Who is a tutor and what do they do?

This person is an outstanding representative of their field. With rich experience and deep knowledge, s/he has achieved significant success, which makes him/her an authority among colleagues and followers. Flexible thinking and the ability to innovate enable successful problem-solving and creative solutions.

Furthermore, this individual actively participates in public life, sharing their experience and training the next generation of specialists. Their contribution to the development of the industry, as well as their professional achievements, underscore a high level of competence and dedication.

Using their skills and knowledge, this individual inspires others to achieve and develop, serving as a role model. This individual's successes and achievements make them an important figure in their field, as evidenced by numerous awards and recognition from the professional community.

Maxim Bulanov is an experienced tutor and the author of the popular Telegram channel "Childless Tutor." He also holds a teaching position at Moscow City Pedagogical University (MCPU) and the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE). Maxim graduated from Moscow State Pedagogical University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Philology and a master's degree in Educational Tutoring. His work encompasses modern approaches to student learning and development, making him an expert in pedagogy and tutoring.

Tutors play a key role in determining the educational trajectory and developing individualized learning plans for their clients. In recent years, private schools and universities have seen a trend toward hiring full-time tutors, but many professionals are choosing to work freelance. This allows them to provide more flexible and personalized educational services tailored to the unique needs of each student. Tutoring is increasingly in demand as it helps students achieve their academic goals and develop the necessary skills for career success.

We discussed the key challenges, workflows, and future of the profession with one of its professionals.

First Steps in the Profession

My first experience as a tutor began during my master's degree, when I completed an internship. Then I tried to get a job as a tutor at a Moscow lyceum, where I was teaching Russian language and literature at the time, but, unfortunately, I was unable to do so—the school showed no interest in my candidacy. After that, I decided to end my teaching career and become a private tutor, which allowed me to approach teaching more flexibly and work individually with students.

I created my own website and pages on the social networks Facebook and VKontakte. I thought long and hard about the name of the project and ultimately decided to add the word "tutor" to my name so that people could easily associate me with it. I sent a link to my page describing my services to the database of all the students I had previously worked with (about three hundred people). This allowed me to receive my first orders for Russian language tutoring, essay writing, and tutoring. Now I am actively developing my project, offering high-quality educational services and a personalized approach to each student. I collaborated with the Perspektiva Center for Creative Initiatives, where I participated in the development of the career guidance program, Program A. My role involved reformatting the educational environment and acting as a tutor. I worked with curators from fields such as IT, architecture, and art to create curricula that can now be classified as educational design. I developed methodological recommendations so that the programs included not only lectures and workshops but also opportunities for student reflection, discussion of the learning process, and project work. I also actively participated in classes at Perspektiva, assisted in their delivery, and during field trips and visits to various locations, I acted as an observer and tutor. After the trips, we held discussions with the children, sharing our impressions and knowledge gained. In this way, I contributed to a deeper understanding of the educational process and the development of critical thinking in students.

A tutor is a key element of the educational environment. For a freelance tutor, the task is more complex, as they must clearly define their area of specialization and effectively communicate this information to potential clients. Their resource map includes numerous city and media resources, but they lack the leverage to solve the problems students face in educational organizations. Understanding their niche and the ability to present their services are important aspects of a successful freelance tutor.

A full-time employee plays a key role in the team, influencing the design of the educational environment and establishing rules of interaction. A full-time tutor acts as an intermediary between the system and students, which makes this position especially important. His work contributes to the improvement of the educational process and the creation of an effective learning environment.

What a freelance tutor's workday is like

I consult with teenagers aged 12 and up, students, and adults. We develop long-term relationships with some clients, while for others, five or six sessions are enough. We usually have several meetings, take a break, and then clients return to discuss their achievements and changes in their lives. On average, I work with five clients at a time, which allows me to maintain a comfortable pace and the quality of my work.

My workday starts around 10-11 am. I have several projects in addition to consulting work, and I try to minimize the number of calls in favor of face-to-face meetings. This allows me to interact more effectively with clients and colleagues. Before each session with a client, I devote about an hour and a half to preparation: studying literature, reviewing previous conversations, and analyzing them. I don't have a strict routine, and I limit my consultations to two per day. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so I always leave time for meetings with friends and relaxation. This approach helps me maintain productivity and high-quality work.

