Personal Tutoring

[TooManyAnimals94]

Thinking of a career change. Hit me with advantages/disadvantages, whether it's a realistic full time job option.
I have a degree in English and History, have teaching experience but in a sports environment and gave been self employed before so that doesn't phase me.
TIA

Tutoring what ?

English or history. I assume there is more demand for English tutors as it's a core subject.

Lots of competition so maybe pay rates are low?
Lonely, especially if you are exclusively online.
Unsociable hours: you can only tutor kids when they are out of school, so very awkward if you have kids of your own. Will you have to avoid taking term-time holidays? If tutoring overseas students online there will be the time difference.
If I was hiring a tutor for GCSE or A level I would want one with really strong knowledge of the 'system' so personally I would look for a qualified, experienced school teacher.

That said, I've done a bit of tutoring in the distant past really enjoyed it. I think you need to get into a slightly specialist area to do well. I know someone who taught EFL, where there is huge amount of competition. But they were a contractor for a military training establishment and a finance company, so did well.

Everything WillDoItLater said.

I suspect anyone wanting a tutor for English / History would be looking for a qualified teacher with up to date knowledge of what is being looked for by the examining board ? I mean, I have no evidence to back that up but it is different from someone wanting a concept explained to them in physics or maths which people tend to seek out more.
I'm only going anecdotally but I've only come across people looking for help for their teens with maths / chem / physics and also speaking MFLs.
Crucially you would be working 'outside of school hours' - so how does that fit with the rest of your life ?

Well it won't be full time as by definition its outwith school hours.

I don't think you'd get much traction without recent teaching experience and in depth knowledge of the syllabus either...

Adult ed if teaching for interest maybe?

Thanks everyone. Definitely food for thought. I got my degree as a mature student with the intention of training as a secondary school teacher afterwards. I love teaching but I have my doubts about how well I would fit in in a school environment. I am quite independent minded and I get easily frustrated by red tape and all the crap that comes with any public sector job. I thought this seemed like a good alternative but I could still train, get my QTS and then move into tutoring gradually.
I don't really see why I couldn't give myself a sound understanding of the syllabus by reading up on it and using past exam papers.
@SavingsQuestions I would be keen to get into adult education but when I looked into it, the job spec was very vague and I didn't really understand if they wanted qualified teachers or people with degrees.

Many private schools employ people who are not qualified teachers. You still have to be good at it and work hard though.

I don't really see why I couldn't give myself a sound understanding of the syllabus by reading up on it and using past exam papers.

No doubt, but it isn't whether you believe you could do it well or not, it is about you 'selling' what you have to the customers.

Two adverts : One is a current, or recently retired A-level English teacher, and the other is someone 'who has an English degree so thinks they might be able to tutor people' - which would you pick for your dc if looking for someone to tutor them to a better grade ?

I'm not saying you would never find anyone, and, gradually, over years, build up a reputation if you are good, but you have asked if it is a realistic full time career.

Would it be possible for you to try doing some alongside your current job, and both see how much you enjoy it, and what you can realistically earn from it before deciding to go full time ? Potentially, building up a local reputation if you are great at it, at the same time ?