How to build a job-winning tutor cover letter
Tutors are essential for the success of all students, helping to review and reinforce the material covered within a classroom. To earn a position as a tutor, you need a cover letter that excellently describes your area of expertise, experience as a tutor, and any relevant skills and accomplishments that qualify you for the job.
In this guide, we will cover 5 key steps for writing a cover letter as a tutor. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Craft your tutor cover letter header & headline
- Tailor your tutor cover letter with a personalized greeting
- Write a compelling tutor cover letter introduction
- Showcase your skills and accomplishments as a tutor
- Conclude your tutor cover letter with a thoughtful closing statement
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
See more examples like these
1. Craft your tutor cover letter header & headline
The first step to writing a great tutor cover letter is to craft a well-formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header is a necessary element that includes the identifying information about the applicant and employer, while the cover letter headline is an optional element that serves as a title introducing the main topics of the document.
Below are more in-depth explanations and examples of each of these elements:
Formatting the header
The header of your tutor cover letter is essential, located at the top of the document. This is the first information the employer will see, so making sure your header is well organized and accurate is crucial.
Your header should include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the school or company you are applying to, as well as the department
- The address of the school or company
Here is an example of a well-formatted tutor cover letter header
Jack Smith, Writing Tutor
(123) 456-7890 | jacksmith@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jack-smith
To: The University of North Carolina Asheville, Writing Center
1234 Street Address
Asheville, NC, 28804
Writing the headline
While writing a headline on your cover letter is optional, it can be highly effective in compelling an employer to read further when well-written.
To create your tutor headline, you should always include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective tutor headline, followed by a brief breakdown of its main components
My Proven Track Record as a Tutor & How I Can Improve Your Students’ Writing Ability
Trigger Word/Number: Proven Track Record
Keyword: Tutor, Writing Ability
Adjective/Verb: Proven, Improve
Promise: Your Students – this detail indicates to the employer that you have tailored the information in your cover letter to address the specific needs of their students.
2. Tailor your tutor cover letter with a personalized greeting
Tailoring a cover letter for the specific position you are applying for is always important. To do so, you will need to thoroughly research the school or company beforehand. Details to pay close attention to include who will review your application and what types of students you will be working with.
A personalized greeting is a greeting that addresses the exact person who will review your application by name. This immediately shows the employer you have done your due diligence in researching their institution beforehand and that you have excellent attention to detail.
Examples of personalized greetings include
- Dear Principal Jane Doe,
- To Mr. Joe King, Tutor Center Manager,
- Dear Principal Jane Doe & the Tutoring Department Team,
Find out your resume score!
3. Write a compelling tutor cover letter introduction
While the greeting and headline of your cover letter help to initially grab an employer’s attention, your introduction is where you will keep them intrigued with an excellent overview of yourself and your reason for applying.
A strong introduction on a tutor cover letter will often include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) – including a mutual acquaintance not only provides a trusted professional reference but also helps to build rapport and credibility immediately.
Here is an example of a well-written introduction on a tutor cover letter
Dear Principal Jane Doe,
I am a Writing Tutor with more than 4 years of experience editing essays, teaching grammar concepts, and reviewing learned materials. My college professor, Dr. Lin Miller, is a member of your school’s Student Success Committee. Dr. Miller alerted me to this opening and recommended I apply, as I have a proven track record of improving high school and college student writing skills.
4. Showcase your skills and accomplishments as a tutor
With your introduction now in place, it’s time to delve into the specifics of your skills, qualifications, and relevant accomplishments. A good tutor cover letter will contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer key questions such as:
- What excites you about working at this school or company?
- What skills and areas of expertise do you possess?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What experience do you have working as a Tutor?
Unlike a resume, a cover letter offers you ample space to fully describe your relevant skills.
Examples of key skills for a tutor include
- Patience & confidentiality
- Active listening
- Leadership
- Extensive knowledge of specific subjects (Writing, Math, etc.)
- Excellent verbal communication
- Curriculum progression & remediation
Showcasing accomplishments is especially important as well, as these can help to show an employer the real-life value you can offer to their institution and students.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a tutor cover letter
As a Writing and Math Tutor for [Previous Employer], I completed an average of 10 sessions per day, working with between 1 to 3 students per session. As a result of my tutoring, these students raised their test scores by 35% and their overall grade averages by 65%.
5. Conclude your tutor cover letter with a thoughtful closing statement
The final element of your tutor cover letter is a thoughtful closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a tutor cover letter
I am beyond excited to be considered for this opportunity, as I am certain I can help your students to succeed in a wide variety of subjects. I would love to speak with you directly about this position and am available to meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If I do not hear back in a week, I will reach back out to check on the status of my application.
The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890. I look forward to hearing from you!
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