What does a tutor do?

Before starting a collaboration with a client, we establish clear terms, define expectations, and determine the format of the work. After the first meeting, I create a visual summary reflecting the client's history and request and offer suggestions for changes. This allows the client to better understand their priorities, and we can confidently begin working together. I strive to ensure that the client is confident in their educational and personal development. At the end of the work, we return to the initial request, analyze whether expectations were met, the path taken, and what changes have occurred.

People come to us with a variety of requests, and the main task of the tutor is to organize and support the mentee's reflections on their educational situation. The support process includes key stages: request formation, solution path design, solution testing, and program adjustment. These stages help ensure effective interaction between the tutor and the client, facilitating a deep understanding of educational goals and ways to achieve them. This approach not only promotes critical thinking but also allows the client to independently find optimal solutions, which is an important part of the educational process.

I don't always follow a set plan, as sometimes the client faces new circumstances that require a prompt response. In the face of new events, an old request may lose its relevance. I help the client understand these changes and confidently adapt to them, providing support in the decision-making process.

Consider a situation where someone has moved from one country to another and is considering a master's degree as a way to integrate into a new society. It is important to determine whether studying for a master's degree is the only way to achieve this goal. It is necessary to analyze the experience and knowledge the person already has, what skills they have acquired in the past, and what opportunities open up in the future depending on the chosen program. This approach will help you more consciously choose your educational path and ensure better socialization in a new cultural environment.

The client has completed approximately 40 courses and trainings of various formats over two years and is seeking help organizing this process. We begin by defining their goals—what job they want to get, what skills they already have, and which they need to develop to achieve their desired career. It is also important to identify existing deficiencies and discuss how they can be addressed.

In recent years, I have worked less with teenagers than before. However, among my clients, I have a twelve-year-old boy whom I help develop independent time and study management skills. My goal is to teach him to effectively plan his studies and manage his time, which is an important aspect in becoming a successful student.

The key qualities of a tutor include a fair attitude, consistency in words and actions, flexibility, and the ability to learn. As soon as you start to think you know everything, it’s time to think about changing professions. It's important to remember that a successful tutor is constantly evolving and adapting to new conditions, which allows them to effectively support students in their educational process.

The most interesting and most challenging part of the profession

Tutoring for me is a unique opportunity to interact with people. Using various methods and support techniques, a tutor can create a space in which a client can understand their educational situation and identify current issues for solution. During individual work with a tutor, I immerse myself in their problems and needs, providing not only advice but also my support, which allows them to better cope with current difficulties. This helps the tutor make important decisions about their education, as well as see their educational history and their place in it. Tutoring is not just a methodology; it is a path to understanding yourself and unlocking your potential.

The most challenging thing in this profession is learning how to properly share your energy with each new client. When interacting with a tutor, you have to build a relationship from the ground up. It's like shaking a mercury thermometer before using it to get an accurate reading. It's important to free yourself from the influence of previous or current contracts and realize that certain methods may be effective for some people, but completely useless for others. Sometimes I don't have the right technique for a particular client because of their unique way of perceiving information, and I need to understand how they perceive the world. Understanding these nuances is key to successful work.

Professional Failures

I once encountered an unfortunate case. I was working with a student from my school. At first, I acted as a tutor, and then became her private tutor. She was at the stage of choosing a study profile after the eighth grade.

The problem was that every week we were exploring a new area of her interest and developing plans for in-depth study. However, she would arrive at the next session as if she had completely "reset" after interacting with her family, and we would have to start from scratch again. This created difficulties in the learning process and hindered progress. The need to re-immerse herself in the material hindered skill development and reduced the effectiveness of the lessons.

At the end of the school year, the student's parents said, "Thank you, it was interesting, but we're ending the lessons and will now focus on preparing for exams." However, our work wasn't yet complete. Two years later, at graduation, this girl's mother shared with me that by ending the lessons prematurely, they had missed an opportunity to help her, as she still felt uncertain about her knowledge and future prospects. People realized that additional steps could have been taken, but I failed to convey to them the importance of continuing the work. This misunderstanding left a sad mark on the history of her education.

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