How to get started with tutoring?

[nat_1577]

I just graduated from high school last year, and I really want to start tutoring from next year (once I get can all my notes in order, and create a study plan). For people who tutor, how did you start advertising and getting students when you first started?

[brenden]

- Advertise on Gumtree
- Make annoying posts in VCE Discussion Space on Facebook (probably won't get you anywhere, I think it's probably all people who graduated already)
- Make a tutoring advertisement on ATAR Notes.

I think one of the best methods is to advertise your tutoring services via your ATAR Notes signature and then make really helpful posts in the relevant subject boards, which will demonstrate your skill/knowledge and attract prospective students. (Will also generate respect, which puts people higher on the ATAR Notes tutoring list).

Also go to your old school and put a sign up, and let your teachers know to forward students to you, and make a Facebook status so your friends know. Who knows, maybe they have a cousin that needs tutoring?

Basically, you need to get just ONE student. Then you can grow. You could offer them cheaper tutoring if they bring a friend. Then you've got two people who could  tell other people of your tutoring. So on and so forth, until your best source of students is word of mouth.

Also, don't beat around the bush too long. Just dive in. Don't procrastinate by making study plans. Your most useful skill is how effectively you communicate, which doesn't change over the short term. Your next best asset is passion, and only then preparation .

[literally lauren]

ATAR Notes was more than sufficient for me. Float your name around on the boards of subjects you're tutoring in, and gradually you'll get requests coming in throughout the year.

Also, if you have a relatively wide family/ family-friend connection base, use that to your advantage. I'm now at the stage where I'm convinced everyone knows someone who knows someone who's doing Year 11/12 (or younger year levels if you're prepared to tutor them as well - often less pay, but less strenuous too.)
If you find yourself struggling to pick up any students, perhaps print off some business cards and drop them off in your local area. I was considering doing this just at a few local shops and places I used to work at (conveniently located within walking distance of about 3 different schools ) but after a while I found there was enough demand elsewhere.

I'd also agree with Ned that there's not much point in study plans before you know your students. Obviously you're wanting to bring them up to the highest possible standard - most people have the 40+ benchmark as their rough goal - so your content will be geared towards that level, but there's a huge variety in skill level across the board. A few of my students last year were simply looking to pass English; something they thought impossible early on. Others, meanwhile, wanted to maximise their chances from a ~45 to the very high 40s/50 territory. So there were occasional concepts that I would teach everyone, albeit in different ways, but for the most part I had to adapt to various different skill levels and learning styles quite quickly.

You can (and probably should if I'm honest) plan ahead and have some possible activities or exercises set out in case you need them, but you don't want to get too dependent on these. Imo the most effective tutoring is done when you ask a student 'what don't you get about this unit/question/concept,' getting them to pinpoint their areas of weakness, and then you going through a bunch of explanations and strategies with them.

What subjects are you thinking of tutoring, if you don't mind me asking? And is there a reason you're set on waiting till next year?

[keltingmeith]

I think one of the best methods is to advertise your tutoring services via your ATAR Notes signature and then make really helpful posts in the relevant subject boards, which will demonstrate your skill/knowledge and attract prospective students. (Will also generate respect, which puts people higher on the ATAR Notes tutoring list).

Can confirm, about 40% of my students this year (and even one who's booked in early for next year) has come through this way, and another few who I've had to decline.

Are you currently studying at uni, though? Some universities offer a service to help connect tutors to students - Monash actually has their own little webpage that encourages people to place ads with them, and any tutors that are affliated with Monash can see these ads and respond (this is how I got another 40% of students. The final 20% was by word of mouth)

[keltingmeith]

I'm also surprised that no one has mentioned tutoring through a company yet.
Apply to one of the many companies out there with your VCE transcript and resume.

Companies get really fussy over your marks, though - some will ONLY take you if you've gotten at least one 50, and then only tend to let you teach in the subject you got the 50 for. Outside companies, quite a few people understand that getting a 50 =/= being a good teacher, and don't mind people who even got under 40 if they can demonstrate they know the content and can teach it well.

[literally lauren]

ATARnotes got the tutoring ball rolling for me.

I'm also surprised that no one has mentioned tutoring through a company yet.
Apply to one of the many companies out there with your VCE transcript and resume.

Maybe someone else can comment on their experiences, but I sent my resume and application emails to about 10 of these companies and never heard back from any of them, even after making inquiries.
I've also heard certain companies take a considerable cut of your pay (ie. clients are charged $60 and you only make ~$25) whereas if you organise things yourself it's more affordable for students and you have more control over how you run things.

I guess it's still a viable option if you find a nice, reliable company.


edit: yeah, the score thing that Euler mentioned is also a bit of a pain. With few exceptions, companies are run by people who have good business sense but don't really understand the tutoring game, and so a lot of people who aren't 99.95-calibre are turned away because they like being able to brag about their high averages etc.

You'll probably find you need to explain the '50 isn't everything' mentality to a few students/parents as well. Most commonly it'll be the parents who are hesitant to invest in someone who didn't achieve a perfect score, so the 'Yes, I made some mistakes, but I'm super-aware of them now so I can help your kid reach his/her potential' line is worth keeping up your sleeve in those cases