Recently, we posted an ad on Craigslist to hire some new tutors, both Math and Reading. In the ad, we specifically stated that replies should include a resume and cover letter and information about teaching or tutoring experience. The Learning Center I work for has a very low student to teacher ratio and we individualize for EACH child. Teachers are preferred, though Math tutors who are willing to learn methodology (how to teach or reteach effectively), are welcome too.
I've received some very good responses, more than we can hire right now, though we'd love to have them all.
Still, there are the ones you just read and wonder: "What the HELL were they thinking?"
Some examples (some edited for privacy reasons, even people who are...slow on the uptake.... are allowed some privacy):
Hello,
I am 26 yrs old young professional and have been working for XXXX as a
Cxxx Engineer for about 2.5 yrs. I am engaged and will be getting married
next May. My evenings are free and I am also willing to tutor on the
weekends. I have attached my resume. If I can be of any assistance to you,
please feel free to give me a call. Thank you.
This one did include a resume, but nothing on the resume had the slightest hint of ever working with or as a tutor.
And frankly, I don't care about his soon to be marital state. And I think if he really thinks all his evenings will be free for the next few months, is he mad???
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On the other hand, this one had no resume or cover letter:
Good Morning,
I have just moved to the Sugarland area and I am currently looking for a teaching position. I find your program very interesting.
Thank you for your time,
Bxxxxx Bxxxxx
In fact the above letter was ALL the contact I've had with this applicant, even after I emailed back to ask for a resume. Hey, sometimes, you just forget to do the attachment. It happens.
And it's Sugar Land. Two words.
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However, for sheer brevity... this one has the other beat. Yep, no resume attached. This one I didn't email back for a resume.
"I am a mathematics teacher and I have taught Algebra, Geomitry, College Algebra, and Precalculus. I am very much interested in the job. "
Very good. Still no resume. Still no job.
PS, Two Words: Spell. Check.
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This one might have been good. IF she'd attached a.... all together now: A RESUME!!
I was once certified to teach High School Math in N**. My BA was in Math, with an Education minor. Subsequently I spent 3 years in graduate school (divinity) & worked with various youth programs during that time. More recently I've worked in computer system design & programming and would be interested in some sort of part time work teaching or tutoring children.
Please let me know how to proceed.
Rxxx Jxxxx
xxx-555-1234*
Afterwards, she did provide a resume, (hey, I give every applicant a chance to correct the "oops forgot the attachment" problem. Sigh, she'd had a little experience, but not much and a LONG time ago.
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I think the most frustrating have been the two prospective tutors with whom I've had a telephone interview, and asked to come in for an on site interview. They didn't show. One had been held up at work, which is fine for him, but kinda puts him out of the running as a tutor. You have to show up, and you can't do that if your primary job doesn't allow that on a regular basis. He'd have been a good tutor I think... I suspect he's a great employee.
The other tutor didn't even show up, or call. She did send an email, about 15 minutes after I'd left to be at the center during non operational hours, for her interview. We didn't have enough hours for her. Y'all. We were also very explicit as to how many hours we were open a week. She should have done the math BEFORE applying.
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But for sheer briefness, brusqueness and, well, bad manners, this one took the cake:
I have great training in reading for beginners through grade 2 and I taught all subjects in first grade. Please tell me exactly where you are located and salary if interested in me for part time work
She did include a VERY brief sort of resume, included in the body of the message. She did have some experience as a teacher, and might have been...worth interviewing... at least. However, all things did not proceed well for her.
This is her next email, after I'd asked about where she lived, and for which center of the two we are/were looking to hire tutors did she want to be considered for, and to please include a phone number where we could reach her. This was her response.
I'm located in eastern Katy just off of I 10. I'm closer to some places along Memorial. Please tell me the salary. I want to work no more than 25 or so hours a week.
This last email prompted an email I've written, but not sent. It probably wouldn't be very nice, and I don't really want a pissed off idiot...err... I mean person out there potentially bad mouthing us.
Well, for what it's worth, here it is.
Good morning Ms X,
If you would read the advertisement that you responded to, you would note that we are only open about 20 hours per week. Hourly rates for tutors are determined by experience. A tutor starts out with a training pay rate, and then the rate is raised. Yes, even experienced teachers need a training period for our method. We would talk to the tutors about hourly rates during an interview.
Ms X, I'd like to make some constructive suggestions for when you respond to other advertisements for tutors or tutoring positions, so that you might correct some of the missteps you've made with me.
1). Read the ad, and follow the requests. For example: We asked for a resume and a cover letter. These are, usually, provided by the applicant in an attachment.
2) Your emails to me have been rather...demanding. Remember, you are asking for a job. I'm not begging you to take it. Courtesy counts for a lot. Starting your emails with a "Hello" or "Good Morning"... sets a more courteous tone.
3) In my first follow up email to you, I requested a phone number contact. (You did supply this later than I started this email, thank you.) There was a reason for this, you see, I wanted to conduct a preliminary telephone interview with you. A telephone interview would allow us to determine if our position was one you wanted, and if you were a good fit for our positions, without having to burn gasoline and time.
4) We are looking for tutors who can teach students from grades 1 through 12, using proper grammar, spelling and writing (for different purposes) skills. Many of our students are grade 3 and above. We are working on polishing some skills and teaching organization and elaboration skills for others. In addition, we teach vocabulary, and the students are usually studying fairly high level vocabulary. In short, we are looking for someone who has a wider range of skills than you have presented in your (brief) resume.
I wish you good luck in your search for a part-time position as a tutor, or as a teacher at a private school. However, I must tell you that your search did not end with us.
So, what should I do? Send or just keep as a rant? Am I wrong about insisting that demanding a salary (for an hourly rate, part time job) is a bit...well...rude, especially as we'd included, in the advertisement, that hourly rate would be dependent on experience?
Sigh...
1 comments:
Plant a seed!