Looking for a job as a tutor? Knowing where to look, and what to include in your application can make or break your job hunt. This guide explores the best places to find and apply for Australian tutor jobs in 2024 and explores step-by-step what to include in your application to give yourself the best chance of success of finding a job as a tutor.
How Much do Tutors Earn?
Like most jobs, the pay rate for tutors depends on a few factors like your qualifications, what subject you are teaching, your location and whether the job is casual or permanent. In general, casual tutors across Australia earn an hourly rate of between $24.10 – $45, with most tutors earning an average of $30 per hour.
What Qualifications do you need to be a Tutor?
If you’re interested in being a tutor, the good news is there are no official qualifications required. Of course, this will depend on the type of tutoring role you are interested in and the subject matter you will be teaching. To give yourself the best chance at getting a job as a tutor, here are a few qualifications you can aim for:
- A completed high school certificate
- A university bachelor’s degree, especially in a relevant field like teaching
- Related clearances like a WWCC (Working with Children Check)
- Relevant professional development courses
Explore online PD for tutors: Teaching and Tutoring with Microsoft Teams
Where to Find Tutor Jobs
When you’re on the hunt for a job as a tutor, there are a few different places to begin your search, depending on what you’re looking for and if you have a specific employer in mind.
Through your professional network
In a lot of ways, the world of education is a tight knit community. Because businesses are more likely to hire someone that comes recommended, it’s a good idea to tap into your professional network and spread the word that you are looking for a tutor job. You never know who might know someone who is hiring.
Education-only job platforms
As a job platform that’s specific to education, ClassCover Jobs is a great place to begin your search for tutor jobs. Because ClassCover Jobs is specific to education, you don’t have to waste time filtering through job posts that aren’t relevant to you and your job search. Use filters to search by subject or to specify full-time or part-time tutoring jobs, as well as online tutor jobs or roles in a specific location. Using an education-only jobs platform like ClassCover Jobs is likely to save you time in your job search and help connect you to more suitable job opportunities.
On an individual businesses’ website
If you have identified a specific business that you would like to work with, keeping an eye on their website for job opportunities can be a good strategy. The downside here is that if you only look for jobs on the one company website, you risk missing out on job opportunities at other businesses. If you want to give yourself the best chance of securing a new job as a tutor, it’s worth expanding your search further afield.
Other job platforms
Other job platforms like Seek and LinkedIn can also be useful to find tutor jobs. The downside of these platforms, however, is that they are not specific to education. This means you are likely to spend time searching through results for jobs that aren’t relevant to you. The sheer number of jobs posted on these platforms can also make the job search a lengthier process.
How to Apply for Jobs as a Tutor
If you want to give yourself the best chance of landing a job as a tutor, there are a few things you should be doing to make your application stand out.
Tailor your application to the job
For hiring managers and recruiters looking to whittle down a long list of applicants, those who have sent a generic application that shows no knowledge of the business, or the job are often the first to be cut. The best way around this? Make sure you are tailoring your resume and cover letter to the job. Make sure you are across the specific requirements of the role and highlight your experience and qualifications that match it.
Include all the required information
An easy mistake many job applicants make is not fully completing an application. We get it—applying for a new job can be a stressful process, particularly when you are applying for multiple jobs at once. As we mentioned above, when businesses receive many applications for a role, they often look for a way to quickly remove unsuitable candidates. Skipping things like a cover letter, and information like your location and qualifications can save time, but it may lose you a spot on the shortlist.
Show off your experience with examples
A good way to help your application stand out from the pack is to include examples from your work history that showcase your experience. Rather than stuffing your resume and cover letter with fluff, use as many quantifiable examples as you can to demonstrate your effectiveness in your previous roles. If you are applying for a tutor job, include examples of the students and subject areas you taught and the impact you had on their learning, e.g. In my time as a tutor, I worked with primary-aged students from prep-year 6 covering english. Of the students I worked with, 80% were able to improve their spelling and grammar to be in line with their year level peers or higher.
What to include on your resume for tutor jobs
When you’re applying for a job as a tutor, your resume can either get you an interview or derail your whole application. To give yourself the best chance of getting through to the next round, here are some things to include on your resume:
- Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address.
- Professional Summary: A brief summary of your teaching philosophy, experience, and what you bring to the role.
- Education: List your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and any relevant coursework.
- Teaching Experience: Detail your previous tutoring or teaching roles, including the subjects taught, levels (e.g., primary, secondary, tertiary), and any notable achievements.
- Skills: Highlight key skills such as subject matter expertise, communication, patience, adaptability, and any other relevant skills.
- Certifications and Professional Development: Include any additional certifications (e.g., Working with Children Check, First Aid) and professional development courses.
What to include in your cover letter for tutor jobs
While there is disagreement on whether a cover letter is needed with a job application, a good rule of thumb is if there is a cover letter field on the application, it won’t hurt to include one. Here are some things to include in your cover letter for tutor jobs:
- Introduction: While your resume provides a snapshot of your experience and background, your cover letter is your opportunity to show off your personality while explaining why you’re a good fit for the role. Your cover letter introduction should briefly tell the reader who you are and why you want the role, while also enticing them to keep reading.
- Your experience tailored to the job: When writing your cover letter, the most important thing to remember is that it should be personalised to the role you are applying for. Chances are the person reading your cover letter has already seen your resume, so generically recapping your experience won’t get you any bonus points. Instead, use this space to call out the parts of your experience that are relevant to the job description and highlight how your background makes you the best candidate for the role.
- Conclusion: By the end of your cover letter, the person reading it probably has a good idea of whether they want to progress you to the next stage of the recruitment process or not. A brief conclusion is still a good opportunity to emphasise your interest in the role while leaving the door open for next steps.
Applying for Online Tutor Jobs
If you’re looking for an online tutor job that allows you to work from home, we have some good news for you. ClassCover Jobs has introduced a dedicated remote jobs option that makes it easier to find and apply for jobs that are completely work from home. When you’re browsing the job listings on ClassCover Jobs, keep an eye out for the “Remote” tag and apply away!
Extra Info to Include in Your Tutor Job Application
Finally, here are some additional details that can be helpful to include in your application.
- Availability: If you don’t have open availability, it’s a good idea to highlight this on your application, including the days and times that you can work.
- Rates: If you have set tutoring rates, it may also be appropriate to include these in your application.