Teacher Career Change

I've been hired for jobs I was a bit "under qualified" for twice (what I'd call "stretch jobs"). One was a job managing a team of people when I'd never had a full-time management role, or done the job of the people I'd be managing. The other was leading a talent acquisition team when I'd never worked in talent acquisition. Here are a couple of tips/take aways that may be helpful: 1. I was recruited/referred by someone who knew me and was invested in my success. In both cases, a friend shared the role with me. I didn't think I was qualified for either but they helped me see why I was which built my confidence, and were able to advocate for me as a strong candidate with the hiring managers. How you can use this: Job search out loud. In both cases, this was a friend who was in a position of access. Your friends have a vested interest in your success that strangers on LinkedIn don't. So let people in your personal network and community groups what you're looking for. Reach out to former colleagues. Use the "people" tab for a company to find connections you can leverage for referrals and introductions. 2. Talk the talk of the target job Even though I didn't have full time management and instructional coaching experience when I moved from teaching to a management role, I had gained these skills through a leadership role as a grade level chair, I'd done trainings, I'd led an onboarding program, I'd managed a team for a summer teacher training program. Even though I hadn't had a full time recruiter role, I'd built hiring processes, acted as a recruiter for the team at my non-profit helping to fill nearly 100 full and part time positions in 2 years when we didn't have a full-time recruiter. When interviewing, I focused HEAVILY on those examples and experiences. I didn't want the person interviewing me having to make mental leaps to figure out if my work experience was relevant. So I gave examples that aligned to the kinds of things they noted I'd be doing in the job description and throughout the interview process. 3. I benefited from timing/location constraints. Y'all, I would not have been the first pick for these jobs. But in both cases, I lucked out that timing was't ideal for those organizations. Both were roles that had to be based in specific locations which limited the applicant pool. Both were hiring at less ideal times in the field of education which meant they were getting fewer applicants. How you can use this: If it's possible to target onsite/hybrid roles, do so. There's much less competition. Target fields that are hiring more heavily (the BLS reports can help here). Right now, that's education, healthcare, construction, government, and transportation (in that order). Of course there's the broader context of the job market and such that factor in as well. In 2024, it might take the same effort to land a job you're qualified for that it took to land one we were stretching into a decade ago. But hopefully this helps!

Marsha was in her 50s and hoping to make a career pivot. "Have I got chance?" she asked me. I'll tell you what I told her: Ageism in the job market is real. But, if you are prepared, you can overcome the obstacles. It had been years since she'd applied or interviewed for a job. We worked together on her resume, LinkedIn, networking, and interviewing to package her for the job she wanted. When she called to say she'd gotten an offer for a great new job in pharma, with a 30% pay increase, I was jumping up & down!! I want to be clear that this was not easy. It took a lot of focus. Here is the multi-pronged approach we worked on together: 🎯 Resume Strategy: ↳ Focus on impact ("Delivered $2M in savings" vs "25 years of experience") ↳ Go back no more than 15 years  ↳ Highlight current technical skills, leave off old ones ↳ Take the graduation year off all degrees ↳ Contact info should include only city, state (no street address) ↳ Ditch the AOL, and hotmail email addresses; they date you 🌐Networking Strategy: ↳ Reconnect with former colleagues & give them an update ↳ Practice talking about your skills and abilities ↳ Speak to others who've successfully overcome the age barrier ↳ Make sure your LinkedIn profile follows best practices ↳ Work toward 500+ connections ↳ Post and comment on LinkedIn weekly 🏢 Employer Strategy: ↳ Target 40-50 companies with age-diverse cultures ↳ Talk to people in similar roles & ask about key skills ↳ Ask HR/recruiters about their hiring process ↳ Follow each employer on social media to learn priorities 💡 Interview Strategy: ↳ Lead with energy and genuine interest ↳ Show you've done your research with deep preparation ↳ Be ready with stories that include cross-generational work ↳ Share examples of your adaptability and growth mindset ↳ Talk about new skills you've built and show you're on top of trends ↳ Communicate your experience working with diverse people 🤵🏼Personal Strategy: ↳ Take additional courses & certifications to keep your skills fresh ↳ Stay current in your field with podcasts and social media ↳ Make reasonable adjustments to your appearance ↳ Clothes should fit well and be current, but not "trendy" ↳ Avoid language that "dates" you (ask a trusted younger friend) Remember: You're not "overqualified" You have battle-tested wisdom. That, along with these strategies, will set you up as a strong candidate! ♻ Repost to help people who are facing ageism in their job search 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more strategic career insights

Teachers transitioning to remote work - your skill set is more valuable than you realize. Your Elite Edge pivot strategy: 1. Identify remote-ready roles that match your background - instructional design, corporate training, learning and development, curriculum creation 2. Translate your experience into business language - classroom management becomes stakeholder coordination, lesson planning becomes project management 3. Upskill strategically - focus on tools and platforms remote companies actually use (not just what sounds impressive) 4. Target high-demand sectors - EdTech companies, corporate L&D departments, online education platforms 5. Craft a compelling video pitch explaining your career pivot - authenticity resonates more than perfection Frame this transition correctly: you're not leaving teaching behind, you're scaling your impact through technology. That's a powerful narrative that hiring managers understand. Your teaching experience translates directly to skills remote companies desperately need. Own that story. Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/43qe7 #teachertransition #remotework #careerchange #careerpivot #instructionaldesign #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #careerstrategy

