DEAR Jasminda,

Earlier this year we contacted a local recruitment agency seeking a maths tutor for our son.

They sent us three resumes and we made our decision based on the one with the most experience.

When we met the tutor, it quickly became apparent that she wasn’t just a maths wiz, but also model material.

My son has been tutored for the past nine months and his maths results haven’t improved, in fact he is now barely passing.

Despite this, he is adamant she is the right tutor for his HSC year.

We don’t think so.

Ken and Marion B.

Dear Ken and Marion,

Having worked in recruitment, I know all the rules.

I also know all the unwritten rules.

Often, despite a candidate looking great on paper, they are not the appropriate selection or the right ‘fit’ for the organisation.

When we hired staff for our company, we were mainly concerned about whether or not they would be open to playing pool on a Friday afternoon (which may or may not have regressed into some very bad karaoke).

Experience in job-specific software, reverse marketing and outstanding communication skills came further down the list.

I feel as though your son is getting a lot out of his tutor, but very little of it relates to trigonometry, linear relationships, single variable data analysis, or probability (though there is a high probability of him flunking maths if you continue with this arrangement).

You need a tutor who looks like Mrs Doubtfire, sounds like Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket and who has the maths skills of Eddie Woo.

If you are paying for his tutoring sessions, you get to choose.

Next time, ask the recruitment agency if you can meet their top three picks before making your final decision.

Your son may thank you one day (but there is a high probability he won’t).

Carpe diem,
Jasminda.