Oxford graduate turned private tutor - where do you find your tutors?

[passingitforward]

Hi all! I've just started offering private tutoring and Oxbridge mentoring and I'm trying to figure out the best way to find students. I'm an Oxford graduate (Spanish and Languages) based in London with years of experience — I know I have something to offer but I have no idea where parents actually look when they need a tutor!

Do you use agencies, word of mouth, platforms? Tutorful are sadly not accepting applications right now. Would love to know what's worked for you 😊

I'm a tutor (and a parent, though I've never used a tutor for my DC - yet, anyway!) and get most of my students through word of mouth and my own website. I used to get a lot through First Tutors too but it closed recently which has been infuriating. I've joined Tutor Dex as an alternative. Essentially FT only charged parents a one off fee to access a tutor's details, while most of the other big companies charge an ongoing fee - this might be why they are still in business and FT isn't 😅 but Tutor Dex are going with the same policy of a one off fee so fingers crossed it'll work out. I've had quite a few students through them so far, so I think parents are beginning to find it. I've also been on most of the other big ones like Tutor Hunt etc, but I really find the fee structures outrageous. I'm self employed and don't want to pay money to an agency, nor do I think parents should have to pay an ongoing fee to the agency for what was essentially just the introduction!? Anyway, good luck - once you've had a few students, it'll be much easier, as you'll get recommendations.

Thank you so much for this response, it is so helpful!! I tutored on and off throughout my degree, mainly through MyTutor (who take the absolute piss with the cut they grab, and are awful for finding well paid work). RIP First Tutors - I never got around to signing up with them.

Yes, I could not agree with you more on everything you say. These fees are ridiculous, and I have been so disappointed with how much work they offer. I made my own wee website on Canva but am having such a headache with finding those first few clients. I just don't know any parents as I am new to London! 😓 Fingers and toes crossed for some work soon though.

Best of luck! It's a tough career to make it work, but you can definitely can if you work hard and are good at communicating. For visibility you might want to list on a few different websites. I'd try Tutorperch as well, they have a really professional website and it's a no commission model too so it's great all round.

Not a tutor but I had a tutor for my eldest daughter that I found on iTutorOnline, I also looked at sites like Preply but that didn't look very reputable. We're looking for a tutor ourselves currently for Korean, the tutor we had for Jamie (13 has gone on vacation now. if you might know anybody feel free to let us know