7 essential skills when pursuing a tutoring job
Whether you want to pursue a tutoring position or an education job, you need to show that you have the skills that employers are looking for. As we explain here, an excellent way to do that is to explain your qualifications in detail. We define qualifications, give examples, and discuss their role in the workplace and your job search.
1. Patience
Teaching kids can be frustrating, especially if you're trying to educate them in subjects that don't interest them. Tutoring students with learning disabilities is particularly challenging because it often requires creativity to work around the problems created by their disabilities. Don't give in to the frustration. Remember that those kids need you and that the issues directly result from the learning challenges they face.
2. Ability to Multitask
Tutors need to be able to keep up with the needs of a variety of students simultaneously. If you're tutoring in a classroom, you may have eight students to keep track of. If you're tutoring one-on-one, you need to be able to keep track of your student's individual needs while still providing a learning experience that's both enjoyable and challenging.
3. Empathy
You need to understand the problems facing your clients. This often means that you should have been through something similar yourself, like struggling in maths because your parents couldn't help you much or being a reading or writing-intensive student yourself.
You also have to be able to relate on a human level. You have to be able to relate to students' concerns about their grades, for example, and help them see that the problems they're having can be solved.
4. Creativity
You may have to develop your own solutions to students' learning problems. You may have to find creative ways to explain new concepts or adapt to challenging tasks. You need to quickly recognise when students will respond best to traditional teaching methods or something outside the box. The more creative you are, the better your students will do.
5. Active Listening
One of the best ways to be a good listener is actually to focus on what the speaker is saying. You can't do that unless you practise active listening techniques. Listening techniques include eye contact, occasional nods of the head, and verbal acknowledgement of what the speaker is saying.
6. Problem-Solving Skills
Teaching involves more than just reading the textbook. You have to be able to identify students' specific needs and set up plans to address them. You have to be able to address the problems that come up during the learning process. You have to be able to adapt your lesson on the fly.
7. Time Management Skills
Teachers and tutors are in charge of their student's education. When you take on the responsibility of a student's learning process, you're also taking on maintaining a strict schedule for that student. It's not enough to simply complete lessons. You have to meet that student's needs and ensure that they receive the education they deserve.
Conclusion
Online teaching and tutoring jobs can provide a flexible schedule and competitive pay. They can also help you break into education if you don't have a degree. Whether you decide to pursue tutoring or education jobs, you need to be able to demonstrate your understanding of the subjects you plan to teach and your relevant skills. A good way to do that is to explain your qualifications in detail.
Tutor2You is the platform for tutoring jobs in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Adelaide. We help university students struggling to balance their work and study commitments, through flexible and rewarding employment opportunities, tutoring students in their local area, especially with Maths and English subjects. Do you have a passion for helping students reach their potential? Then this is the job for you! Contact us today if you want to become a tutor in Adelaide!