I sent an offer letter to a candidate who had been trying to transition out of teaching. When I called to tell them they got the job, the first thing they said to me was: “I didn’t think I would get this job because I didn’t think I had the skills to do anything but teach since it’s majority of my experience.” Now they’ll be working in our call center, helping customers daily and I’m so glad we saw what they didn’t yet see in themselves. Teachers have incredibly valuable skills that transfer seamlessly into corporate roles. Some of the skills they had on their resume? • Skilled in conflict resolution and de-escalation, consistently mediating issues between students, parents, and colleagues in high-pressure environments • Proven time management abilities, successfully balancing lesson planning, grading, meetings, and classroom instruction within tight daily schedules • Strong verbal and written communication skills, experienced in conveying complex information to diverse audiences including students, parents, and administrators • Customer service-oriented mindset, with experience handling inquiries, resolving concerns, and building positive relationships with families and stakeholders They didn’t leave the classroom empty-handed, they brought a full skillset with them. Congrats to them! 👏🏽

Everyone researches job reqs when planning a pivot. Almost nobody does this instead. If you're trying to pivot, the worst part isn't updating your resume. It's sitting there thinking, "Where do I even begin?" I've seen this happen a lot with senior professionals who want to move into a different lane. - They're capable. - They've built rock-solid careers. - But a pivot still feels like starting from scratch. Here's the LinkedIn search almost nobody runs. Let's say you're a teacher who wants to become a project manager. Your brain immediately goes to certifications, courses, and if you're "qualified." And suddenly it feels overwhelming. There's a simpler way. Find others who've already made that move. 1. Go to your LinkedIn homepage. 2. Type "Teacher" into the search bar. 3. Then click on "People." 4. Then hit "All filters." 5. Add "Project Manager" to keywords. Now you're seeing people who used to be teachers and are now project managers instead of guessing or building some imaginary bridge in your head. You're looking at proof. That makes it real. Let's go one step further now. Open a few profiles and look at their timelines. - What role did they take first? - Did they move straight into PM? - Was there a stepping stone midway? - What are they using in their headlines? - What did they emphasize from teaching? You'll start to see patterns. And once you see patterns, your pivot stops feeling like a leap into the dark. Now, at some point, you're going to think, "Okay… but how do I actually reach out?" Keep the message short. Tell them you found their profile while researching the pivot. Ask one question about how they did it. I dropped a template in the comments. You're not trying to impress them, you're just a person noticing someone a few steps ahead on a path you're considering. Sometimes that's enough to start a real conversation.

I see so many posts each day of educators venting their frustrations about applying to tons of jobs with no luck. Job hunting is hard on a good day, and making a career pivot is even more difficult. I get it, I've been there more than once. If what you're doing isn't working, here are some ideas: 1️⃣ Take a step back, stop applying, step away from your resume, and get intentional. 2️⃣ Make a list of all of the skills you've acquired in your current career. Not tasks, skills. Then, narrow that down to the 3-5 skills you want to use and develop regularly in your new career. 3️⃣ Identity a professional and/or personal value that aligns to each skill. Don't skip this part! This is the 'why.' 4️⃣ Research careers and job roles based on your skills and values. Network with people in those roles. 5️⃣ Pick your top 3 role types based on your research. Take your resume and make 3 digital copies. Start aligning your resume to each role type. (For example, I had a content marketing resume, an instructional design resume, and a corporate training resume.) 6️⃣ As you read job descriptions, look for your skills and values in them. If a job description doesn't match at least 3 of the 5 skill/value sets you've identified, it's not for you--don't apply. Stay focused. I transitioned out of the classroom in just 3 months back in 2022 using this method. Then, I changed industries in 2024 in under 3 months using the same process. I can't guarantee what your timeline will be, but this technique works. When you're clear about what you want and what you bring to the table and can communicate it succinctly, it's easier for others to see how your personality and former experience make you a great candidate. Try it. What have you got to lose? 👇🏿👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿 Hi, I'm Lauren and I'm a #formerteacher turned Creative Marketing Manager. Follow me for more content related to #education, #mentalhealth, and #transitioningteachers!

