Dear Tutors,
In the past years and especially recently, we are receiving comments from tutors that tuition agencies, in general, are not responding to their applications. In addition, some pointed out that certain tuition assignments are “available” for too long. Let me take this opportunity to share our experiences, which will help answer these concerns.
Incidents of non-response
For each assignment, we can receive 15-50 applications. It takes a lot of effort verifying credentials and interviewing each applicants. Arrangement of timing and fees can take numerous phone calls due to to-and-fro with requester and tutor as well as last minute changes.
As an ex-tutor, I acknowledge that replies is a form of courtesy for the time taken to apply for an assignment. Hence, despite stating in every assignment advertisement that only shortlisted tutors will be contacted, I always remind my coordinators to reply applicants to their best of ability. Nevertheless, in addition to high workload, some applicants are out-right missing the criteria while some simply apply without consideration if the timing/fee/location/etc is suitable.
Long-standing ‘open’ assignments
Parents/requesters sometimes take a long time to confirm a tutor, after arrangements like timing and fees are settled. During this time, we will not mark an assignment as closed, since nothing has been confirmed. The requesters may have applied with several agencies as there is no additional fee to pay for agency services. As such, they may wait for the most qualified tutor that charge the lowest, from all the agencies employed.
As a service provider, we have to accept this ’simultaneous request with multiple agencies’ practice by requesters. We hear analogies like this: Ordering Prawn Mee with several stalls, and see which stall charge me the lowest yet give me the most delicious with most prawns. We seek the understanding of tutors in this regard.
Yvonne Ang
Director
Alison Tuition Agency
http://www.alisontuition.com
Business Reg: 53114281K
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