How to Write a Tutor Resume That'll Land You Gigs
Tutoring can be a great side gig, or a full-time career. As a tutor, you have the power to help people succeed academically and in life, whether they're a kid having trouble with algebra or an adult learning a second language. You also get to work in a teaching role in a more personalized, one-on-one environment than what a traditional classroom yields.
If you want to start tutoring, the first thing you'll need is a resume tailored to your tutoring qualifications and experience. Here's what to include on your resume, no matter where you're starting from.
What are the responsibilities of a tutor?
Tutors are teachers that provide more specialized instruction and support. If a child needs extra help in a particular subject, or needs more attention focused on them and their particular learning style in order to grasp a concept, a tutor can help them through. Tutors can be well-versed in a specific topic or grade level, or have several different areas of expertise.
They can serve several different functions, too. You could be an after-school tutor, working with one or more students on the material they're currently learning in class. Other tutors specialize in preparing students for a particular test or event, such as the ACT or SAT, which requires an in-depth understanding of the test-taking methods and tricks specific to a certain exam and how to manage time accordingly.
No matter what kind of tutor you are, though, your main responsibility is to help your students learn. Other responsibilities include:
- Knowing the curriculum, inside and out
- Helping students with homework
- Ensuring students understand concepts and material
- Developing lesson plans according to the material
- Communicating with parents and sometimes teachers about students' progress
- Managing students' time effectively
- Understanding a student's learning style
- Keeping students on track
What skills do you need to be a tutor?
Tutoring, like teaching, isn't for everyone. It takes a particular kind of person with a specific skillset to teach, and the job varies a lot according to the student. The same goes for tutors. While different skills are more helpful according to what grade level you might be teaching — or if you're teaching adults — there are some core skills that make a good tutor:
- Patience
- Adaptability
- A working knowledge of many different learning styles
- High-level knowledge in the subject you're teaching
- Ability to break down concepts in ways that are easy to understand
- Ability to discipline if needed
- Knowledge of different teaching tools and methods
- Efficiency
- Interpersonal skills
- Positive attitude
- Punctuality
What to include on a tutor resume.
When it comes to drafting your tutor resume, it's important to know who you're trying to get a job with. Are you marketing yourself directly to parents who need a tutor for their child, or are you applying to join a tutoring association that can find jobs for you? When you're looking to become a tutor, you should consider the different methods and pathways to get to the job, and the credentials needed for each.
Regardless of where you're trying to get a job, your resume should start by listing your education. The base-level education requirement for tutors across the board is a high school diploma. Everything else is optional but will definitely enhance your resume. College-level education definitely makes you more competitive. If you didn't major in the subject you're trying to tutor in, list any relevant courses you took or extracurricular involvement related to the subject. If you're working at a higher level or in a common subject area, a tutor certification is another thing that can set you apart and boost your chances of landing a job, especially when applying to tutoring associations, which sometimes require certification. If you're working in a school system, your state's board of education may require you to be licensed, so be sure to look up their requirements. For private tutors, there is no such requirement.
In addition to your education, list any relevant experience you may have as a teacher, tutor or instructor of any kind. Also, list work experience that relates to the subject or grade level you're trying to teach.
If it suits you, include a summary statement or objective at the top of your resume that gives an insight into who you are and why you're a great tutor.
Lastly, list your skills. If you have any special skills in certain programs or areas of study that can work to your advantage, don't leave them out. Consider adding relevant soft skills, too — those more intangible qualities that you have that make you a good tutor, like efficiency, adaptability, interpersonal skills etc.
Example resume
Samantha Wiles
1111 Road St
Syracuse, NY 13201
A compassionate tutor and resident math-enthusiast with a love for algebra, calculus and everything in between, seeking a position working with middle and high school students to help them reach their full potential.
EDUCATION
Syracuse University, B.A. in Mathematics
National Tutoring Association, Advanced Certification
EXPERIENCE
Syracuse Learning Center
Volunteer After-School Tutor
Oct 2018 - May 2019
- Worked with groups of students grades 7-10 on math and science subjects, reviewing material learned in class.
- Focused on students' learning styles, helping them to improve by a whole letter grade by the end of the semester.
MacVay Middle School
Teaching Intern
August - December 2017
- Shadowed a seventh-grade teacher throughout the semester, helping to draft lesson plans, grade tests and homework and teach when necessary.
- Met with individual students during classroom time to work on time management skills, prepare for homework and make sure they understood concepts taught in class.
- Studied the semester's curriculum and composed lesson plans accordingly.
Pine Grove Swim Club
Swim Instructor
June - September 2017
- Worked with students ages 3-9 at beginning and intermediate levels of swimming, acclimating them to the water and teaching different strokes and skills to know in the pool.
- Used Red Cross Water Safety techniques and lesson plans to work with students at their level and craft lessons to each individual.
SKILLS
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- An in-depth understanding of different learning styles and how to prioritize them
- Breaking down concepts in ways that are easy to understand
- Patience and interpersonal skills
The above resume gives you an idea of how you can use all of your experience as an instructor or in a school setting to your advantage on your tutor resume. If you have specific experience that pertains to exactly what you want to do, that's great. If you don't, use the experience and skills you do have in ways that can help you. If you are less experienced, consider seeking volunteer positions you can take up while you work on your tutor resume or certification. No matter where you're starting from, a great resume can help you get the tutoring position you're dreaming of.