Imagine a work life filled with freedom. Welcome to the community of one-on-one tutors, where everyone can find their place!
Regardless of whether you're an undergraduate, a recent retiree, or an employee working full-time, offering personalised tutoring support can be an excellent opportunity.
According to a workplace happiness survey carried out by a-connect, self-employed individuals are more likely to experience happiness during working hours compared to people employed by companies.
Freelancers gave a positive answer when asked about the impact of their professional lives on their personal lives. In fact, over twice as many independent workers expressed satisfaction with their leisure activities and other interests outside of work, compared to full-time employees.
By examining these data, it becomes evident that individuals who work for themselves generally have a more positive outlook regarding their schedules and the flexibility and freedom associated with their work.
As experts in the private tuition market, the Superprof team is here to shed light on the essential aspects of tuition jobs that make them perfect for people valuing independence.
By dedicating your free time to tutoring services, you can:
- Enhance your knowledge of tutoring approaches.
- Refine your teaching methods.
- Adapt your approach to suit individual students's needs.
- Invest time in finding clients.
When the moment feels right, get started in tutoring without hesitations in order to become the best teacher you can be lesson by lesson.
You'll quickly discover that teaching subjects you're passionate about is incredibly fulfilling, particularly when you witness how your guidance helps your students achieve success in their education.
Here are four compelling reasons why academic tutoring is the perfect profession for those valuing independence in their work.
Offer Tutoring Services Independently
The idea of having control over their own work is appealing to many people.
In 2020, 17.91 % of the New Zealand population was self-employed, and an overwhelming majority of these entrepreneurs said they were satisfied with this status, having no intention to return to full-time employment.
This sentiment can be attributed to several reasons:
- Self-employed workers in New Zealand consider freedom as a fundamental aspect of their professional lifestyle.
- Freelancers who work from home manage to save an impressive amount of time per year that would have otherwise been spent on commuting.
- Self-employed individuals have more opportunities to take holidays in New Zealand and abroad than those employed by others.
- People who work for themselves usually dedicate more time to exercise as compared to their counterparts who work for companies.
These are just some of the advantages of becoming your own boss.
To add a touch of humour, it's interesting to note that over one-third of employees lack confidence in their bosses' ability to perform their own work.
When so many workers perceive their managers as incompetent, it becomes evident that a change is necessary.
On Superprof, tutors can find lots of opportunities to offer tuition lessons.
Start out on the path of becoming a tutor, using your skills for the benefit of learners of different ages, from kindergarten to college and beyond. These students will recognise your true value and expertise as a teacher!
Tutoring jobs can be an extremely rewarding experience and also a great addition to your CV.
Set Your Fees And Create Your Own Schedule
Tutoring isn't just a great source of income, it is also a great way to gain more freedom in work.
Here are three reasons to work independently:
- You manage your own time schedule
- Set your own rates
- Decide how to communicate with your clients and build relationships
Time Management
According to a study, a significant portion of the working population in New Zealand expressed dissatisfaction with their work-life balance.
Striking a balance between professional and personal life often becomes a problem when people begin a career. Unfortunately, overworking can have bad consequences s for their health and even reduce their productivity.
The advantage of self-employment lies in the flexibility it offers, enabling people to deliver their services at their own pace.
Certainly, as a newcomer to the market, it can be difficult to turn down certain tutoring opportunities that come your way. However, what matters most is that you have the freedom to do so, thanks to the nature of your tutoring job.
As you establish your reputation, you will notice how word-of-mouth spreads, leading to increased demand for your tuition services in New Zealand. This, in turn, will give you more scheduling opportunities, allowing for flexibility in your work as each client has their own preferences.
Specialising in one-on-one tutoring not only lets you determine your own working hours but you can better enjoy your leisure time. Whether you work as a math tutor, geography tutor, chemistry tutor, or reading tutor, people will envy your independence and the satisfaction you get from your new job!
Manage Your Income
Take control of your earnings by setting your own rates and charging according to your preferences.
We recommend having both an hourly and daily rate, which will make the tracking of your income easier. When determining your fees, consider your annual income goal and any expenses you may have to face, such as transportation to and from clients' homes.
