Professional Relationships

Whether you're heading to university, an apprenticeship, employment, or a combo of all three, one thing is guaranteed: you’ll be working with people. A lot.

Learning how to build professional relationships - ones rooted in trust, respect, and reliability - is a skill that will serve you far beyond your Yipiyap year.

This article explores what professional relationships actually are, why they matter, and how your tutoring experience has already helped you build a strong foundation for working well with others in any future workplace

So… What is a Professional Relationship?

It’s not just being polite, or getting on with someone. A professional relationship is built on mutual expectations - you show up, you contribute, and you work towards shared goals with others. That might be colleagues, supervisors, or students.

At Yipiyap, you’ve already worked in professional environments - schools - and you’ve had to navigate relationships with:

• Teachers and support staff

• Your Regional Director

• Your fellow Yipiyap tutors

• Pupils themselves

That’s a wide range of people, and with each one, you've had to learn how to communicate clearly, set boundaries, listen actively, and stay reliable.

Key Skills You’re Already Using

Here are just a few of the skills you've already picked up by being in a Yipiyap placement - and how they translate into any professional environment:

1. Communication

Whether you're sending a quick message to a teacher, checking in with your placement lead, or explaining a tricky concept to a student - you’ve been learning how to adjust your tone, timing, and content depending on your audience. That’s essential in any workplace.

2. Collaboration

Working in schools means you’re never working alone. You’ve been part of a team with shared responsibilities and goals. Showing you can support others and take direction when needed is a massive tick on your CV.

3. Professionalism

Turning up on time, being organised, dressing appropriately, and maintaining boundaries with pupils - you’ve practised all of this. Professionalism doesn’t mean being super formal - it just means you’re dependable, respectful, and considerate of how your actions affect others.

4. Problem Solving

From tech not working in lessons to last-minute timetable changes, you’ve adapted quickly and stayed calm. That kind of attitude builds trust - and trust is the backbone of great working relationships.

Let’s Link… on LinkedIn

You’ve spent the year building relationships in person - but it’s just as important to show off your skills online. If you haven’t already, now’s the perfect time to set up or refresh your LinkedIn profile.

Think of LinkedIn as your professional highlight reel. It’s where you can connect with people in your industry, follow organisations that interest you, and – crucially – showcase your experience at Yipiyap. And believe us, you’ve got a lot to shout about.

Here’s how to make your Yipiyap experience shine:

Headline: Keep it simple – e.g. Gap Year Tutor at Yipiyap | Aspiring Teacher

About section: Share what you’ve gained this year and where you’re heading next

Experience: Add Yipiyap and highlight your key responsibilities (like leading sessions or adapting to different learners)

Connect: Add your fellow tutors, RD, the rest of the leadership team too! Then, start making connections with people in the industries you're interested in. The professional world's your oyster!

Taking It Forward

So how do you continue building professional relationships beyond Yipiyap? Here are a few tips:

• Stay in touch with your network:
  The teachers or tutors you worked with might be great future references. Drop them a thank-you email or stay connected on LinkedIn.

• Reflect on what worked well:
  When did a relationship help you succeed? What did you do to build trust or smooth over challenges?

• Use examples in interviews or applications:
  Don’t just say “I’m a great team player.” Show it. For example:
  ”During my Yipiyap placement, I worked closely with the SENCO to support pupils with additional needs. We developed a communication log to track progress, which helped improve consistency and outcomes.”
  

A Challenge for You:

Reach out to someone you've worked with this year - a teacher, a tutor, or another Yipiyap - and thank them for their support. It might feel small, but taking the time to show appreciation and nurture your professional relationships can go a long way.

Plus, if you haven’t already, give your LinkedIn profile a glow-up and start building your professional network now - future you will thank you!