Pluspunten
You will have to pass aptitude tests for subject areas you are interested in tutoring. This drives up quality, so it’s a good thing. These tests are a reasonable assessment (I have taken six of them so far, ugh!). They are timed tests (online) ranging from two to three hours. You will have to demonstrate proficiency using the Tutor.com on-line classroom setting. This also drives up quality (by the way, this 20-minute interview will be the only time you will ever speak with a human at Tutor.com). It’s very convenient to tutor. All you need is a decent computer and a high-speed internet connection. Their online resources for assisting tutors are pretty strong, and their administration processes are relatively cohesive (by the way, a criminal background check is required). They pay on time.
Minpunten
I’m sorry to report that you will not make much money with Tutor.com, especially when weighed against the hours you will have to commit. If you are thinking of tutoring as an income supplement there may be better alternatives. I provide more details below. While tutoring, Tutor.com pays in the range of $10/hour. But…. You start off as a ‘probationary’ tutor. Here’s how it works. As a probationary tutor you have essentially no access to the Tutor.com online schedule (where you can sign up for specific time slots to tutor). The schedule opens each Wednesday for the following week. However, by Friday - when probationary tutors are allowed access - the schedule is usually full (I am qualified in six math subjects, so I suspect this situation is not unique). This makes it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm. Also…Tutor.com requires probationary tutors to tutor at least five hours a week. So you may ask…how does this work if you don’t have access to the schedule? Well, you must make yourself “available” to tutor online, and simply wait for students. Guess what…you got it…you don’t get paid for your waiting time. I would estimate that for every 1 hour of tutoring, I am online 4-5 hours, which translates to $2.00 - $2.50 per hour (not counting the time needed to prepare for the various proficiency exams). I happen to be qualified in Calculus, which is a subject Tutor.com advertises as a need, so without this my tutor-to-wait ratio would probably be worse. In my humble opinion, Tutor.com has no intention of rapidly advancing tutors beyond the probationary level. Keeping a large compliment of probationary tutors is essential for their business model, I explain why in more detail below. First….let me discuss the mentors. Tutor.com designates mentors who review your online performance and provide feedback. I appreciate this because I am an engineer, not an educator. But…. Curiously…just around the time my probationary term was supposed to end (~ two months into my term), the feedback suddenly became more punitive. Let me put this into perspective. Here are some comments I received from students along the way (these are real, I promise): “I did some math wrong and he/she didn’t get mad at me!” “Great tutor, so much help” “He was great. I love this website.” “You guys were great and I will come back again” “[Me] was very patient with me and he helped a lot, I really appreciated him.” “I love how you have people actually help us in real life” “My tutor didn’t do the work for me but did help me when I was confused. I would definitely recommend this site” “He helped me a lot” “He is awesome” “He was great” “I love how the tutor went by steps.” “Awesome” “[Me] did a great job simplifying the problem” “My tutor was great, friendly and broke it down for me” “I love my tutor and thought he gave me great encouragement” “[Me] is a fantastic tutor. I appreciate that he was patient with me” My ratings are also high (at least according to my mentor anyway). Then…curiously…I get an “official advisory”: “In a number of your sessions, it has been noted that you are completing the work for the student without engaging the student….” Two months later, I am still a probationary tutor. Well, I didn’t see that coming. Now I fully admit I am not a perfect tutor, but now I wonder if Tutor.com tends to manufacture reasons to not promote tutors beyond the probationary level. Maybe so…I explain more below. Here is why (in my humble opinion) Tutor.com must maintain a large compliment of probationary tutors. Student traffic flow is not constant. Probationary tutors are essential…because they are used to handle peak demand periods, when the inflow of students can dramatically increase (right after school for example). Why else would Tutor.com require probationary tutors to tutor five hours a week? Peak student demand influx is not readily predictable, and the probationary tutors (who are waiting and not getting paid) are there to handle this extra demand. All is well with the students given probationary students meet the same quality standards, but this business tactic maximizes earnings since probationary tutors are paid much less. In other words, tutors that are officially “scheduled” get paid even when waiting…probationary tutors do not…it’s actually brilliant! It is also important to understand that tutoring sessions may have time limits. Why you might ask?…again it maximizes earnings. Here’s how it works. Tutor.com has contracts with institutions (e.g., a public library, school system, or the Department of Defense). These are (my guess) fixed-price contracts. By placing suggested time limitations on tutoring sessions, they put pressure on tutors…who get paid hourly…to bring sessions to an “educationally sound conclusion” within these predetermined limits (e.g., 18 minutes). Less money for the tutor translates to more money for Tutor.com. This is my single biggest complaint about Tutor.com, I am constantly rushed. So my main point is that Tutor.com is a business - and as with any business their principle goal is to make money. Unfortunately, the tutors…the front line… have little stake or claim (for example, I find it curious there is no forum to facilitate communication, or share ideas, between tutors). Again…I am well compensated in retirement, so I don’t need to tutor, heck I would do it for free if Tutor.com would give me better access to the schedule. I’ll let you judge if you want to join their ranks. Right now I am on the fence. If I knew what I know now, I probably would have gone in a different direction.