Teacher Career Change

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

Advice for #transitioningteachers heading into 2025: Some of these are hard pills to swallow, but stick with me–– 💡 "EdTech" is not a role. It's a whole field/industry that encompasses a host of actual roles. Do some research, pick a lane, and network within that lane. 💡 Study the upskilling required to transition into the type of role you're focusing on; you may have a wealth of general skills and experience, but Instructional Design, L&D, and curriculum roles require specific experience and knowledge that classroom instruction alone may not provide. More importantly, you also need to learn to discuss your experience in ways that will translate to people in these fields. I speak from experience when I say that folks who have never taught don't usually understand how that experience will translate into these positions. 💡 Chances are good that you haven't actually designed curriculum; you've delivered curriculum (or lessons/materials), but most K-12 teachers haven't actually designed curriculum at any sort of scale. Research how to discuss your actual experience honestly but persuasively. 💡 Much of the work you've done outside of the classroom is what's going to land you your next role. I taught for 15 years, but most teachers have similar classroom experiences. What landed me my current ID role was more than a decade of working directly with SMEs on assignment and course design, designing and delivering hundreds of workshops to audiences beyond students, and designing and delivering training and professional development for my staff of 50+ tutors; those skills and experiences differentiated me from hundreds of teachers whose work happened almost exclusively in the classroom. 💡 Networking entails a whole lot more than building a follower count on LinkedIn. Just because you're connected with someone doesn't mean they're going to have a meeting with you or offer you a referral; no one owes you anything. Conversely, there are plenty of incredibly helpful folks on this platform who create insightful, educational content for job seekers. 💡 Don't get sucked into the echo chamber of transitioning teachers. You know the phrase, "Dress for the job you want and not the job you have"? The same applies to networking when you're on the job market. If you want to be, say, an Instructional Designer, you should be concentrating your time on this platform learning from experienced Instructional Designers. While I have immense love for transitioning educators, they can also be a pretty insufferable bunch sometimes. I've been in too many online groups of transitioning teachers that quickly devolve into grousing, blaming, and generally cringe-y whining. Stay as far away from that nonsense as possible.

Transitioning teachers: In case no one has said this to you already, edtech is not the only industry where your skills matter. I’ve worked for three edtech companies and one tech company in the moving industry, so I’ve seen how this works from different angles. Edtech might feel like an obvious choice, but it’s not the end-all-be-all for teachers leaving the classroom. Here’s why: ✅ Edtech is part of the corporate world. If you are leaving the classroom because of burnout, long hours, or lack of autonomy, you may face similar challenges in edtech. There are tight deadlines, constant metrics, and business targets that take priority. ✅ Old habits can follow you in edtech. Without support to unlearn the "yes" culture of teaching, like volunteering for everything and taking on too much, it’s easy to find yourself in the same cycle of overwork, especially in edtech. ✅ Edtech salaries may not match your expectations. In my experience, many former teachers I've known hired by edtech companies are woefully underpaid. The jump from classroom salary to corporate salary in that industry isn’t always as big as you think, and some teachers find themselves earning much less, the same, or only slightly more than they did in education. ✅ It’s competitive. A lot of teachers have their sights set on edtech, which means the market is flooded and the bar is high. You will need to align your skills and learn how the business side works. ✅ Your skills transfer beyond education. You are not “just a teacher.” You are a communicator, facilitator, problem solver, project manager, coach, and relationship builder. Those talents and your perspective as a former educator are needed everywhere. If you are willing to look beyond edtech, here are career paths that exist in most industries and absolutely leverage a teacher’s skill set: 🍎 Customer Success 🍏 Learning and Development 🍎 Instructional Design 🍏 Customer Education 🍎 Corporate Training 🍏 Marketing and Content Creation 🍎 Project Management 🍏 Operations 🍎 Sales Enablement 🍏 Program Coordination 🍎 Community Engagement 🍏 Human Resources Edtech is one industry out of thousands where you could thrive. Don't limit yourself. Your skills have value far beyond the classroom and far beyond edtech. 👇🏾👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏿👇🏾👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏿 Hi, I’m Lauren and I’m a #formerteacher turned Creative Marketing Manager. Follow me for more content related to #education, #mentalhealth, #careerpivots, and #transitioningteachers!

