While you might be well versed in a particular field of knowledge, this job also requires the skill of education.
Tutors need to have the expertise in the subject they are tutoring in, and also the ability to teach it to someone else.
Education of all kinds tends to be an overlooked field, and too often, people don’t understand the complexities of doing it well.
In some cases, the pupil is driven to succeed, and in others, their motivation might be lacking.
Tutoring is no easy gig, yet many people who do it enjoy the pure satisfaction of watching another person succeed.
We understand the feeling, and that is why we’re here to help you land your next job – starting with writing a stellar resume.
Summary
- Tutor Resume Template
- Formatting a Tutor Resume
- Writing Your Tutor Resume Summary
- Describing Areas of Tutoring Expertise
- Writing Your Tutor’s Work Experience
- Writing Your Tutor’s Education Section
- Additional Sections to Boost a Tutoring Resume
- Resume Points to Remember
- Resume “Don’ts” to Remember
- Some Helpful Tools
Let’s begin with a tutor resume to demonstrate how all the resume pieces fit together. Then we will break each section down to really drill into how to write the best tutor resume you possibly can.
Tutor Resume (Text Version)
Contact Info:
Mya Smith
[email protected]
(404) 322-0139
Atlanta, GA 30301
linkedin.com/msmith
Summary Statement:
Tutor: Innovative, persistent, and energetic tutor. Offers expertise in a wide variety of academic subjects. Provides individualized instruction and support to create a personalized learning experience for all students. Utilizes effective instructional strategies to assist a diverse group of learners.
Key Accomplishments/Areas of Expertise
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Differentiated teaching methods
- Problem Solving
- Microsoft Office
- Organization
- Creativity
- Advanced Subject Matter Expert
Professional Experience:
Sylvan Learning Center | Tutor
Atlanta, GA | November 2018-Present
- Provide 1:1 and group tutoring sessions for students in the subject of math
- Ensure students gain a comprehensive understanding of math concepts
- Communicate with parents about student progress and home support
Freelance | Private Tutor
Atlanta, GA | September 2016 – October 2018
- Tutored students with a wide range of learning styles
- Used engaging strategies to enhance student comprehension
- Monitored student progress to identify gaps in learning
Kaplan, Inc. | Tutor
Athens, GA | January 2014-August 2016
- Facilitated services to prep students for college entrance exams
- Addressed questions and concerns related to test preparation
- Created an enriching environment with positivity and patience
Education/Certifications
Bachelor of Arts in Education
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
December 2013
Tutor Certification
American Tutoring Association
December 2013
Format a Tutor Resume Properly
Before you think about what you’re going to say, you will want to think about how you are going to lay it all out.
That’s why the first place you will want to start when drafting your tutor resume is the format.
The format is especially important when you consider that most hiring managers only spend about 6-seconds looking at a resume before they decide to move on.
To catch someone’s attention within that amount of time, you will want things laid out in a way that looks clean and easy to read.
Some basic rules to follow are selecting a clear and legible font and laying out each category and bullet point with nice even spacing.
You will also want to list things out in reverse chronological order so that your most recent and relevant work comes first.
Keep these basic rules in mind when writing your resume, and you will be off to a great start.
Start With Your Tutor Resume Summary
The first thing you are going to write when drafting your tutor resume is your summary.
The summary of your resume will lend a brief introduction of who you are as a tutor by listing your best skills and key qualifications.
You will want to keep the resume to just a few sentences, so while you want to be specific and descriptive, it is also crucial to be selective.
You will have more room to describe yourself throughout the resume, so the idea is just to include a couple of standout details at the top.
Let’s look at a few examples of what we are talking about:
Yes!
Innovative, persistent, and energetic tutor. Offers expertise in a wide variety of academic subjects. Provides individualized instruction and support to create a personalized learning experience for all students. Utilizes effective instructional strategies to assist a diverse group of learners.
No!
An excellent tutor, who offers services in a variety of academic subjects. Does individual instruction and support to create a learning experience for students. Uses instructional strategies to assist learners.
The “Yes!” example uses powerful keywords to describe how skillful the candidate is as a tutor.
The “No!” example attempts to be succinct at the expense of using compelling and descriptive words to explain their skill set. It’s also far too general and not particularly well written.
Describe Key Accomplishments and Tutoring Skills & Qualifications
The second part of your summary is something a bit more eye-catching.
To grab your reader’s attention fast, using bullet points to list out a few specific skills and key accomplishments will get the job done.
Try to pick things that pertain specifically to the job you are applying for whenever possible.
Key Accomplishments/Areas of Expertise
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Differentiated teaching methods
- Problem Solving
- Microsoft Office
- Organization
- Creativity
- Advanced Subject Matter Expert
As you are thinking of different skills to list, it is helpful to note that there are two main types: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills are also known as technical skills, and they are the type of skills that can be practiced and quantified.
Soft skills are also known as people skills, and they deal with personality traits and are more difficult to quantify.
Both types of skills are necessary for a well-rounded resume, so make sure you have the right balance of both.
PRO TIP: When attempting to come up with skill sets to list on your tutor resume, try saying, “I am good at…” and then fill in the blank. So if you say, “I am good at communication,” then you know that is something you can add. Try not to be picky at first; you can always narrow things down upon revision.
(See below for a helpful table of some suggested hard and soft skills to include in your tutor resume.)
Write Your Tutor’s Work Experience
Now that your summary and top skills are in order, the next section on your tutor resume is going to list out your job history.
The first thing you will want to consider is listing your experience in reverse chronological order so that your most recent job is at the top.
Depending on where you are in your career, you might have more job experience to work with. If this is the case for you, make sure you are narrowing down your list only to include the best.