Additionally, take into account the average wage for private tutors in your area and how the level of students you are teaching can impact your rates.
Prices for academic support can vary a lot depending on geographical location. For instance, in Auckland, the average hourly tutoring rate is slightly higher than in Christchurch.
There is no regular pattern for the average prices across regions, but rates tend to be higher in major cities and rural areas, while mid-sized cities may have lower rates.
Another crucial factor to consider when determining your rates is the level of learners you are teaching. While tutoring does not require specific qualifications, you must have the appropriate level of knowledge to effectively teach your students. For example, it would not be suitable to teach NCEA math without at least having the NCEA certificate yourself.
The hourly rate for a session focused on reading and writing assistance for a primary school child would be lower than test preparation for an NCEA student, as the latter requires a higher level of expertise.
Subjects outside the standard curriculum, such as piano lessons or sports coaching, often cost more compared to subjects taught in schools, such as biology or history as there are fewer available tutors.
Taking these factors into account will help you find your place in the market and set the right rate for your tutoring services in New Zealand.
Be In Charge Of Your Budget
Accounting can seem intimidating to newcomers, especially if you want to become self-employed. However, taking charge of your tutoring income and managing your own accounts is not difficult at all.
The first step is to register as self-employed and get an individual IRD number and then file an individual income return.
While handling your own accounts may seem like a complex business, rest assured that in reality, the process is quick and straightforward. All you need is to understand how it works just once.
Decide On The Way You Teach
Unlike teachers working in public schools who have to follow the national curriculum, private tutors enjoy the freedom to come up with their own unique teaching methods.
As a private tutor, you have full control over every aspect of your work, and if someone doesn't like your approach, they are free to choose another tutor. It's as simple as that.
Furthermore, you have the flexibility to teach subjects of your choice, as long as you have enough knowledge in those areas. For example, if you hold a degree in English, you can not only offer English tutoring but also assist students with reading comprehension, grammar, or provide writing guidance.
Focusing on specific skills can greatly benefit students by helping them to overcome specific difficulties.
Similarly, math graduates can provide support in algebra, geometry, calculus, and trigonometry.
If you are bilingual or an international student studying in New Zealand, why not become a language tutor? You could offer French tutoring, provide students with homework assistance or simply talk to them, or even teach a less common language, like Swedish. Learning a foreign language can open up lots of doors, which is why language tutors are in high demand.
Moreover, the way of organising your lessons is entirely up to you. You can opt for one-on-one sessions or work with groups of students. Teaching small groups can be advantageous as students will collaborate with each other and improve their teamwork skills.
Private tutoring offers you an opportunity to go beyond traditional textbooks and develop your teaching methods by exploring different learning strategies in order to suit each student's learning style and needs.
The best tutors are able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of learners and tailor their tutoring methods accordingly. This ensures that students will benefit fully from their sessions and develop valuable learning skills they can apply not only in school but also in their future educational and professional projects.
Creating personalised learning plans is what makes private tutors exceptional, as it goes beyond the limits of the school system. It gives students the tools to effectively manage their learning and effectively acquire new knowledge and skills.
So, teach in your own way and guide your students towards academic success!
More Time For Holidays
Planning a vacation can be a daunting task when you work for a company.
Whether you face opposition from higher-ups or have to deal with resentful colleagues, booking time off can turn into a nightmare.
Even when you have to use your remaining vacation days, it always seems to coincide with bad weather and a lack of exciting cultural events.
These situations are all too familiar for employees.
However, as a self-employed tutor, you are free to decide when to take a break, avoiding both the price hikes during school holidays and poor weather. With a flexible schedule, you can have enough time to recharge your batteries during school holidays when most clients are likely to be away.
What's more, if you wish to continue working while travelling , you can easily take your tutoring business online—all you need is a Wi-Fi connection!
Online tutoring offers the same benefits as face-to-face sessions while providing the flexibility to work from anywhere you wish.
Are you now contemplating becoming an in-home or online tutor? With all the advantages that private tutoring offers, it would be unwise not to consider it. So, sign up for Superprof and start out on your tutoring journey!
Numerous individuals are seeking tutors online or within their local communities, eagerly awaiting your knowledge and expertise for homework support, general revision or test preparation in the lead-up to exams!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
