This is a guest blog written by Max Hedley, a Maths and Economics tutor on the platform, for MyTutor Careers Month.
For many of us, working for MyTutor is proudly displayed on our CV. As a result, we need to be prepared to talk about our experiences as a tutor and its relevance during a job interview. Fortunately, working as a tutor showcases numerous different skills which employers search for – so if you know how to talk about your experiences well, it can really enhance your employability.
In this blog post, I’m going to discuss just some of the ways you can talk about your time spent as a tutor to land yourself your dream internship or graduate job. Keep in mind that this is based on feedback I have received from recruiters and by no means is this the only or best way to speak about MyTutor in a job interview!
The key characteristics
In general, employers are looking for you to demonstrate several key characteristics which demonstrate that you are an effective, committed worker and that you are a good fit for their organisation. It’s important to remember that different industries and firms may hold certain attributes and skills in higher regard, so don’t always emphasise the same things!
Adaptability
One attribute which tends to be fairly universal however, is adaptability. The modern world is tumultuous and fast changing and so firms want their employees to be quick on their feet and able to react to change quickly and see opportunity. MyTutor is an excellent example of how adaptable you are!
As tutors, we routinely alter the way we plan and teach lessons as well as how we communicate with students, depending on the students’ needs and abilities. For example, if you were asked why you believe you would do well in a given industry, you could say “[The industry] is very fast-changing and forward looking, requiring people to adapt quickly to change. During my time as a tutor, I have demonstrated my ability to do so. For example, upon beginning to teach a new student, I quickly realised that they were much more responsive to diagrams and visual explanations. As a result, I adapted my presentations and diagrams to be more colourful and visually expressive and in turn saw a marked improvement in the students’ performance.”
Examples work best if they are authentic, and there are undoubtedly experiences you’ve had which showcase your adaptability far better than the generic example I just gave! But the core idea remains the same; adaptability and problem solving go hand-in-hand. The above example could also be rephrased to showcase your ability to solve problems (like a case where your student isn’t responding as well to your normal method of teaching).
Trustworthiness and professionalism
MyTutor also demonstrates your trustworthiness and professionalism, so be sure to highlight this when relevant. As a tutor you are being trusted by a school or parent to deliver safe, appropriate, high-quality teaching – this is no small feat! The fact that multiple parents have allowed their child to be taught by you shows how reliable and trustworthy you are. Highlighting positive reviews you have received is a great way to provide evidence for claims you may be making. Once again, don’t make stuff up, as employers can easily check your MyTutor profile! In fact, I would recommend linking it to your LinkedIn profile so that recruiters can stumble across your 5-star reviews!
Communication
Lastly, firms are looking for good communicators. Here MyTutor really comes in handy as there are few other student jobs which demonstrate such a high level of oral communication. Teaching in and of itself is all about communicating complex ideas in an understandable and comprehensive way.
Being an effective tutor requires excellent communication skills and so it can be really useful to talk about how well you communicate and how your skills have developed over time. Employers like to hear you reflect on your own experiences and progression. Contrast your first lesson with your most recent one. What have you learnt about communication since that first lesson and how have you integrated this into your teaching style?
Recognising progress that you have made and demonstrating how you have used your experiences to improve show your potential employer that you are a fast learner and someone who cares about improving their skillset.
In summary, MyTutor is a great way to provide evidence for skills and attributes which you possess. The skills listed in this blog are not the only ones which MyTutor showcases and develops. The key is not to be formulaic or overly reliant on certain phrases but instead to talk organically and truthfully about your experiences as a tutor on this platform, as it can be of great value. Spend some time reflecting on what you have learnt about yourself and what skills you have developed whilst tutoring, as this will serve you well when applying for jobs. Good luck!