How to get Great Client Feedback and Glowing References

A strong, successful tutoring “career” is a valuable way to build up your CV, especially if you have little (or no) work experience. Even after you complete your studies and go out into the working world, many employers will look for relevant experience and good references on top of your qualifications.

Tutoring as a part-time job provides you with a very respectable way to build up your CV, and affords you the opportunity to gain various skills such as interpersonal communications, dealing with different types of people, teaching, time management, and patience to name but a few.

Maximize your chances of receiving positive client feedback and great references from your tutoring career! Here’s how:

Professional conduct

• Punctuality! Nothing will deter a future employer more than a prospective employee who is consistently late. If you ensure that you are punctual when arriving at your tutoring sessions, you will make a great impression on your clients.
• Be well prepared for EVERY lesson and have the relevant resources for the section of work you will be covering. It is a waste of your client’s time and money if you arrive unprepared.
• Be neat, clean and tidy when you go to a tutoring session. This will show that you have a professional attitude.
• Be committed to all the learners you tutor. You have a big hand in the progression of their school career and that is a place of honour. Don’t cancel lessons needlessly, or drop the learner during exams.
• Be honest if there is something you do not feel competent in teaching rather than muddling along and confusing the learner further. It is in the learner’s best interests that you do so. You should then go back, research the topic and come back with the answers.

Relationships

• Do everything you can to be as relatable as possible to the learner. This means being friendly but professional, and using examples which relate to their interests or stage of life where possible. Try to tutor them with reference to their learning style as far as possible.
• Expect the best from your learner. Provide encouragement, and be firm when requesting homework or school books from learners. You should keep distractions, like cellphones, to a minimum during lessons.
• Pay attention to the relationship with your learner as well as your client (the parent). Greet them (if they are around) when you arrive and say goodbye when you leave.
• Give feedback on the learner’s progress. Some clients will want to be more involved than others. If you have concerns about any aspects of the learner’s education, keep their parents updated on this.
• Be committed to assisting the learner achieve their desired outcomes (within reason). Celebrate with the learner when grades improve. This includes making recommendations to the parent to further assist the learner if you see something that can be improved.

Getting Great References

Your relationship with your clients and learners can be very positive and enriching if mutual respect is maintained. Everyone (including the school teacher) has the learner’s best interests at heart, as we’re all working towards a common goal.

Sticking to the above guidelines should ensure that you will always be on the receiving end of great client feedback as well as developing skills and competencies to round out your CV in the future.

Furthermore, excellent references are vitally important in today’s competitive job market, both in South Africa and abroad. You will be able to get great work references from BrightSparkz Tutors as we are often contacted by local and international companies regarding references for our tutors. Having great client feedback allows us to furnish you with a great reference which will help you to move successfully into the future!

To read more about being a great tutor, check out our Ultimate Guide on Tutoring!

Written by Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Author

A version of this article has also been published on our sister-site.