As a recent school graduate 🧑🎓, finding a job can be a daunting task. The obvious choices for recent school-leavers is to settle for a casual job in retail or hospitality because that is customary practice or because you perceive that you have a lack of skill or experience. However, there are alternatives out there, including jobs that allow you to leverage your existing skills and knowledge. One such job is to become a private tutor, which provides an alternative pathway that allows you to use your existing skills and knowledge, develop you ones, and can be personally and financially rewarding.
If you are a student who recently scored highly in Year 12, you likely developed valuable knowledge, skills and materials that others would be willing to pay you for. Accordingly, tutoring provides an opportunity for you to leverage and be paid for the competency and skills you have already developed rather than having to start afresh. Essentially, private tutoring enables you to realise your value, which may go to waste or go underutilitised if you decide to take on another casual job. Additionally, having tutoring on your CV is generally looked upon quite favourably by prospective employers.
Frankly, one of the biggest advantages of being a private tutor is the potential for higher earnings. While retail and hospitality jobs typically have low wages, tutoring can offer a higher hourly rate, with tutoring rates generally starting at $30/hr for generalist and inexperienced tutors. This is especially true for tutors who have specialized knowledge in an in-demand or difficult subject, such as Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, Chemistry, Physics or Biology. Tutors with advanced knowledge and experience can charge a premium for their services (some tutors on Learnmate charge north of $100/hr!) providing a more lucrative income stream.
In addition to higher pay, tutoring also offers a more flexible work schedule. Many tutoring jobs can be done on a part-time basis, allowing recent graduates to fit the work around their other commitments, such as classes or other part-time jobs. With Learnmate, for instance, you choose where and how you tutor (such as in-person or online) and when. If a potential student reaches out to you but does not match your preferences, there's no obligation to take them on. This flexibility can be especially beneficial for students who are still in school or who have other obligations.
Tutoring also provides a more fulfilling work experience than retail or hospitality jobs. While casual jobs in these fields can often require repetitive tasks and customer service, tutoring allows individuals to share their knowledge, tips and tricks to help others learn and achieve their goals. This can be a rewarding and satisfying experience, especially for those who are passionate about a particular subject.
Lastly, depending on your desired career path, tutoring can present a stepping stone to other opportunities. Tutors can get a head start and go on to careers in education, teaching, or other related fields. The skills and experience gained through tutoring can be valuable in these fields, providing a potential path to a more fulfilling and rewarding career.
Overall, tutoring is a great job option that provides immense opportunity for recent school graduates. It offers higher pay, flexible work schedules, and a more fulfilling work experience. It can also provide a stepping stone to other opportunities and careers. For these reasons, tutoring is the perfect job for recent high achieving school graduates and we, albeit a little biased, recommend it highly.
