities. Ideally, a tutor should have a variety of these qualities:
- Perseverance. Sometimes, it can take some time for a student to grasp a concept. Rather than giving up or getting frustrated, it’s important to maintain an attitude of perseverance.
- Patience. Patience is one of the key attributes that a tutor should have. Students learn in various ways and at different speeds. A tutor must be ready and willing to help the student find strategies that work for them. A good tutor should remain calm and collected at all times and not become frustrated if a student is struggling. Instead, they should try to explain it in a different way and allow them to ask questions for clarification.
- Empathy. Being able to understand and relate to how a student is feeling is an important skill. It may help to think back to when you were in school and the difficulties you faced in your studies.
- Creativity in lesson design. When you think back to some of the best lessons you had in school, they were taught creatively. Think of different ways to format lessons to make them more interesting and keep students engaged in the content.
- Enthusiasm and skill in your chosen subject. It’s important to mirror positive behaviours and help students maintain an interest in teaching them. A tutor that has a positive attitude will have a better chance of helping their student achieve their goals.
Working with Children Check
In many states, you will need to obtain a Working with Children Check if you plan to work with children. A Working with Children Check allows you to receive clearance to work with children for five years. It is easy to apply online and then go to a NSW motor registry to finalise your application.
How much should I charge for tutoring?
As a private tutor, you can set your rate. Generally speaking, private tutors charge between $30 and $50 a session. If you need to travel significant distances to get to your students, you can also add travel expenses to your rates.
How to advertise tutoring
Finding new students can be difficult if you’re just starting as a tutor. The good news is that you may start getting referrals from your existing students once you have taught a few students.
Until then, it’s a good idea to advertise your service online to help you reach more students who may be interested. You can list your services on Gumtree, Tutors Field – Tutoring Job Listings, or even Facebook.
How can I increase my chances of getting picked?
It’s important to know that you’ll be competing with other tutors for jobs, so you should have some handy tricks up your sleeve to increase your chances of getting picked. Showcasing your academic achievements is a good way to set yourself apart. By sharing your ATAR (or GPA/equivalent), you can show that you’re dedicated to your studies and are a high achiever. If you can offer study notes or other study materials for free, you will also gain points in your favour. If you’re able to be flexible and travel to your students, it will also help set you apart.
Collect student's reviews and testimonials
When finding a tutor, parents will do their research and are likely to search for online reviews to help make their decision. Tutors with a high rating and positive feedback from their students will always have a better chance of being picked. By collecting feedback and testimonials from your students, you can show that you have a good history of helping students reach their goals.
Online tutoring
Did you know that you can also tutor online? Online tutoring is a great job to have in a part-time capacity, particularly if you have other commitments such as studies or other work.
You can even work from home and not have to worry about travelling to your students. Online tutoring can also be a great entry point into starting a tutoring business. However, there are a couple of tips you should take into consideration before you start tutoring from home.
Choosing a technology that works for you
The first place to start is choosing a technology that works for you and will help you convey your message. There are many options to choose from, such as Google Hangout, Skype, or Zoom.
Before you get started with online tutoring, you should play around with these technologies to make sure to choose one that works best for you.
One of the key tools you should look for is an interactive whiteboard. An interactive whiteboard allows you to sketch out ideas, brainstorm, and annotate.
Online tutoring doesn’t have to be boring! To help keep your students engaged, you can also use various teaching tools such as playing videos or building multi-media quizzes.
Practice your lesson
Practice makes progress! If you’re nervous before your first lesson or just want to make sure you have a game plan, it’s a good idea to practice your tutoring lesson with family or friends.
This will help you to be calmer during the actual lesson and get feedback to improve your lesson. If you want to make sure you’re best prepared, you can offer students a free consultation lesson as a trial.
By following the tips that we have described above, you’ll have a great head start at becoming a tutor and start making a positive difference to your students.
