Nitpicky and non-supportive "mentors" ruined a promising gig - Tutor Tutor.com Employee Review

1.0
Sep 19, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible hours and some nice customers/students

Cons

I've been teaching on the college level for more than a decade but wasn't passing their assessments. They didn't like what I was doing, never tired of saying so, and basically ignored my sincere and humble calls for help. Customers liked what I was doing, but that clearly wasn't enough. The problem is, as another reviewer has noted, with their perception of "giving answers." They apparently want you to play a kind of ineffectual and insubstantial game with customers, all in the name of providing supposedly "educational" experiences. When I differed with the program and pointed out that I did have some experience as an educator, hoping I could bring something of value to the program, I was frostily ignored. When I pointed out that I had better ratings at the beginning of my time with them, before they began to actively mentor (i.e. micro-manage) me, my mentor told me that of course I was getting good ratings--I was giving away all the answers. At first this disconnect seemed baffling, but then I recognized it--it is simply the monolithic voice of Corporate America, telling the underlings how things must be and ignoring how they actually are. I used to hear it as a lowly corporate peon, when I hadn't age, experience, or qualifications going for me. Now I have plenty of those and I still hear it. These are the kind of people who, in the name of Quality Control, want to control everything. The people who do not trust a human being to provide customer service on the phone, so they require employees to answer with thank-you-for-calling-barnes-and-noble-it's-a-beautiful-day-in-the-universe-today-this-is-Fred-speaking-how-can-I help-you? I regret that this opportunity did not work out. It seemed like a great way to occupy quiet office hours and stretch a few teaching muscles with some new technology. But I can't deal with their total lack of respect. I should add, in accordance with other reviewers, that Tutor.com will not back the employee against the abusive customer. Many people logged in with no desire to learn, seeking answers, hoping someone else would do their work. I've resisted such users and received bad ratings and bad language, only to be criticized for doing so by my mentor. I'm amazed that the company enables these (often insulting) abusers and dares to call itself an education-based program.

Explore other reviews about Tutor.com

5.0
Nov 3, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Reliable tutoring job that's available online. Easy to use system for the tutor.

Cons

They have a long onboarding process and a lot of links to keep in mind.

1.0
Jan 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The students are usually nice. Work from home.

Cons

There is no appreciation of employees. They give badges instead of raises. Don't be fooled by the $22 per hour posts. They do not pay that much for most tutoring. Most work is under $20/hr. The job that pays $22/hr is horrible according to most tutors. There is twice as much unpaid work involved compared with regular tutoring. This is not a job that pays a living wage. If you think you can stick out a low wage for a few years and then get a better wage from them, think again. They never give raises. The piddly 50 cents in January is not a raise. It is simply based on the minimum wage going up. It's an insult. If you think you can gain experience and then move on to another job think again. They don't give recommendations either. I hate working for this company. They have repeatedly tried (unsuccessfully) to get me to work without pay for things like training and meetings when they only pay min. wage even when they do pay. If they had their way, they would send all jobs to India, but their contract with the DOD is holding them back. This company is owned by the Chinese. Don't expect fair wages. I have to work more than 40 hours a week to get paid for 25 of them. Work-from-home jobs do not pay well, so keep that in mind when you are thinking about the benefits of working at home.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All