As too many of us know all too well, slogging it out for minimum wage as a barman at the student union can be a little, well, exhausting. It’s no surprise, then, that many students across the country have started cashing in by working as a part-time tutor. The money far surpasses anything you’re likely to find elsewhere, and it also looks brilliant on your blossoming CV.

If you’re already studying a subject at degree level, it’s sort of a given that you understand all of the fundamentals that underpin the things you’re currently learning. This is what makes tutoring such a spectacular source of cash – you probably know the subject well enough to explain it to a GCSE and A-Level with minimal preparation.

Freelance VS agency

There’s an almost endless number of agencies out there who are always looking to recruit, and a quick Google search for “private tutor” along with your respective university town will generate a heap of results. It’s also worth getting in touch with your university careers service, who will be able to guide you towards local reputable agencies. Reputable national agencies include UK Tutors and First Tutors.

Ideally, you want an agency that doesn’t charge for membership, and which doesn’t take too much of a slice of your earnings. For A-Level tuition in London, tutors can expect to make £35 per hour after the agency has taken their cut. This is still a great deal for you, and has the added advantage that by working for an agency, it is in their financial interests to keep finding you work.

Going freelance can be a little more difficult to get started, as you have to manage your own publicity. This can be difficult if you don’t know where to look, as many parents and guardians automatically default to agencies to find tutors. This is not to stop you from joining an agency then ‘cutting out the middle man’ once you have established yourself a decent client base and reputation, sneaky as it may be.

In short, going freelance will prove more challenging, but has the added benefits of claiming your full pay packet, along with additional flexibility in terms of hours and commitment (although agencies generally demand very little from you). You’ll have more success as a freelance tutor if you really put yourself out there, which is much easier if you’re in a smaller town. Friends have attempted publicity through posters, flyers and social media, with varying degrees of success.

Getting them the grades

The approach you take to your tutoring will vary from client to client. Some clients will want their children to truly improve their knowledge of a particular subject, while others may simply want you to instil basic exam techniques or the ability to regurgitate a mark scheme. You must have the skills to perform both, depending on the situation.

If your client has given you some flexibility in this area, it is best to properly manage your time efficiently in time for any impending exams. If you have enough free time to hold several sessions per week, you can set them with a steady pace. This will make the information easier to digest for your tutee, and will also increase the time you spend tutoring, putting more money in your pocket.

In any case, since you’ve already sat the exams and got the grades, you should understand what needs to be done. SQA host free past papers for all subjects and levels, and the internet opens up a world of resources at your disposal should you need them. One notable example is Khan Academy, though be warned that over-use of the site could cost you your job, on account of the brilliant free lessons it offers in the form of YouTube videos.

Don’t hold back

While this probably isn’t something you can do over the summer (although some manage to turn it into a profitable and enjoyable career), it is something you should start cashing in on as soon as possible. Although many lax university courses have already come to an end, there’s still ample opportunity to cash in on the school term times that run until the end of July. And with work that’s just so simple and pays so well, there’s really no excuse.

Tags: Earn cash , Earn money