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What Writing Center Tutors Do

Writing Center employees are trained to work with students during any stage of the writing process and to help with all kinds of writing tasks. Some tutors volunteer for additional training so that they can help with public speaking.

Tutors work 6-8 hours per week, are well paid, and gain valuable experience. During their scheduled hours at the Writing Center, tutors meet one-on-one with peers for 60-minute in-person or online conferences. Tutors are expected to submit reports and timesheets on time and participate in professional development activities or special projects while on shift. Mandatory training takes place at the beginning of each semester and during weekly staff meetings.

Strong candidates exhibit excellent interpersonal and critical thinking skills. They are acute readers, able to analyze the structure and content of an argument, and good at carrying on conversations about complex ideas. You don't have to be a perfect writer to work at the Writing Center—a love of writing, intellectual curiosity, and eagerness to learn are what matters. We hire students from all majors, and students who are pre-med, natural science majors, or fluent in languages other than English are encouraged to apply.

Writing Center Peer Tutor is a Level II position. Tutors are hired for one academic year and receive preference during the next year's hiring cycle. Students who are rehired for a second or third year are eligible for pay increases.

The Hiring Process

Hiring occurs once per year, in the second half of the spring semester.

Step 1: Download the detailed instructions and read them carefully.

Step 2: Download and fill out an application form.

Step 3: Prepare a writing sample.

Step 4: Ask an instructor or campus staff member to serve as a reference.

Step 5: If you have never visited the Writing Center before, make an appointment to work on a current assignment.

Step 6: Turn in your application and writing sample by Friday, April 12, 2024. Email the documents to Dr. Callaghan (writingcenter@brynmawr.edu).

Step 7: Finalists will be selected and invited for an interview during the last few weeks of the semester.

Job offers are extended during finals. The applicant pool is competitive: only a small number of new staff members are hired each year, and there are always more qualified applicants than openings. If openings arise mid-year, a qualified applicant from a past hiring cycle is invited to fill it.

Suggestions for Interested Students

Use the Writing Center. The best way to gain an understanding of the work that we do is to experience it first-hand. Try bringing in assignments at different points in the writing process, and work with more than one tutor so that you get a sense of different tutoring styles.

Hone your written and oral communication skills. Take advantage of your instructors' office hours to seek advice about which aspects of your writing could be improved. Take courses with frequent writing assignments and with professors who provide feedback on writing.

Gain experience tutoring or teaching. Take the Department of Literatures in English's writing pedagogy course, an Education course, or a creative writing workshop. Work as a content tutor or teaching assistant. Swap drafts with friends and classmates.