#Transitioningteachers, looking for a real outside-the-box move? Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is hiring folks like you! Why would the FBI look for those with teaching backgrounds as recruits for the role of Special Agent? 🔺Diverse Skill Set: Individuals with teaching backgrounds often possess strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. These skills are valuable in roles that involve interaction with diverse communities and require effective communication. 🔺Adaptability: Teachers are often adept at adapting to various situations and handling unexpected challenges. This adaptability is crucial in law enforcement, where agents may face unpredictable scenarios. 🔺Community Engagement: Teachers typically have experience engaging with communities and building relationships. Special agents with teaching backgrounds may be better equipped to connect with and understand the communities they serve, fostering positive relationships. 🔺Training and Education: Educators are skilled in developing and delivering training materials. In law enforcement, ongoing training is essential, and individuals with teaching experience can contribute to effective training programs for fellow agents. 🔺Analytical Skills: Teachers often possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills. These skills can be beneficial in investigative work, where attention to detail and critical thinking are crucial. 🔺Cultural Sensitivity: Teachers frequently work with diverse student populations, promoting cultural sensitivity. Special agents with teaching backgrounds may bring a heightened awareness of cultural nuances, aiding in investigations and community relations. 🔺Youth Outreach: Individuals with teaching experience may excel in outreach programs aimed at educating and engaging youth in crime prevention efforts. This proactive approach aligns with community-oriented policing strategies. What specific teacher skill do you think would be a great asset as a Special Agent?

If you're struggling to identify how your skills translate outside the classroom, here are four distinct methods you can use to explore roles you're well-aligned to: 1) Find jobs related to your SME -- this is most likely the subject area you teach or particular teaching methodologies (for example, a specific curriculum) or a population of students (special education, for example). You may also have unique SME from outside of your job -- you might be an active volunteer for the legislative committee of a climate action group, for example. 2) Find jobs related to your teaching SME -- these are roles that are looking for candidates who understand education, the current teaching landscape, and 'how schools work.' These can be roles like Customer Success or Sales or teacher-facing roles like Professional Learning Specialists. 3) Find jobs related to your functional skills -- these are roles that look for skills that educators do well: project management, facilitation, curriculum development, training, and so forth. Again, you may also have these skills from outside your current job -- you might be the chair of your library's fundraising group, bringing in lots of money from regular annual events, for example or have held a full-time job before you became a teacher (or a part-time job in the summer). 4) Learn something entirely new ("upskilling") and find an entry-level job in that job area or combine that new skill with others on your list of functional skills and find some ways to demonstrate your abilities (using it in your current job or in a volunteer gig or so forth). ––––––––––––– 🙋♀️ Hi! I'm Chelsea, Founder of Skip's Job Board -- I help you quickly find the roles that are looking for your experience ▶️ I search 350+ job boards each week and share the jobs that are 1) remote, 2) share a salary of at least $60k, and 3) are looking for educators and former educators/current edtech. #edskip #edexit #transitioningteacher #edtechjobs #hirehighered #higheredexit #formerteacher #careerpivot

Lessons I had to learn about upskilling when transitioning from teaching to project management: 1. “Textbook” project management is only one part of the equation. The other part? Experience. 2. The PMP won’t be the answer to all of your problems. But it might help you feel more confident, knowledgeable, and credible. 3. Becoming a PMI member is a smart idea. You’ll have access to a ton of project management publications and tools. 4. Networking with other project managers is essential. You can learn so much from their experiences, and they can help you navigate the challenges you might not see in books. 5. Get hands-on experience with project management tools like Asana, Jira, or Trello. Employers want to see that you can manage real projects, not just theory. 6. Don’t be afraid to volunteer for small projects, whether at work or in your community. Those smaller wins build up your portfolio and help you apply PM skills in practical ways. 7. Stay humble and be ready to unlearn. Some of the teaching habits don’t always translate directly into project management. Be flexible enough to adapt and grow. 8. Communicating with stakeholders is different than communicating with students or parents. You might need to learn to adjust your messaging and manage expectations at all levels. Check out the steps I took to upskill at the beginning of my career transition. Since then, I’ve been: - Taking additional courses to earn PDU’s  - Creating a list of books on project management that my network has recommended I’m always looking for new courses, books, podcasts, webinars, etc while I’m in between contracts. Share your recommendations below!

#TransitioningTeachers: Think "creating learning materials" is the same as "developing curriculum"? Not quite. Here’s how they differ—and 7 corporate roles where your skills could be a better fit! 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻—building the tools and resources that bring ideas to life. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀, here are 7 corporate roles that align more with learning materials than curriculum development: 1️⃣𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙧 Designs e-learning courses, job aids, and videos. Focuses on the how of teaching, not the what. 2️⃣𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 Writes and edits multimedia, handouts, and learner-facing materials. Brings structure and clarity to existing frameworks. 3️⃣𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 Prepares handouts, guides, and presentations for workshops. Focuses on session-specific resources, not overarching strategies. 4️⃣𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙧 (𝙇𝙓𝘿) Creates engaging tools like gamified content or interactive modules. Prioritizes user experience in learning materials. 5️⃣𝙀-𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 Develops digital content with tools like Articulate or Canva. Specializes in delivery, not the instructional framework. 6️⃣𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧/𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧 (𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨) Writes and polishes training resources for clarity and engagement. Focuses on refining language, not designing strategy. 7️⃣𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 (𝙇&𝘿) 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 Assists in onboarding guides and training material creation. Organizes and implements learning resources. 🔵The takeaway? If you’ve mastered lesson plans or student-centered activities, you already have a strong foundation for these roles. Think your skills might transfer into one of these roles? Which one sounds like the best fit? 👇Drop a comment below, and let hiring managers know the perfect fit for you! #ElevatedCareers #Edxit #TransitioningTeacher #TeacherTransition #CareerChange

