One of the best ways to get hired as a tennis instructor is by word of mouth. Many insiders say who you've worked with can sometimes be just as important as your own skills. As a former tennis instructor at resorts in San Diego and the Netherlands says:

"You need significant reference job experience to move along in the business. If you were to teach with a guy for two years and you could say, 'I was the instructor under so-and-so for two years,' then you certainly have some basic experience and recommendation from somebody very accomplished in your field. The key thing is that you're able to learn things based on what you're doing every day. If you spend time with a top coach, you can't learn that stuff in school."

Tennis insiders say when trying to get that first resort job, prospective tennis instructors should do their best to convince the resident tennis pro that he or she could use their services. As a way of getting your foot in the door, offer to do things that might not make you a star on the court, but will help the boss. This can include offering to return the pro's phone calls, restring rackets, sweep clay courts, or even take out the garbage. Most tennis pros really are good-hearted people who want to help out beginners, they just need to be shown that you can be an asset to their club.

A longtime tennis instructor says a professional attitude is really all it takes to break into the industry:

"If you're not a slouch, if you're an organized and professional person and you aim to do a good job, that is going to make a big difference when it comes to hiring."

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