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Is tutoring a good idea?

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by tsmoot4840

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I've just passed my A+ exam. I have to admit I don't know a great deal about PC repair and troubleshooting, but I am really trying to learn all I can. I was recently offered a position to tutor at the college where I took my prep. courses to become A+ certified. I'm also getting a certificate in Information Technology after I complete some co-op hours. I want to succeed in computer technology, do you think tutoring is a good thing to do or would look good on a resume? I'm want a foot in the door, I know I can be great with a little hands on experience and on the job training. Thanks.

14 replies

by paland

As someone who hires technicians and assistants information system analysts, I find that tutoring experience is very helpful if only because many of your first jobs will be user/workstation troubleshooting. We like those who have worked with users because they have learned public relations along with the computer skills. Go ahead and do it and welcome to the IT field.

by pschuvie

Tutoring is one of the best things that you can do to both reinforce your existing knowledge and even more importantly is found out just what you don't know and need to learn.

The questions that others ask and the way they ask them really sharpens your skillset and leads you to being your best. You gain invaluable teaching and communication skills in this process.

Any employer that is serious in reviewing a resume or a candidate will surely be interested in and respective of the tutoringexperience.

Do the tutoring now and don't ever be afraid to continue doing it for as long as your in the business. As you go up the ladder it tends to be called managing or mentoring :).

by mmcdade

I most definitely agree: yes, tutor. Important at this stage of the game, you'll learn what you don't know (beware - your "students/users" will ask questions you never even thought about before, often unrelated to your particular certification). Besides that, you're in an environment (the college where you took your prep courses to become A+ certified) that will enable you to ask and get answers to things you might not immediately know the answer to. Also, check out the TechRepulic article about "Mentoring" - it's an important concept in the IT field, one that helped me a great deal in my "foot-in-the-door" Help Desk position. I knew more than some, but not more than most -- but my mentor taught me a lot that I didn't learn in school.

All in all, consider it a compliment that the college has offered you this position. Take it, and learn, and be patient. Probably more importantly, don't get frustrated because you might not know the answer to something. You have the resources there at the college to draw on.

Go for it!

- Mark

by mmcdade

?Learn by trying to understand simple things in terms of other ideas ? always honestly and directly. What keeps the clouds up, why can?t I see stars in the daytime, why do colors appear on oily water, what makes the lines on the surface of water being poured from a pitcher, why does a hanging lamp swing back and forth ? and all the innumerable little things you see all around you. Then when you have learned what an explanation really is, you can then go on to more subtle questions.? - R. Feynman

by dcosgrove

Sometimes the best way to learn is to teach. I also agree with previous posters, it certainly won't hurt on a resume. I would also assume that if you were offered this position, the offerer has seen a quality in you he admires. If you like his orher teaching style, they may be a good mentor and help steer you in the right direction. IT is a huge field encompassing so many aspects, any help along the way is priceless.

by kloran-[thrawn34

Not only does it look good, but It will help you reinforce what you learned. Personally I would do it anyway. Reguardless of how it would look on a resume (you can always leave it off right?) But in actuallity, it really is a good idea. Not only will you be sharing what you know, you will also be learning more on the side. It actually does look good on a resume as well.

by t1860

By tutoring, not only will you find out your abilities and what needs to be worked on. But also, it will give you the satisfaction that you are helping others. That is always good in the IT field where the ultimate boss is the user.

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