🚨 #Transitioningteachers: Stop doom-scrolling LinkedIn looking for jobs. If your entire strategy is refreshing the same oversaturated job boards as everyone else… You’re not job searching. You’re entering the most crowded room in the market. And it’s draining your energy. The most competitive boards = the least strategic use of your effort. If you want traction, you have to search smarter. Here are a few of the job boards I actually recommend 👇 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 • EdSurge: https://lnkd.in/gZvN8sDM • Edtechjobs: https://edtechjobs.io/ • Skip: https://edskip.com/ • EdTech: https://www.edtech.com/ • HigherEdJobs: https://lnkd.in/gU8urqjy 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 & 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 • Union Jobs: https://www.unionjobs.com/ • Idealist: https://lnkd.in/gPTJ55Rg • Work for Good: https://workforgood.org/ • On Purpose Careers: https://lnkd.in/g9H4DGTN 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 (There’s often less competition here) • City and county career sites • State government portals • Community colleges and universities • Public agencies (many post roles separately) A few strategy notes most people miss: ➝ Smaller niche boards = less saturated applicant pools ➝ Government roles often value educators’ leadership + systems experience ➝ Search by job title AND the problem you solve (ex: "Training Specialist" + "slow onboarding times") Don’t just search harder. Search intentionally. 🎯 Save this for later. Repost so another teacher finds it. And drop a board I missed below 👇 ___ I’m Carissa 👋 I help overworked and undervalued teachers and administrators transition into fulfilling, sustainable careers without burning out or starting over. 🔔 Follow for honest transition strategy and grounded clarity ♻️ Repost for an educator who needs to see this 📅 Book a free Career Clarity Call to build your exit plan (link in bio)

👋 Hey #TransitioningTeachers You can be something other than an instructional designer. 🌟 If you’re a teacher planning your transition, you’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “You should go into instructional design!” And yes—instructional design is a wonderful path and one that I love. It uses so many of the skills teachers already have: planning, assessment, communication, creativity, and empathy. But here’s what I wish more teachers knew: 👉 There are so many more things you are qualified for than just instructional design. Some of them might even be a better fit for you. You’ve spent years designing learning, solving problems, managing projects, coaching, adapting to change, and translating complex ideas, as well as encouraging students that they need to learn what you are teaching. These skills unlock numerous opportunities beyond the ID realm. You could become: 💼 A Sales Executive—getting the right solution into the hands of those that need it (think EdTech, Curriculum and beyond). 🎤 A Corporate Trainer or Facilitator—working directly with adults. 🧭 A Learning Program or LMS Manager—overseeing systems, budgets, and strategy. 🧩 A Content Developer or Technical Writer—crafting resources, articles, or sales enablement strategy and job aids. 📊 A Project Manager—running initiatives that need clear communication and structure to keep all involved informed and working within the deadlines (we all know teachers are fabulous chaos coordinators). 🧠 A Customer Support Specialist—helping clients use the software or products. Instructional design is a great lane, but it’s not the only one. Your skills aren’t limited to the classroom or one job title. They’re transferable, adaptable, and valuable in almost any learning, tech, or communication role. ✨ You can expand your vision to fit your potential instead of shrinking your skills to fit others' expectations. 💬 What’s a career path you’ve discovered that surprised you outside of instructional design?

The biggest mistake career pivoters and transitioning teachers make? ❌ Not having clarity. Many transitioning teachers are at the end of their rope.  They want to “hurry up and leave teaching.” They desperately list on their headline every possible career: Customer Success, Project Management, Edtech, Copywriting. ❌ This approach does NOT work. Here's why: ➡ If you aren't clear and specific about what you are looking for, it will be hard to convince a hiring manager or recruiter that you are the right fit. Once I decided to change careers, I started by evaluating my skills and strengths. I listened to teacher transition podcasts. I found teachers who had successfully transitioned out of the classroom. I heard project managers share about their roles, and it resonated with me. I knew I had the skills and passion for project management. I dove in to upskilling. I curated my resume to reflect a project management lens. Within 3 months, I was in a Project Manager role and passed the PMP exam. ➡ Take time to narrow in on the industry or career you want to be in. ➡ A focused, intentional resume and job search plan is what you need to successfully transition out of the classroom or into a new role. Don’t underestimate this step.  If you don't have a plan, you're not ready to apply to jobs. Make a plan. Know what you want. If you need help with resources, send me a DM. Bonus: Another mistake I see career pivotors make? Vague headlines. ➡ Make sure your headline is clear in what you are looking for. Don’t focus on being a “transitioning" teacher or “former military.” Your headline is a first impression and what we see when you leave comments. Make it count. #transitioningteachers #careerpivot #jobseekertips #projectmanagment

5 skills that helped me move from teaching high school math to becoming a Data Scientist: 1. Communication I used to explain algebra to teenagers. Now I explain models to stakeholders. Same skill, different audience. 2. Problem Solving Teaching taught me to think on my feet. That same mindset helps me debug models faster than I ever fixed lesson plans. 3. Adaptability Tech changes constantly. My ability to learn new tools quickly came straight from years in the classroom. 4. Commitment I kept going when things didn’t click right away. That discipline from teaching is what carried me through tech. 5. Clarity The best data scientists don’t hide behind jargon. They make the complex sound simple. ✨ Teaching prepared me for data science in ways no bootcamp ever could. You already have transferable skills. You just have to see them differently. P.S. What’s one skill from your past job that still helps you today? #DataSistah 📌 Save this if you’re pivoting careers. 🔁 Share this to remind someone their experience still counts.