Modern technology is continuously evolving and is making many people’s lives easier. It can as well impact the financial aspect of our lives as it gives us a lot of opportunities to do online jobs where we can earn from even if we are not leaving our home.
One of the best examples of this is online tutoring. Like its offline counterpart, this kind of teaching will let you give lectures and lessons to someone. Your student can even be on the other part of the world. It will give you a virtual classroom where you can find all your needed resources like whiteboards, books and eBooks, and teaching aids like live chats.
To understand the potential of online tutoring, here are some questions you should ask yourself before registering to different tutoring sites.
1. What Types of Tutoring Jobs Are Available?
The demand in online tutoring is very high on many diverse topics. From k to 12-course works, to English as Second Language, to ACT and SAT exams and college prep. Of course, you will choose where you will be more qualified. When you want to be a tutor, you should be fluent in the English language because it is the most used language in tutoring jobs.
You can enrol a short course to schools that offer English language program like CCEL for you to be able to keep up with that kind of work. There are even some clients who are looking for tutors for specific topics like essay writing, proof reading, and literature. You can also consider being a business tutor or consultant online if you have the expertise. Lastly, you can offer your services online if you are good at some current programming languages out there.
2. What Does Online Tutoring Pay?
If you are new to the business, you will probably just earn from the range of $8 to $12 per hour. Some offer higher than that and it solely depends on the subject. For instance, specialty subjects can go as high as $50 per hour. Generally, you will have to start low but your rates will eventually increase in the long run.
Being said that, there are also other companies that offer employee position to online tutoring. It means you will have the benefits a day-job employee has like vacation pays, bonuses, retirement contribution and other perks.
3. How Much Time to Devote For Tutoring Online?
The reality is, you are not in an office right now because something is limiting you to do so. Whether you are a full-time mom or you are not physically fit to work 5 to 6 days a week, online tutoring can be the best income generating job for you. Why? You do not have to spend a specific amount of time.
You can start by teaching for two to four hours depending on your comfort and reliability. You can just increase the work load as you improve your teaching skills.
4. What Do You Need to Start?
Aside from the knowledge and expertise to a specific subject, there are other things you need to start. Obviously, you will have to work online that’s why you need a computer or laptop that has a ram preferably higher than 2 GB.
Additionally, you are required to have a reliable internet connection as you do not want to have an unstable one because your student may not be able to understand you. A good headset with a microphone is also vital so you can communicate better with your student.
5. Who Hires Online Tutors?
If you are wondering how are you going to look for students and clients, worry no more because there are literally a lot of sites that are hiring capable tutors. Here are some examples of them:
- Chegg – This website can pay you as much as $20 per hour but a college degree is a requirement.
- E-Tutor – It is a site that offers k-12 lessons. Applicants for tutor works are required to have a bachelor degree. It will be to your advantage if you have a teaching certificate in your portfolio.
- My Private Tutor – It is an international website with a diverse group of customers. They can also cater different expertise from basic subjects like Math, Science, Physics, Chemistry, and others to coding some programming languages like Java, C++, and others.
- SmartThinking – In this site, you will have to commit at least 9 hours per week and you will be paid by an hourly rate.
- Skooli – A tutoring site that requires their aspiring teachers to have a Master’s degree or at least a past experience in ESL tutoring.
That are just some sites you can choose from, you can also look for other companies that will fit your needs, knowledge, and expertise.
6. Where Can You Get More Information?
There are a lot of forums that you can look for online to understand better how online tutoring works. You can read other’s experiences and learn from it so you will know what to expect when you engage in the freelance job.
You can also see job listings so you will have an idea where to apply. Forums like KinderSigns, ESL Employment, and Tutor House are just some very good examples of it.
Article by Abby
Abby Whitmer is a financial advocate, a digital strategist at CCEL and a part-time blogger who loves sharing her expertise about money management. She is a college student who was once buried in debt because of her student loans. She started again from scratch and developed her resourceful and frugal habits to conquer her loan.
