Dear tuition coordinators, have you ever felt that there will always be tutors or parents who tend to waste your time? For me, I have often felt so. On advertisement days, I will often receive two types of calls. One would be to enquire about the hiring of private tutors and the other would request us to search for a private tutor.
For the latter, I would get the necessary details and embark on the search of a suitable candidate and after some time, get back to the parent. Out of which, there is only 50% chances that I will actually close the deal successfully. Here are a few reasons why:
1) Other agencies provide better tutors or tutors who charge lesser.
2) The parents decided not to get a tutor after much consideration like time arranging and costs.
3) The students do not have the parents' permission to hire the tutor.
I believe the above scenario is familiar to many and it does not feel nice when you go all out and face rejection in the end. On the other hand, there are tutors who tend to take up your time when they keep questioning about an assignment then decide not to take it.
Frustrating as it is, let us learn the skill of tolerance as we continue in this career path. All the best to fellow tuition coordinators and hang in there. Continue to give in your best so as not to let yourself down.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Story 14 - Lonely tuition coordinators
Many people have the perception that tuition coordinators work individually because they are fearful of their own clients being snatched away by other coordinators. However, tuition coordinators should work hand in hand instead to secure clients by their side. Why is that so?
Imagine having many allies whom you can rely on to get tutors for your clients. How would that feel? Indeed, there might be a chance that your client then becomes loyal to your co-broke partner in future but it can be the same for you too! Just like you refer clients to your partners, so will your partners refer clients to you. In fact, yout clients will even be touched that you have their interests at heart and they end up becoming your loyal clients for long.
Now, imagine having many other coordinators ally against you. Do you feel even more threatened because the chance of losing your client is even higher? Facing the many other choices that the opponents provide, how confident are you of servicing the parent well?
From experience, I can say that co-broking is a win-win situation because both parties stand to gain. Moreover, it does not harm to have more allies than enemies so tuition coordinators really should learn to work hand in hand.
To add on, it is lonely to work as an individual, especially when you have many cases on hand and there is no one to share the workload with you. You might get lots of commission but it can never replace yor health and time. Tuition coordinators out there, do take some time to ponder, what is it that you want to achieve in this career?
Imagine having many allies whom you can rely on to get tutors for your clients. How would that feel? Indeed, there might be a chance that your client then becomes loyal to your co-broke partner in future but it can be the same for you too! Just like you refer clients to your partners, so will your partners refer clients to you. In fact, yout clients will even be touched that you have their interests at heart and they end up becoming your loyal clients for long.
Now, imagine having many other coordinators ally against you. Do you feel even more threatened because the chance of losing your client is even higher? Facing the many other choices that the opponents provide, how confident are you of servicing the parent well?
From experience, I can say that co-broking is a win-win situation because both parties stand to gain. Moreover, it does not harm to have more allies than enemies so tuition coordinators really should learn to work hand in hand.
To add on, it is lonely to work as an individual, especially when you have many cases on hand and there is no one to share the workload with you. You might get lots of commission but it can never replace yor health and time. Tuition coordinators out there, do take some time to ponder, what is it that you want to achieve in this career?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Story 13 - A gentle reminder for tutors
When I first started out as a tuition coordinator, I kept hoping for an assignment to come soon. When the first one finally came, the next thing to do was to find a suitable tutor to send down for lessons. Soon, I received a few more assignments and it was at that time when a problem cropped up.
One of my tutors who was supposed to have tuition on a particular day, did not turn up at all for tuition. Of course, the parent was boiling mad because the tutor did not make a single call to explain himself. It was only when I called up the tutor that I realised, he had gotten the tuition day wrong.
Since then, there had been a few more similar cases, only that the tutors got the timing wrong. In fact, there were some who went to the wrong place because they got confused which parent was which. It then struck me that there had to be something done and it had to be done- fast. Thus, I decided to send gentle reminders to tutors to ensure that they can go down for lessons smoothly.
Initially, some were negative because they felt we thought they were forgetful. However, it was no harm to send out a gentle reminder and so I did not take their comments to heart. Luckily, majority of the tutors appreciate our reminders for there were some really forgetful ones. It certainly feel good when the tutors actually thank you for those simple reminders.
So for tuition coordinators out there, do send reminders to tutors regarding their tuition lessons, for it will benefit yourselves and the rest.
One of my tutors who was supposed to have tuition on a particular day, did not turn up at all for tuition. Of course, the parent was boiling mad because the tutor did not make a single call to explain himself. It was only when I called up the tutor that I realised, he had gotten the tuition day wrong.
Since then, there had been a few more similar cases, only that the tutors got the timing wrong. In fact, there were some who went to the wrong place because they got confused which parent was which. It then struck me that there had to be something done and it had to be done- fast. Thus, I decided to send gentle reminders to tutors to ensure that they can go down for lessons smoothly.
Initially, some were negative because they felt we thought they were forgetful. However, it was no harm to send out a gentle reminder and so I did not take their comments to heart. Luckily, majority of the tutors appreciate our reminders for there were some really forgetful ones. It certainly feel good when the tutors actually thank you for those simple reminders.
So for tuition coordinators out there, do send reminders to tutors regarding their tuition lessons, for it will benefit yourselves and the rest.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Story 12 - A need for updated profiles of tutors
Recently, I was searching for a full time tutor when something struck me. Out of the many calls that I had made, some of the tutors were no longer giving tuition. In fact, they sounded pretty irritated when we called them up, as if we were harassing them for nothing. Also, there were circumstances where the tutors had actually converted from full time tutors to part time tutors and vice versa.
As a result, those who are now part time would assume that we are ridiculous to require them to give tuition during working hours. Meanwhile, those who are now full time tutors would complain that we never bother to give them a ring when there are assignments. Through these few incidents, I realise that there is an urgent need for the tutors to update their particulars in their database.
Honestly, what is the use of a database if you have to ask every question you need to know about the tutor? I am certain that by the time the phone call ends, both parties would be quite tired from all the asking and answering. Troublesome and maybe even irksome, isn't it?
Of course, in order to have updated profiles of tutors, both the tutors and tuition coordinators have a part to play. Tutors would have to be diligent enough to do constant updating, example, a change in contact numbers or a change in status, etc. Tuition coordinators, on the other hand, should send out reminders in case the tutors are so busy that they forgot about updating.
This way, with the cooperation of both parties, we can prevent making unnecessary calls and not result in two unhappy parties at the end of the phone. I hope this entry will be beneficial and set as a reminder to all other tuition coordinators. Thank you.
As a result, those who are now part time would assume that we are ridiculous to require them to give tuition during working hours. Meanwhile, those who are now full time tutors would complain that we never bother to give them a ring when there are assignments. Through these few incidents, I realise that there is an urgent need for the tutors to update their particulars in their database.
Honestly, what is the use of a database if you have to ask every question you need to know about the tutor? I am certain that by the time the phone call ends, both parties would be quite tired from all the asking and answering. Troublesome and maybe even irksome, isn't it?
Of course, in order to have updated profiles of tutors, both the tutors and tuition coordinators have a part to play. Tutors would have to be diligent enough to do constant updating, example, a change in contact numbers or a change in status, etc. Tuition coordinators, on the other hand, should send out reminders in case the tutors are so busy that they forgot about updating.
This way, with the cooperation of both parties, we can prevent making unnecessary calls and not result in two unhappy parties at the end of the phone. I hope this entry will be beneficial and set as a reminder to all other tuition coordinators. Thank you.
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