What do you do if you're an educator wanting to transition into a non-teaching career?

Follow your heart and your passion and be authentic! Everything else will fall into place if you are honest and real, and in it for bettering the lives of students and your fellow teachers.

If you're an educator looking to transition into a non-teaching career, the first step is to identify your transferable skills and interests that can apply to other fields. Reflect on your experiences in areas such as communication, organization, leadership, and problem-solving, as these are highly valued in many professions. Networking is essential; reach out to former colleagues, attend industry events, and connect with professionals in your desired field through platforms like LinkedIn to gather insights and advice. Consider pursuing relevant certifications or additional training that can bolster your qualifications and make you more competitive in the job market.

Network to learn about the skills you will need and to assess where best you can apply them. Find where you can match those factors which drive and satisfy you with what is needed in a new position. And always self assess and be willingto take risks based on your strengths

When I began my transition into a non-teaching career, I started by connecting with people at the companies or who were in the positions I was interested in. I also began to compile a list of the "qualifications and expectations" that were common for the roles I would be applying for and finding ways to apply those to things I did as a teacher. For example, a desired expectation I often saw was "managing multiple projects on a deadline". Well, when DOESN'T a teacher do that?! I also was fortunate to have a significant collection of \ artifacts that illustrated my range of qualifications and talents that I compiled into a Wakelet Portfolio (wakelet.com) and added the URL and a QR Code to access it to my resume. Good luck!

As a teacher/ educator you would have so many transferable skills to identify and showcase in your CV. Don't be afraid to use different terminology . I realised that I had management, leadership and project management as well as facilitating and presentation skills . I was reluctant to use these terminology as the imposter syndrome in some way ticked with me.

I went from education to ministry to construction. Any transition can be made if you can learn new skills. So, search for jobs that pique your interest and that you can find satisfaction in doing.

Trying to avoid cliches. Change in life is inevitable. When we are young soooo many doors are unopened and we feel our fullest power since we see ourselves as holding so many cards with many hands to play! I try to link old skills to new opportunities for learning and contributing to any setting where I land. I like to be fully engaged and connected with people who are still excited by their work and life choices. Once I engaged I become analytical and take in the operational and interpersonal dynamics and blend them into the work at hand. i learn what is expected of and from me so I can be an asset to the operation and enhance our outcomes and also respect the dynamic needs successes of our team. I like to understand the boundaries ??

Teachers are busy. Leaving teaching made me realize how busy I had been. I had never taken the time to really think about how I wanted to work and live so it took me a while to know what I wanted to do. I didn't just want another job; I wanted to continue to do work that I loved, and that would positively impact my community. I encourage anyone contemplating leaving teaching to give themselves the time to think about what they want to do, what kinds of problems they want to solve, and what they want their day-to-day life to look like.

I think it's important to explore a variety of options - but I would say narrow down the options you actually want to pursue. Choose 2-3 roles that interest you, and consider the daily responsibilities. Decide what you want and consistently pursue that. Employers can tell if you are unclear about where you want to take your career. I chose to be a K-12 instructional designer because I loved education, and realized in my last year of teaching that I favored the lesson planning/course-building responsibilities more than the actual art of teaching or training. Find your strengths and what you love and consider roles that allow you to shine!

Science education has a wider breadth that just teaching in a public school. Outreach programs and non-profit museum entities often need professionals that not only have a background in the research, but also the ability to convey that information to the general public.

At first, I struggled to recreate my resume for consulting work. Then I realized that I was trying to TEACH someone about who I am and of what I am capable. Once I reframed that thinking, I recognized that my resume was my introduction to new clients and that my goal was to meet them where they were. I maintain a complete CV and then pick and choose applicable content for each client. This allows me to provide concrete examples of my knowledge and skills necessary to do the work. I cultivate communications about who I am (passions, priorities, mode of operation, etc.), what I am able to do, and how I am a good fit.

I've found the most useful way to frame my experience on my resume was to discuss how my skills could bridge gaps between simply teaching the material and presenting it in a way that is both educational and engaging. Some topics could be considered "dry" depending on presentation, but emphasizing my ability to synthesize those "dry" topics and make them exciting for multiple age groups through presentation and demonstration has been very successful.

It has been helpful for me to use a skills-based resume that focuses on what I’ve learned from each of my jobs. By placing all of my skills right at the top of my resume instead of organizing it by job title. In doing this, repetition is decreased and some of the things that I would normally leave off get some shine.

Networking can be instrumental in finding a new role and providing knowledge on how to transition. I utilized LinkedIn to build authentic connections with others in the field that I was looking to move into and focused on sharing what I learned with others not only learning from others but sharing what I learned and offering value to my network. This helped me to further build authentic connections within my network and led to more opportunities through recruiters. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and building a community is key in transitioning - I've now been able to help others in their transition.

Spend time in spaces that make you feel uncomfortable! The best thing that you can do to gain perspective is go to free networking events or seminars in what you’re interested in. It’s the best way to get a feel for the community where you may become a member.

As a teacher, I maintained relationships with the science research community. Those relationships led to unique professional development opportunities that expanded my network. I continue to build connections by attending conferences and workshops, challenging myself to interact with people I don't know but would like to, and participating in conversations that require me to be my most thoughtful self. Through all of these, I am continuing to grow professionally and personally.

Do your research on how your teaching skills are transferrable outside of the profession. Once I figured out how to word it on my resume, cover letters, and verbalize in an interview, I felt golden! Networking is always going to be number one, but be prepared with examples on how you can complete a task with the knowledge you already have.

I have always loved learning. Learning requires risk-taking and discomfort, which I have never shied away from. As a teacher, I was always learning from my students and colleagues even though I was thought of as a person who "knew stuff". As a researcher and consultant, I find myself seeking opportunities with new people and working on new kinds of projects. I continue to challenge myself to seek discomfort and take risks while being true to who I am. I volunteer with multiple nonprofits that function at different levels of community: international, national, regional, and local. When someone asks if I can learn a new skill to support an initiative, I jump at the chance. I don't always succeed but I always learn!

I was able to teach part-time and began volunteering with a charity that I was passionate about. When I started applying for other charity sector roles, the CEO of the charity with which I volunteered offered me a part-time permanent position. It was a little of 'right-place, right-time' but if you don't put yourself out there you'll never know what could be.

Definitely don’t be afraid to learn and fail!! There are so many ways to interact with new field that you may need to test a few waters by taking a course at a community college or spending time with You Tube University. You won’t learn everything, but you’ll learn most things. Don’t be afraid to take chance on yourself by taking a pay cut for experience, if you can afford it.

When I moved away from education, I lost confidence in myself and thought that I wasn't able to do anything as my skills and knowledge were all about children and the classroom . I am now confident in my new corporate role. A teacher/ educator can deal with difficult situations/ colleagues as well as difficult tasks ;resilience and adaptability are my strength. Do not despair if you are not shortlisted , keep applying - you will find your dream job !

I transitioned from engineering education to government to managing infra programs and projects in the WB; on the side, part-time, I trained as a certified psychoanalyst and now continue in all the cylinders. It takes interest, motivation, and perseverance.

Teachers have a confidence that extends beyond the classroom. As a person who is in leadership and control all day, sometimes it can take a real adjustment and deep conversation with ourselves to understand that may not be the same in our next career. You may be starting from ground zero which means humbling yourself to an environment but knowing you belong. Don’t let age, gender, or title get in the way. Just be honest with yourself and take everything one day at a time with your future in mind.