What does a tutor do?

Tutors teach different subjects to students depending on their education level. They may work in short bursts or at a regular, more extended cadence. They may work for schools, in specific grades, or for smaller groups or individuals. But tutoring is not just about particular subjects; it is also about developing a love for learning. If you are an enthusiastic person, are kind, empathetic, and know how to teach people to be the best versions of themselves both in the classroom and off, you are likely to be a great tutor. Tutors who tend to have the best results with their students also tend to know the subject they are teaching. But a person who is smart and has knowledge in one subject could indeed teach a different one if they work at it. A tutor must also always provide positive feedback to students to encourage them.

How do I become a tutor?

Tutors should preferably have at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one specific subject that may or may not be in education. If you have a specialized degree from a recognized college or university and add a tutor or teaching certificate, that can also help you get a job as a tutor.

Can anyone become a tutor without prior experience

Yes, but you have to prove your teaching ability. If you have a teaching certificate or teaching experience, you are more likely to get that first tutor job.

Top Tutor Resume Examples & Writing Tips

Are you interested in sharing your knowledge of specific subjects through tutoring? That’s a good idea! All kinds of people, especially kids, need to improve their understanding of different topics or issues. Plus, it pays to do it. If you want to work as a tutor, you must have an eye-catching, informative resume that can attract potential employers. We’ll show you how to do our guide below. But, first, let’s take a look at the three different resume formats.

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Job Duties of a Tutor

Tutoring is an important job! You are responsible for teaching students, mostly kids, how to learn subjects that will help them live useful, happy lives. So what are the most important duties of a tutor? Check them out below:

Be punctual and dedicated. This is especially important with child tutoring. You want to be an excellent example for the kids, and if you don’t have your act together, neither will they.
Deliver lessons based on each student’s learning capability.
Be up-to-date with any new teaching methods.
Monitor and report on student behavior.
Provide outcome-based education. It helps the student become accomplished, so use it in a resume as an example of your work quality.
Maintain proper timetables and assessment sheets.
Prepare detailed lesson plans every day.
Connect with parents through any means necessary, including email or streaming video.
Explain and encourage students to attend conferences, seminars, and any other skill- and education-based competitions.
Provide educational content like notes and assignments from time to time.
Monitor students’ performance through assessment records.

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Tutor Median Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tutors go into three categories, depending on their years of experience: Elementary school, middle school and high school tutors. The annual median wage for elementary and secondary tutors is $50,380.

Educational Requirements for Tutor Jobs

There are certain degrees and certification programs available for tutor jobs. Check them out:

A degree

To work with students at the high school or middle school level as a tutor, especially in a specific subject, a tutor should aim to have a bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a recognized college or university on a general or specialized subject. A high school degree is also acceptable depending on the client.

A tutor is also sometimes required to have a bachelor’s degree in education. Some states require a master's degree with a teaching certification to get a public school job, including Connecticut, Maryland and New York. Teachers in private schools usually do not need such requirements and they tend to determine their own salary rates.

There are some tutors that have a secondary degree in Montessori training but since it’s a specialized teaching method that is usually developed through training centers, it’s not a common requirement.
Certification

There are many teaching certification programs run by colleges and universities that tutors can use to boost their job prospects. And qualifying for certification varies by state. Some tutor candidates need a state-certified teaching license for teaching in public schools, for example. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) also offers a respected certification program for tutors in many subject areas, including art, science, world languages, English as a new language, mathematics and music.

If you don’t expect to work inside schools as a tutor at all, there are other certifying bodies for tutors that are outside of national or state-level board certification: The College Reading and Learning Association, the National Tutoring Association, and the American Tutoring Association. Each of these offers varied requirements, tests, and certifications at different price levels.

Tutor Resume-Writing Tips

Nowadays, recruiters receive hundreds of resumes from different applicants for each job. Yes, this is even the case with tutor jobs. So people with the most impressive, well-written resumes and the best experience and credentials usually get the job interviews. While there are several different resume formats to make your tutor resume look beautiful, our Resume Now experts recommend you focus on a few essential tips.

Create an impactful and short summary statement: Using action verbs on your career objective while providing concise, correct information is the best way to catch the eye of someone hiring for a tutor. After all, the summary or objective statement is often the first thing people read about you. So make sure you describe your achievements, education and goals quickly and directly.
Insert academic credentials sequentially: You must present your educational background most effectively. It should be placed in the proper order, keeping the most recent certificate on top. For example, if your last degree is a bachelor’s in education, you should place it in your resume’s education section.
Spotlight your experience: The most experienced people tend to get tutor jobs. Make sure you clearly describe the number of years you have worked as a tutor or as a specific-subject teacher.
Highlight additional relevant activities or experiences: Part of the job in tutoring is connecting with the student. If you have an experience that is not necessarily relevant to the actual job but may help you make a connection, is impressive, or even gives you extra brownie points, you should definitely add it to your resume. For example, you may be teaching a science course to a young student. Still, your experience as a former singer will likely pique their curiosity and help them become more interested in the subject if you make that knowledge a part of the teaching experience.
Showcase your online teaching experience: This shows your technical knowledge, which is all the rage nowadays. A tutor should include any computer-related skills, including hardware and software expertise, as part of the resume.

FAQ

What does a tutor do?

Tutors teach different subjects to students depending on their education level. They may work in short bursts or at a regular, more extended cadence. They may work for schools, in specific grades, or for smaller groups or individuals. But tutoring is not just about particular subjects; it is also about developing a love for learning. If you are an enthusiastic person, are kind, empathetic, and know how to teach people to be the best versions of themselves both in the classroom and off, you are likely to be a great tutor.

Tutors who tend to have the best results with their students also tend to know the subject they are teaching. But a person who is smart and has knowledge in one subject could indeed teach a different one if they work at it. A tutor must also always provide positive feedback to students to encourage them.
How do I become a tutor?

Tutors should preferably have at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one specific subject that may or may not be in education. If you have a specialized degree from a recognized college or university and add a tutor or teaching certificate, that can also help you get a job as a tutor.
Can anyone become a tutor without prior experience

Yes, but you have to prove your teaching ability. If you have a teaching certificate or teaching experience, you are more likely to get that first tutor job.