The most desirable jobs to list will include skills that pertain to the position you are applying for.
So even if you don’t have as much experience within your field, you can always try to describe each job in a way that highlights relevant skills.
Yes!
Freelance | Private Tutor | Atlanta, GA | September 2016 – October 2018
- Tutored students with a wide range of learning styles
- Used engaging strategies to enhance student comprehension
- Monitored student progress to identify gaps in learning
No!
Freelance | Private Tutor | Atlanta, GA | September 2016 – October 2018
- Tutored many students
- Provided instruction to improve student knowledge
- Monitored student progress
The “Yes!” example describes the candidate’s direct involvement in every aspect of the job in a way that highlights their competencies.
The “No!” example lends basic details with little to no description that would separate the candidate from others.
PRO TIP: When trying to describe your work history or skill set, look at the job posting for powerful keywords to use in your resume. This shows the hiring manager that your skills align with what they are looking for.
More About Bots
Hiring managers have to sift through a lot of resumes for every job that they have posted.
Many companies have started using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), or bots, to help them sort through the abundance of applications they receive.
Bots are designed to search resumes for specific keywords that match what the company is looking for in a candidate.
To catch the eye of a bot, some people recommend writing your work history out in paragraph format in order to include more keywords.
Standard Bullet Point Format:
Kaplan, Inc. | Tutor | Athens, GA | January 2014-August 2016
- Facilitated services to prep students for college entrance exams
- Addressed questions and concerns related to test preparation
- Created an enriching environment with positivity and patience
Paragraph Format:
Kaplan, Inc. | Tutor | Athens, GA | January 2014-August 2016
Facilitated tutoring services to prepare students for college and assist with graduate school entrance exams. Addressed questions and concerns related to entrance exams and provided insight on test preparation strategies for student participants. Created an enriching environment by promoting positivity and patience.
Or in some instances, people like to write out a paragraph and then include a few bullet points to list additional skills.
Kaplan, Inc. | Tutor | Athens, GA | January 2014-August 2016
Facilitated tutoring services to prepare students for college and assist with graduate school entrance exams. Addressed questions and concerns related to entrance exams and provided insight on test preparation strategies for student participants. Created an enriching environment by promoting positivity and patience.
- AP English Format
- SAT and ACT Tutoring
At Big Interview, we suggest sticking with bullet points.
We recommend this because bullet points are easier to read at a glance, and it is still possible to include keywords that will catch the attention of a bot.
Write Your Tutor Resume Education Section
In your education section, you will want to list out your degrees (associates, bachelor’s, etc.).
You will also want to include any concentrations or minors associated with your degree.
Example:
Bachelor of Arts in Education
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
December 2013
Make sure you list any certifications or workshops relevant to the field as well.
Example:
Tutor Certification
American Tutoring Association
December 2013
Possible Sections to Include
You may add any additional sections that you feel could improve your tutor resume. Extra sections may be especially helpful if you don’t have a lot of work experience and still have a lot of space to fill.
But remember; you want everything you include to be relevant and building a case for why you’re the best candidate. So if additional sections are out of place for the position or otherwise superfluous, leave them off.
Some of the sections you could include are:
- Awards and honors
- Publications
- Noteworthy Projects
- Social Media Influence
- Speaking Engagements
- Hobbies/Interests
- Volunteer Work
What if You Have No Experience?
If you have recently switched fields, just graduated, or for any reason lack useful work experience, you can still draft up an excellent resume if you follow some simple steps.
For starters, you will want to move your education section just below your tutor resume summary.
Usually, if you lack work experience, your education section is going to look more impressive.
To make your education section pop, you will want to include more detail wherever possible.
If you earned an impressive GPA, graduated with honors, or received any awards, you can list these details now.
Always try to include any details that are directly related to tutoring or the subject you want to tutor, which means you can list any relevant coursework as well.
If you have any volunteer experience or internships to add to your resume, those details can be beneficial for separating you from the pack.
Always stay positive and try to let that confidence shine through your tutor resume.
Resume Points to Remember
Keep it simple
Let your experience and skills do the talking, and don’t try to catch attention with flashy fonts or crazy layouts. Always make sure your formatting is allowing the information to shine by being straightforward and easy to follow.
Check it twice
Always review your tutor resume and, if possible, have someone else evaluate it as well. If you have to review it yourself, try reading it aloud – you will catch more mistakes this way.
Include how they can reach you
It might sound like a silly reminder; however, it can be easy to get caught up in all the details so much that you forget some of the basics. Always remember to include your name, contact information, and any links to work profiles.
Try to Avoid
Don’t repeat
When you are describing yourself, or a previous job, make sure you are not re-using keywords to explain things. This can make you sound redundant and one-dimensional.
Don’t ignore the empty space
A considerable part of formatting is making sure that the significant details can pop. Don’t hand in a resume that is overcrowded and doesn’t draw attention to your best qualities. The empty space is important, so don’t ignore it.
Don’t talk too much
Being selective is key. Your tutor resume should fit nicely on one page – if it goes on longer than that, it is time to make some cuts. Having too much information doesn’t look good; it typically just distracts from your best details, and no hiring manager has time to read a resume that long.
Helpful Tools for a Tutor Resume:
Power Words
- Administered
- Founded
- Adept
- Formulated
- Built
- Implemented
- Created
- Improved
- Consolidated
- Initiated
- Coordinated
- Launched
- Developed
- Pioneered
- Designed
- Organized
Skills List
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
| Differentiated Teaching Methods | Organization |
| ACT/SAT Tutoring | Creative |
| Advanced Subject Matter | Problem Solving |
| Assessment Tutoring | Collaboration |
| Microsoft Office | Critical Thinking |
