A Guide For Tutors: Five Key Things To Consider When Choosing A Family To Work With
Here at Beacon, we specialise in matching private tutors with homeschooling opportunities for families all over the world. We have previously written a great deal about what parents should look for when choosing a private tutor, however it’s also of vital importance that the tutor considers the relationship too, and what they should be looking for in order to ensure that they are going to be happy and successful in their placement. With this in mind, we’ve put together a quick list of five key things to consider when choosing a family to work with. Read on to find out more…
The Child
The child or children you’re going to teach will play a major part in whether you consider applying for the tutoring position on offer. Their age, gender, interests and their academic ability may all come into question, depending on what you feel most comfortable with. Always read our job descriptions thoroughly before applying, as they provide detailed background information about the children you will be teaching should you be successful.
Location
One of the major factors to consider when weighing up your options is where the posting is. Is it in an area you wish to live in and be around? Consider the local area, its facilities and the transport links in and around it.
Also, would you be comfortable so far away from home? There’s a very good chance that you’re used to travelling and being away from where you call home, but you never know when you’ll get those pangs of homesickness.
Many of our placements also require the tutor to travel around the world with the family in order to ensure that the children’s education is not interrupted when the parents have to travel for work for long periods of time. Consider whether you would be happy to do this, or whether you prefer the stability of working in one specific place.
Benefits
Every job has its benefits, whether it’s healthcare or insurance cover, the ability to work remotely, staff socials or even discounts at certain stores through perk memberships. However, tutoring has its own benefits, from exceptional salaries through to the opportunity to see different parts of the world, and in some cases, having accommodation provided for you too. Not only that, but there’s the non-tangible benefits to consider, such as the satisfaction of delivering an exceptional education and helping to shape young minds. Naturally, there will be certain caveats in the benefits on offer, such as when you are able to take holiday, as it must be done with the agreement of the parents at a time which is convenient to them. Ultimately though, always consider what you’re looking for in terms of benefits and job satisfaction.
Your Experience
As with applying for any job role, you must consider how your experience matches up with the requirements of the role. The best way to demonstrate this is to make it clear on your CV/resume by tailoring it depending on the role which you’re applying for. If you have experience with a certain age range or you specialise in a particular discipline, then make it as obvious as you possibly can.
Additional Responsibilities
Many of our homeschooling positions also require the tutor to provide additional general care for the children. Consider whether you are prepared to undertake such duties, or whether you would prefer to stick to just the education aspect. If it is the latter, then our positions may not be for you.
Overall, as with any job, it’s vital that your prospective employer is a fit for you, just as much as you are a fit for them. As mentioned throughout the course of this article, there are a number of elements to consider when looking at a tutoring position, from the child and their abilities through to the job itself, salary and benefits.
If you would like to become a Beacon tutor and join our pool of expert tutors, then you can do so here.
