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Hi all.
Current teacher here who desperately needs a career change and is striking out everywhere.
No one wants to hire teachers, even though we have so many transferrable skills. I have worked retail management, led sales teams, worked in a call center and insurance environment. I just can’t get a single hit.
Everyone says to network on LinkedIn but my network is all educators. And I can’t post looking for leads because it’s taboo for teachers to look for work.
As someone with 2 advanced degrees this is so disheartening.
Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachHelping you know your value to get your next job
1.8k
03/05/24 at 12:56PM UTC
Why is it taboo for teachers to look for work ? People change industries all the time ! Don't let this thought stop you :)
Anonymous
02/26/24 at 3:02PM UTC
Have you looked in to edtech josbs? Or nonprofits?
Anonymous
02/26/24 at 1:44PM UTC
I made a mid career change from being a nurse to getting into sales. What I would tell you is that you shouldn't expect to start in the job that you want, or one that will pay comparably to your current salary. If you want to make a career change, despite your education and experience, you must be willing to take a step or two backwards and then work your way up. The first sales job I took when I left nursing paid $31,500/year- that was hard to swallow. But I learned a ton, and was able to leverage that experience to my next role where I started at a $45,000/year base + commission- and did so well I ended up making almost 100K the first year. I now work at a very high level in sales and earn a six figure salary, and I am much happier than I was in nursing. It took about 2 years to get experience and into a role where I was making comparable to what I made as a nurse, and now I've been at it for about 10 years. So, maybe think about it like this- "where can I start where my skills will be valuable" and then look for a more entry level role where they will be willing to give you a shot. You can do it!
Karen RC
21
02/26/24 at 2:13PM UTC
R u hiring?? ? RN here. ?
Anonymous
02/26/24 at 6:44PM UTC
Where I work now would require you to have a lot of sales experience. I would recommend, as an RN, if you are interested in career change, and want to get into sales, to look at sales jobs that have a connection to healthcare. You will probably be more likely to get consideration if you have no experience in sales in a role that is business development.
Anonymous
02/26/24 at 1:39PM UTC
Look into tech training
Annetta MosesConsumer Insights and Strategy Leader
1.74k
02/26/24 at 7:06AM UTC
Based on your skills as a teacher, I think you could fit into corporate training departments. Look for people on LinkedIn who are trainers and ask to connect because you are exploring a career transition. Consider joining a LinkedIn group that focuses on training.
Good luck.
Anonymous
02/26/24 at 1:43PM UTC
Agree! Excellent advice. Corporate learning and development teams, reporting into HR, are a natural fit for your skills and experience. Best wishes.
Amanda Haas
101
02/25/24 at 7:53PM UTC
Try informal education jobs such as ones with museums, non-profits, and the like. I have enjoyed this work and there is less red tape. The pay may not be as good, but it is still mission driven.
Anonymous
02/25/24 at 5:05PM UTC
I'm so sorry for your predicament! No one wants to hire anyone anymore, weather they have 12 degrees, and they're qualified. I don't know what's going on with the job market anymore, honestly. I realize this sounds like a crazy conspiracy theory, but it seems like an effort to decimate the middle class is happening in real-time.
Anonymous
02/25/24 at 3:15PM UTC
I am right there with you-- currently teaching but REALLY wanting to find something else at this point-- it's not the kids as much as it is an extremely critical, micromanaging supervisor. We have had several teachers abruptly quit in the middle of the year. One said that even if she loses her teaching license, she doesn't care-- she couldn't take it any longer and had to seek treatment for mental health issues. I would consider transferring to another school, but this person will badmouth me, making it hard to get a job elsewhere. If anyone knows what steps I would need to take to become qualified as a corporate trainer, or if you know of a logical alternate career for a language arts teacher, please advise!
Anonymous
02/25/24 at 3:12PM UTC (Edited)
Corporate learning and training.
Any company that invests in its employees with ongoing development will need people who understand how adults learn, know how to identify skill gaps, can write curriculum to address those gaps, understand how information should be communicated, etc. I am just getting into this field a little bit through an adjacent industry and I love it. It is fun because you get to work with every single department in the company and you learn about the whole organization and how the pieces work together rather than being siloed into a department.
Anonymous
02/25/24 at 1:40PM UTC (Edited)
I sincerely wish that the STEM types I work for had 1/5th of a teacher’s organization and conflict resolution skills.
Keep your chin up. I suspect you’re just searching for that first big break which will help set with the wheels in motion for transition .
Anonymous
03/13/24 at 4:57PM UTC
As one of "the STEM types" who has worked for the STEM types, I have to agree with you.
