The Online Tutor Schedule
In the world of online tutoring, flexibility is key. As an online tutor, you have the freedom to create a schedule that aligns with your preferences and goals. However, before you start filling up your calendar with time slots, there are several crucial factors to consider. In this blog post, we’ll consider some of the intricacies of tutor scheduling that are easily overlooked and typically only considered as an afterthought. You see, crafting the perfect online tutor schedule requires taking into account financial objectives, student availability, and the importance of downtime.
1. Setting Financial Goals:
Determining your desired income as an online tutor is essential, requiring careful consideration of your financial needs and aspirations. Once you’ve established a monetary goal, such as earning an additional $1,000 per month, it’s crucial to calculate the number of tutoring hours required to reach this target, while factoring in expenses and taxes. For instance, if you charge $50 per hour, you would need to teach for a total of 20 hours per month, averaging about 1 hour per day, 5 days a week. It’s also important to understand the relationship between your hourly rates and the number of hours worked to achieve your financial objectives.
2. Choosing Optimal Teaching Times:
If you are going to succeed as an online ESL tutor in the long run it is important that you assess your personal peak hours for teaching effectiveness. Are you a morning person or do you excel in the evening? However, you also need to consider time zone differences if you’re tutoring students from around the world. Personally, I’ve found success teaching students located in China while living in the United States, Eastern time zone. With a 12-hour difference, my students in Beijing are mostly available in the evenings, which aligns with mornings for me. For instance, if they’re available from 6-9pm China time, I need to be ready to teach from 6-9am EST. If early mornings aren’t your thing, consider recruiting students from North and South America. Alternatively, if you’re available in the late mornings or early afternoons, Europe and parts of Africa might be viable options. However, it’s worth noting that many ESL teachers entering the private tutoring realm often find themselves following up on leads that naturally come their way. In my case, China presented the most opportunity, essentially dictating my tutoring hours rather than the other way around. However, if you’re utilizing a referral service to attract students worldwide, experiment with different time slots to discover what works best for both you and your students.
3. Managing Canceled Classes and Income Stability:
Develop a strategy for handling canceled classes, including policies for rescheduling or refunds, which necessitates determining your contracted terms of agreement. Consider scenarios such as a student forgetting about class, requesting a last-minute cancellation due to an emergency, or providing a 24-hour notice. Your level of strictness should consider factors like your reliability as a tutor, the student’s reliability, and the risk of losing clients and referrals with a stringent policy. As a business, you have to decide what you are willing to lose if a student doesn’t agree with your policy and discontinues classes.
Calculate an average income that accommodates potential cancellations and fluctuations in student demand. Regardless of your policy’s rigidity, there will always be room for cancellations due to sickness, competing obligations, vacations, and holidays. Budget with an average income in mind to avoid feeling like you’re losing money with each cancellation. Aim to earn 10 to 20% more than your desired income goal to provide flexibility for cancellations. Embrace cancellations as opportunities for self-care, family time, or other enriching experiences, rather than viewing them as setbacks. Adopting the right mindset towards budgeting ensures that each cancellation becomes a welcome relief rather than a source of disappointment.
Here Is What Matters:
Crafting an optimal online tutor schedule requires careful consideration of various factors, including financial objectives, teaching preferences, student availability, and the importance of downtime. By strategically planning your schedule, you can maximize your earning potential while ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Remember to remain flexible and adaptable as you fine-tune your schedule to meet the evolving needs of both yourself and your students. With a well-designed schedule in place, you’ll be well-equipped to thrive in the dynamic world of online tutoring.
