This is a longer version of a post that I made on LinkedIn:
Now that I have been an “active” member of LinkedIn since retiring from the classroom, I have been trying to figure out how to use this potentially powerful tool to the benefit of building my modest online tutoring business. My most recent self posed questions have been whether or not to ask former students and colleagues for recommendations and if so which ones? I have decided that the answers are yes and everyone. My next question then is: how do I go about doing that?
Everyone is busy with their own careers and families, time is at a premium and no one likes to be put on the spot. As such, I decided that putting out a general request in the form of a post would be a low stress (for me) and a low pressure (for you) experience. I thought that I would tell you about my goals and then if you feel inclined you can feel free to send an appropriate recommendation my way. If you are too busy or someone has already said what you would have said or you just don’t want to, you are off the hook.
If you have read this far, I was probably your teacher or teaching colleague at some point so thanks for connecting and clicking on this post. (You might want to grab a coffee right about now…) When I retired, 3 years ago, I knew that I would be looking for something interesting, fulfilling and modestly financially rewarding to do. Tutoring was an obvious progression from classroom teaching and I began doing it in-person. I really enjoyed the experience. I was working with students when I wanted to and being paid for my time. However, at the same time that I was recognizing the downside of requiring a regular appropriate venue (quiet, not too busy etc.), I began dabbling with online tutoring. Initially I worked for an online tutoring company. Unfortunately, I quickly felt constrained by the platform that was provided, a lack of good support and the fact that the company was keeping close to fifty percent of what the client was paying. Long story short, I was able to develop my own online classroom that allowed me to do almost everything that I could do in person. Really, the biggest difference from in-person tutoring is just how incredibly convenient it is for both me and the student. As a result, every client (with one exception) who has had a free half-hour trial in my online classroom has gone on to book me for paid sessions. Even the ones who were contacting me for in-person tutoring. The one exception was a student looking for SAT Chemistry preparation on short notice.
So I have met my first goal of having my own viable online tutoring platform and I am doing eight to twelve hours a week. My next goal is to get my weekly hours up to about 20 and also begin to implement group pre-test reviews. My classroom can accommodate up to ten students comfortably. This will be a great way for students to access tutoring economically and a little better pay back for me. The challenge is accessing and organizing the potential students.
If you have read this far, you probably got an “A” in Chemistry 12. Regardless, thanks for reading and whether you are a former student or colleague, if you are interested in helping me out, please send a recommendation my way. On the other hand if you have any advice to help me with my endeavour, send me a note I’m all ears.
For those you not on LinkedIn, feel free to give me feedback in the comments below. Or if you are on Twitter, give my tutoring website a shout out: www.bctutoringonline.ca.