I started my journey here at RareJob PH in December 2022 as a part of the Applicant Relations Team. As one of the Applicant Relations Coordinators, I mainly oversee the complete application journey of tutor applicants. We ensure they will have a positive and seamless experience throughout the application process.

Before joining RareJob PH, I was an ESL tutor myself, with experience working in different ESL companies. Teaching various kinds of people online is both challenging and exciting, and it can be expected that every class will be different. Even though teaching is fulfilling and exciting, I wanted to try something different, while still staying in the ESL industry. Luckily, when I was job hunting, I stumbled upon the job posting for a Tutor Recruiter in RareJob PH. I didn’t waste time and immediately applied for this position, and fortunately, I got hired.

Here at RareJob, I discovered things I didn’t know about myself. I was used to working independently, but at RareJob, I am surrounded by incredible teammates who are there whenever I need them. I have a fantastic supervisor who supports and encourages me to level up. I could say that I feel more confident in sharing my opinions and exploring a lot of things that can help me grow professionally.

One of the best things about working here at RareJob is the flexibility of the work-from-home setup. While it might not be the ideal fit for everyone, it has been a perfect match for me. However, since we work from home, we know it can sometimes feel isolating. Sometimes, there might not always be immediate guidance on what to do next, especially for the tutor applicants, but that’s where we come in. To ease the worries of our tutors-to-be, we assist them with the step-by-step process to help them navigate their journey. We make sure to always be there for them, answering questions and providing information promptly. We believe that feeling supported and heard is incredibly important, and we want to make every aspiring tutor feel comfortable and confident throughout their application process. We want to create a positive experience and ensure our tutors-to-be know they’re never alone in their journey.

As I mentioned, I was an ESL tutor before. I’ve faced many hurdles working from home, such as occasional internet issues, unexpected power outages, and sometimes, distractions from my surroundings. However, working from home will be much easier if you are prepared to face those challenges. Instead of focusing on the difficulties, I concentrate on the benefits. Working from home gives me much time to enhance my professional and personal life, with making my day-to-day life productive as my ultimate goal. Rather than commuting to the office, I can use that time to accomplish more tasks. I also get to sleep well at night and eat healthier food as I’m more focused and motivated.

With the remote setup, fostering a good relationship with my teammates is paramount in having a positive work environment. We hold weekly meetings to understand where each of us is currently, and in those meetings, we lay out our concerns, opinions, and ideas. We also discuss complex concerns from our tutors-to-be that need other people’s perspectives to ensure that we deliver a top-notch response to them. In addition to those meetings, my teammates and I consistently communicate. As coordinators, we are in constant communication with one another and other teams, and we make sure to look into every aspect of the concerns.

Not only do I communicate with my team and other departments, I also make an effort to consistently stay in touch with our tutors-to-be. Addressing their concerns promptly and responding appropriately to them is our top priority. It is crucial in our line of work since trust is one of the foundations of having an amicable connection.

As the first point of contact for tutors and tutors-to-be, we play a pivotal role in setting a positive tone and shaping their overall experience. Immediately addressing concerns with professionalism, empathy, and efficiency, we build a great foundation of trust and confidence. Welcoming and responsive environment from initial contact ensure a smooth and satisfying journey. The trust and confidence that we will build will lead to better outcomes for both parties.

Walking the path of becoming an ESL tutor is something not everyone can do with ease. There are many things to consider before deciding to do this exciting and impactful job. You need to embrace a few essentials to thrive in this role. You must have a genuine passion for teaching; without passion, teaching may not feel as meaningful. Passion can make you do things with love and great understanding. In addition, having an interest in diverse cultures also helps with handling classes. As an ESL tutor, you will encounter people from different parts of the world.

Being updated with the latest teaching methods is vital to ensuring your students’ progress. No student is the same; personalizing each lesson to boost their progress is something that an ESL tutor should invest time in. Different approaches should be considered in order to achieve a desirable result.

Furthermore, communication and patience are also crucial. We all know that learning a language is challenging. However, excellent support and encouragement can make a significant difference on this arduous path.  Engraving all of this in oneself will make a person an effective ESL tutor, and also make a great contribution to the positive educational journey of the students.

From my experience in my team, characteristics such as strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and effective communication ensure success in our dealings with tutors and tutors-to-be. Staying connected and involved in every step of the tutors-to-be application process is necessary, after all, and being detail-oriented and highly organized can make managing multiple tasks and inquiries easier. But, for me, the most important traits to have in my field are a collaborative mindset and the ability to build rapport with the team and tutors-to-be. A friendly and supportive coordinator makes all the difference in their journey.