Career & application guide

Tutors

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do tutors do?

Instruct individual students or small groups of students in academic subjects to support formal class instruction or to prepare students for standardized or admissions tests.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Academic Coach
  • Academic Guidance Specialist
  • Accounting Tutor
  • Finance Tutor
  • Grade School Tutor
  • Private Mathematics Tutor
  • Private Tutor
  • Professional Tutor

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Provide feedback to students, using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage, motivate, or build confidence in students.
  • Review class material with students by discussing text, working solutions to problems, or reviewing worksheets or other assignments.
  • Assess students' progress throughout tutoring sessions.
  • Teach students study skills, note-taking skills, and test-taking strategies.
  • Provide private instruction to individual or small groups of students to improve academic performance, improve occupational skills, or prepare for academic or occupational tests.
  • Participate in training and development sessions to improve tutoring practices or learn new tutoring techniques.
  • Collaborate with students, parents, teachers, school administrators, or counselors to determine student needs, develop tutoring plans, or assess student progress.
  • Monitor student performance or assist students in academic environments, such as classrooms, laboratories, or computing centers.
  • Schedule tutoring appointments with students or their parents.
  • Organize tutoring environment to promote productivity and learning.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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