Grrr - TDS vent

[Debi]

About 2 weeks ago, I was shopping in "my" TDS (the one I used to work at - I eventually left for many personal reasons), and my old manager asked me to come back. Because I am going back to school, and at the time was unsure whether I'd be going back in May or September, I took an application and told him that I'd bring it back to him as soon as I found out.

Long story short, I won't be going back to school (going for a second Bachelor's degree!) until September. I am substitute teaching during the day (I'm still waiting for that first call, though), so I took my application back today, with the intention of telling Jerry (manager) that I could work late afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Jerry wasn't in today, so I gave my application to Vivian, our ASM (Assistant Store Manager). She told me that Jerry received a promotion to the Cherry Hill, NJ TDS, and left last week. That's problem number one - Jerry is an incredible manager, and I will really miss working with and for him. Problem number two: the store is currently fully staffed, so they are not in need of any new CM's. I was really counting on this job for the extra income, since my substitute teaching work isn't providing much in that area. I really do miss working for TDS, so I am majorly bummed!

Now, I need to come up with a plan "B." Where do I go now to look for work? Many, many places in the area aren't hiring because of the economy, so should I just lay low for the next 6 months until the semester starts?

 

[mickey65]

What about a tutoring business?

When I did supply work I had my own tutoring business on the side. I made flyers and put them up in grocery stores and other high traffic places. I had quite a few students, and since it was after school it worked out great. I charged a flat rate per hour and set my own hours.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

 

[kdibattista]

Although it may not be what you want, you can always try waitressing/bartending???

 

[Kallison]

If you have your teaching degree I think the tutoring idea is super. Around here tutors get $40-50 per hour.

 

[Debi]

A tutoring business is a great idea! Does anyone know what types of costs, etc. are involved with this?

 

[mickey65]

If you are interested, send me a PM and I will let you know how I set up my little business.......costs....students..ect

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

All my kids have been tutored at one time or another by a Math teacher in our town...she charged $20/hr, which is VERY cheap. (She also loves Disney, so we always buy her presents when we go to WDW, even when she's not tutoring any of my kids. ) One reason I like her so much was because she teaches 6th grade Math, and DD was going into 5th, so she knew what would be expected of her in 6th.

DD was tutored ONCE for Spanish II in high school by the head of the foreign language department, for $35/hour, and did comment that she's been told she should be charging more. This one and only hour and a half with her resulted in a BIG difference in my DD's understanding of Spanish...just needed to get over the hump. The tutor had the advantage of having spoken to DD's teacher beforehand to get a good handle on where she was having problems; good thing, because it was Greek to me.

Both of those tutors have come to our house, altho the Math tutor has also met my kids at the town library after school, at an out of the way table. There are also private rooms, but she never used them. Tutoring occured once per week, or less.

When I first needed a tutor for DD#2, I asked the principal, and she recommended someone who taught at another elementary school, and I just didn't feel comfortable hiring her after I talked to her. So I had asked older DD's Math teacher, and she said that she tutored. I would imagine talking to school principals or putting up signs in the library might help drum up business.

From my end, what I did was give copies of tests to the tutor and a basic rundown on the types of things that were totally freaking out the kid-of-the-moment (like DS and long division); the tutor would bring worksheets to do in the process of tutoring, and then more to do for "homework" (I always felt it wasn't enough homework, but the kids showed dramatic improvement, so I was happy.)

My sister lives in California and tutors at her house after school. She gets about $45/hour, and she has a major side business doing that. She she has a job teaching too...job-sharing...so she's basically half-time employed.

Good luck! I wish I could tutor. If you want any more input from a parent's perspective, let me know. I'm going on a field trip Thursday and can pick some teachers' brains on the bus.

 

[Debi]

Thanks, everybody! Tutoring is something I'll definately look in to. Any other suggestions?