My 6 Top Tips for Teachers Transitioning from the Classroom [2021]

Let's be honest.

It's been a brutal year.

And it's been an especially brutal year for teachers.

I get contacted by at least one teacher per week on LinkedIn with the same question: What advice do you have for a teacher who's trying to make a career transition out of the classroom?

I navigated a similar transition in my own career over ten years ago and here's what I've learned:

1. ABN: Always Be Networking. You never know where your next opportunity might come from, so always bring your best "interview" energy to all of your relationships and be open about what you're looking for. After spending weekend after weekend writing cover letters at a coffee shop, I found my first post-teaching Digital Curriculum job through my study abroad roommate's group house roommate from Craiglist (wild!). Your first post-classroom job won't be your last, so developing the skills to build, nurture, and grow your network will serve you so well in your second (and third...and fourth...) career transitions.
2. Be curious and ask questions - before you have the job. Don't know what a product roadmap is? Don't know about NPS scores? Integrations? Content Marketing? Don't worry! But it IS your responsibility to do your research and never stop learning.
3. POST. It can feel so defeating to not hear back about a job, or get rejected, or not know where to start. One thing you can do - and you don't have to ask anyone for permission - is to post on LinkedIn every day. Yes. Every. Day. I have my coffee every morning and I take 15 minutes to share out. It's become a joy to connect, collaborate, and meet new thought partners from around the world. There's no one stopping you from building your brand but you.
4. Lean on your non-technical skills. You can learn the technical skills for any new job, so show off your non-technical skills to stand out. I can't begin to tell you how hard it is to hire someone who can:

• listen empathetically and build relationships with diverse sets of audiences
• organize a complex project and then adjust the plans in a moment
• facilitate a group conversation and give an engaging presentation, including developing all of the original content
• provide meaningful, actionable feedback and coach towards goals
• AND do it all with a sense of humor, grit, and resilience.

6. Don't limit yourself to EdTech. I understand the desire to focus on the familiar, but there are so many other teachers who are in the same pool of applicants trying to transition into the sub-sector of Tech that is "EdTech." Don't limit your networking or your search process. I often hear the (relatable!) desire to have a positive impact on the world and continue to engage with educators and on education issues, but there are so many different types of technology companies, and even non-tech companies, that make a meaningful difference to communities you care about. Don't discount them.

It was hard to narrow the list to six, so tell me:

• What did I miss?
• What's been the hardest part about navigating the career transition?