Have you recently decided to pursue a career in tutoring?
You may have questions about everything from what to charge as a tutor to how to find the best clients. Equally critical to starting a successful tutoring business is developing spot-on interview skills.
This article reviews the most common tutor interview questions, how to walk into an interview feeling prepared, and what interviewers look for in a potential tutor.
What to Expect in a Tutor Interview
When interviewing for a tutoring job, you can expect to be questioned about your knowledge, communication skills, and reasons for becoming a tutor.
If you speak to your qualifications and teaching philosophy and address scenario-based questions with poise, you significantly increase your chances of landing your ideal tutoring clients. As with any job interview, be yourself above all else.
Online tutoring requires specific skills to motivate students and create lesson plans that are engaging and easy to follow. Therefore, you want to highlight your communication strengths and how you can effectively manage a digital classroom environment. You should also prepare to discuss how you address different learning styles and needs.
Let's look at some sample questions you might encounter.
Questions to test knowledge
The purpose of the following questions is to assess the knowledge and field experience of the tutor. Interviewers will ask these to understand how updated the tutor is with current techniques and methodologies.
- What is your highest academic qualification?
- Do you have any tutor certifications?
- How long have you tutored in your content area?
- How many years of experience do you have working with students?
- How do you incorporate technology into your sessions?
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- How do you determine if a student has made progress academically?
- How do students express their comprehension of a subject?
- What was your biggest lesson, and how has it shaped you as a tutor?
- How do you help a student who is reluctant to learn?
- What does a tutoring session with you look like?
- If you were hiring a tutor, what do you believe the essential qualifications are?
- What is your one weakness as a tutor?
Questions to assess communication skills
Interviewers will also ask questions that gauge the ability of the tutor to simplify complex topics and provide timely feedback. These questions also help assess the tutor's communication style and adaptability to different student needs.
- How do you keep students and caretakers up to date on student progress?
- Who are the key stakeholders in a student's education?
- How do you break a complex topic down for your students?
- What are the different communication tools you have used to work with students?
- Discuss your experience working with diverse learners with different communication needs.
- In a digital classroom or learning environment, how do you ensure every student is learning?
- What role does the parent play in your tutoring service?
- How do you typically communicate with parents and students?
- How do you prepare your tutoring sessions?
- Explain how you motivate students to learn.
Why Do You Want to Be a Tutor?
This question is the most significant yet overlooked of them all. Your "why" is the foundation that holds everything you do as a tutor. You should put a great deal of thought into this question before interviewing with a potential client or tutoring agency.
A tutor who answers this question hastily will look unprofessional and uninspired, whereas a tutor who has put some thought into their response will look confident and competent.
Some thoughtful responses to this question may include the following:
- Because I had a teacher who greatly helped me, it inspired my passion to help others.
- Because I struggled with (...) and I was able to persevere, I want to help others do the same.
- My strength in (...) has improved my life, and I want to share that with others.
What an Interviewer Looks for in a Tutor
When interviewing a potential tutor, interviewers are looking for someone who has arrived prepared and understands who they are as a professional. They are not, however, looking for perfection. So, don't stuff your responses with a bunch of fluff that will come across as ingenuine in your interview.
Some other key areas include the following:
- Interviewers are looking to probe a potential tutor on important areas, like their teaching style and experience with different age groups.
- They will use questioning to evaluate the tutor’s fit, including cultural fit, compatibility with the institution's teaching standards, etc.
- They want to hear about academic achievements and credentials.
- They want to learn about a tutor's unique teaching methodologies.
- They want to see a tutor's level of competence in the subjects they will be tutoring.
Before going into an interview, you should take stock of where you are at in each of these critical areas. It will make the interview run smoothly and help you feel more confident.
Essential Skills and Competencies of a Tutor
When you break down the kinds of questions asked in a tutor interview and the key areas interviewers assess, there are three skills/competencies a tutor must possess.
Understanding Your Approach: Many questions will focus on your pedagogical approach and teaching style. You need to have a solid grasp of what your tutoring approach is to be able to convey that in your interview.
Problem-Solving Skills: Interviewers will ask questions to understand how you troubleshoot and handle difficult teaching situations.
Passion and Commitment: You must display a clear passion for teaching and a commitment to student success.
Here’s What You Should Do Next
After you have had some successful interviews and have a good amount of tutoring jobs, you will need to continue managing your tutoring business to keep your clients and attract new ones. Follow these steps and keep prospective clients coming your way.
- Maintain and update your tutoring website regularly.
- Continue to market your services and ask for referrals.
- Find a CRM software program that fits your tutoring business.
- Continue with your training and earn pertinent tutor certifications.
- Network
Using the best business software will improve your service and streamline administrative tasks. Try Practice for free, and see your business thrive.
