There are tens of thousands of students whose academic progress was negatively affected by COVID-19. Individualized tutoring is one way that they’re getting back on track and returning to grade level. Whether you’re interested in teaching in the future, you’re rounding out your resume for graduate school, or you’re looking for a fulfilling volunteer position just because, virtual tutoring can easily check your box. Here are 5 reasons all college students should consider a virtual tutoring volunteer role.
- You can acquire skills that employers look for
When you volunteer as a virtual tutor, you gain a skill set that all employers look for. These skills include leadership, communication, organization, and project management.
As a tutor, you’re responsible for creating an enriching educational project for the children you teach. You’re the primary individual in charge of the experience, and you must create a fulfilling experience by being a good communicator and staying organized.
This is an ideal way to practice fundamental skills that you’ll need at any job in the future. Regardless of whether you plan to teach in the future or not, these are valuable skills you can take with you.
- You’ll gain work experience
Not all work experience needs to be paid. You can tutor for a few hours a week and gain experience that you can put on your resume. This is especially helpful for students who may not have worked all through college.
If you weren’t able to take internships over the summer because you were taking classes, or you didn’t want to jeopardize your academics by adding in a professional endeavor, then you may feel like your resume is looking a little blank. Being a virtual tutor can be as big or small of a commitment as you want it to be. Volunteers work from home and coordinate with the student’s parents to develop a flexible schedule.
This is an easy and fulfilling way to fill out your resume and gain experience that you can take with you to your next position.
- You’ll build out your professional network
Networking isn’t all about going to events on campus. If you’re preparing to apply for jobs or graduate school, you may be worried about your ability to get letters of recommendation or references. Virtual tutoring is another solution. Connecting with an organization like The Education Project allows you to further your professional endeavors and gain real-life experience with people who can vouch for your work history, skills, ability, and work style.
In fact, The Education Project has a strong pool of volunteer tutors from pre-med, pre-law, and pre-graduate school backgrounds. We not only provide letters of recommendation upon request, but we’ll also be rolling out optional certifications for tutors to provide an additional boost to applications.
- You’ll improve your mental and physical health
Volunteering isn’t all about your resume. It can boost your mental, emotional, and physical health because it increases dopamine. While you may feel stressed at the thought of adding something more to your schedule, chances are you’ll only feel better after you spend time volunteering.
Moreover, among all the benefits of volunteering, many relate to how volunteers feel following their service. For example, volunteering provides them with a sense of purpose because it allows them to have a stake in something larger than themselves. Even on your stressful days, you’ll be able to remember that you’re serving someone — a younger student — who needs your help.
This can also provide a sense of community — pushing you to meet more people, get involved in additional causes, or spark your interest in a new passion. Most volunteers are able to see the difference they’re making in the student’s life shortly after they begin tutoring (within just a few months).
- You can decide whether this is a field you’re interested in
College is all about exploration. If you’re teetering back and forth about whether or not education or teaching is for you, why not try it? Some people will never be able to decide whether it’s for them until they do it.
Use a hands-on approach like virtual tutoring to see whether you’re interested in pursuing education as a major or which age group you’re most interested in working with. The best thing about pursuing a program like this is the fact that the barrier to entry is so low.
You don’t have to make it a huge part of your life, you don’t have to travel to do it, and you don’t have to worry about any job-related paperwork. You can take on just one student, work with the family to ensure the schedule is optimal for you, and volunteer as long as you’re comfortable.
- You can leverage your tutoring experience into paid work later (if desired)
There’s no shortage of demand for paid tutors both online and offline. That’s one of the reasons that The Education Project is such a great resource for families. Providing free tutoring resources to students who maybe couldn’t afford it otherwise is our biggest priority.
Although we hope that tutoring can be as accessible as possible, not all tutors want to volunteer their services forever. If you’re looking to use tutoring as a side hustle in the future (for instance, when you’re a graduate student), it’s valuable to have some professional experience. Tutoring clients are always more likely to hire you when you have work experience first, especially as a freelancer.
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to get out of your comfort zone and try something new? College students are the perfect candidates for virtual tutors. They’re exploring their interests, looking for work experience, and benefitting from mental and physical health boosts.
Learn more at The Education Project for more information about how you can get involved at an entirely volunteer-run organization for students in grades K through 12.
You can register as a tutor online at the Tutor Registration Form. Professionals, graduate students, college students, and high school seniors are all eligible to apply.