Had chat with a VP of Customer Success at an EdTech company recently Here are 3 tips she said she wish she could give transitioning teachers: 1. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 Many teachers will say, "I'm willing to do any kind of role you have open." In saying that, you're signaling that you really haven't thought about your skills or focused your search in a thoughtful way. Choose a focus. Build your value proposition around that focus role. 2. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 Many teachers will say "I'm currently making $55k, but I'd be willing to take less to make the move". Google the average wage of the role you're going after; do some research. That is the wage you should be targeting. If you're moving to Customer Success (as an example), $65-80k is a norm for most parts of the country. When you say you'll take a super low amount like $45k, it shows you haven't done your homework. 3. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 I've personally seen this on SO many resumes and my VP friend said the same thing: Why are teachers calling themselves "Learning Project Managers" or their students "clients" -- when they clearly work at a school? When you change language like this, it is confusing to your reader and can come across as misleading or inauthentic. There's nothing 'wrong' with being a teacher...own it. Instead of playing word games, spend your time explaining how your classroom experience uses the same skills needed in the job you want (e.g., managing your students' IEPs is a lot like working with multiple stakeholders to manage a project plan and reach a goal) If you've made the transition from classroom to corporate OR you work in the EdTech industry.... what other tips would help teachers project their confidence and value in the transition process? P.S. A career transition is hard work (I know, I've done it twice🙋♀️). Be kind to yourself in the process. Think about what you're doing. Trust your gut. Make smart adjustments. Don't quit. As long as you don't quit...your transition is inevitable. 🧡

What does launching a job search while you are currently employed look like? Over the last 20 months, I've talked to a number of transitioning teachers - many of whom started their job hunt while currently on the job teaching. Here is a synthesis of the experiences they have shared with me: ✅ Make a plan To start, write out the attributes of an ideal role. Is it in-person, remote, hybrid? Is it a start-up or is it an established entity? Is the organization big or small? What level of work do you want to do? What department? Write out the specific organizations you want to work for. Need a place to start? Go to the "6) List of Orgs" tab of my spreadsheet and see 105 with quick summaries. It also has links to their websites. LINK: https://lnkd.in/eu4kyyGi ✅ Plan to network Work to meet 2-3 people per week. That's 20-30 every 10 weeks! These people can introduce you to more people and...with any luck...these can open doors for you! You will nail the interview, but most of the battle is getting your foot in the door. A good tip is looking up the organizations you want to work at on LinkedIn and finding a 1st or 2nd connection you can connect with. If it's a 2nd connection, ask your mutual contact to introduce you. Offer to buy them a "virtual coffee" by getting them a $5 Starbucks or Dunkin gift card. Almost 95% of the time, they aren't going to take you up on this - but it's the thought that counts! ✅ Build a flexible resume Build a resume that you can adapt to meet each application. Make sure you put the keywords from the job description in your resume. More often than not, an AI bot is reading your resume and scoring how many of your keywords match the job description keywords! Make sure you have #s in your resume. Numbers matter! Did you teach 25 students? Put that. Have you raised proficiency by 8%? Put that. Did you build relationships with 126 families? Put that. Translate your classroom skills into non-profit and business terms - Family engagement becomes mutually beneficial two-way partnerships - Student proficiency becomes realizing organizational long term goals through careful monitoring of KPIs (key performance indicators) - Planning becomes building actionable deliverables aligned to organizational vision, values, and goals to facilitate growth and delivery - Collaboration with peers becomes building cross-functional synergies to realize organizational goals and continue to build organizational culture. Want feedback on your resume? Use my free AI bot: https://lnkd.in/ev2TvTrx ✅ Carve out time Launching, and maintaining, a job search is taxing. Carve out time. Make sure it's not TOO much time. Use the 80%/20% rule. You will do 80% of your best work in 20% of the time. ✅ Take time to rest Your brain will be BETTER if you take days off in between massive job hunting. Your eyes will cross and you will get frustrated if you ✅ Rejected? Keep going. Your next right job is out there.