Tutors are student leaders. While perhaps not typically thought of in this way, their qualifications are hard to ignore; leading their peers, setting an example for other students, building experiential practice, and learning professional skills along the way.
Despite being shining stars on college campuses, tutors may not be the first students that come to a recruiter’s mind for internship or job opportunities. This is a mistake. Tutoring is an excellent opportunity that shapes students into well-rounded employees companies find themselves lucky to snag.
Why do tutors make awesome hires? Let’s check out four reasons employers should want tutors among their new professionals.
Tutors know their subject at a higher level than most. They have not only mastered the content for themselves— their mastery must reach beyond the base level to be able to teach it to others. This depth and richness in understanding is an attractive ability in a future employee because it demonstrates that they can become an expert in whatever area you need them to. Their commitment and drive for mastery builds confidence, which creates authority. It also reflects they care about understanding material in a true and meaningful way, which is a big win for the company that hires them.
Tutors know how they learn. They know their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to mastering a subject and understand what strategies help them better grasp concepts to become more proficient. This level of insight and self-awareness is a major asset for any new hire because they will have an easier time problem-solving their way to solutions that help them succeed. Furthermore, as with any service-oriented work, tutors get to know themselves through giving to others. The leadership development that comes with this role enables tutors to have a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. Indeed, research shows the personal growth and skill development of tutors is not to be overlooked.
A tutor’s work is highly interpersonal. The experience they gain in collaboration, teamwork, and listening (to name a few) mean they are regularly honing critical “soft skills”. Tutors learn to anticipate their students’ questions and needs, allowing them to better organize and deliver information, distill concepts, and adapt to individual learning styles. Not only do they have the ability to be trained, but they develop the ability to train others. This translates to an aptness to train in the workplace, whether to lead a project, supervise others, or deliver a presentation. Tutors are also in tune with how people learn, which could make them the perfect staff members to assist with curriculum and training development.
Knowing a subject well, knowing themselves, and knowing others makes tutors a triple-threat as job candidates. Moreover, they develop 21st century skills needed for professional success in an increasingly digital age. Among these are creativity, flexibility, information literacy, and social skills. Serving as a tutor certainly provides a student the arena to strengthen these abilities.
Finally, NACE findings revealed that employers “desired applicants who could communicate in a specific disciplinary or industrial context” — this is embodied in tutors, who become articulate subject matter experts. They also found that work ethic is the “most essential” career competency. Tutors exemplify strong work ethic through their subject mastery and are adept at inspiring peers to a higher work ethic as well.