Best Career Change for Teachers

Remember the time when you first decided you wanted to be a teacher? You perhaps have loved a specific subject and wanted to share your passion with the world.

Unfortunately, the reality of the teaching profession may have turned out to be so different. So different to the point where you are not enjoying what you’re teaching anymore. You’re not alone—many classroom teachers are looking for ways to either stay in the education field but not as a teacher, or are looking for a whole new shift in professional development.

If you feel the need to make a career change, fear not. As a teacher, you’ve developed plenty of transferable skills in order to interact with students, and you can utilize them in other professions, whether you’ve worked in a private school or public schools.

Your teaching degree, master’s degree, and the teaching skills you’ve learned are still so valuable. Here are some job ideas below just in case if you’re looking for a new career path.

Best Career Change for Teachers

1) Tutor 

Alright, I get it – tutoring is perhaps a secondary option for former teachers because it is a related field. But in reality, the skill sets required can be different. Think of it as being more of an educational consultant.

Instead of facilitating a whole class, you are providing tailored services to different students in a specialized subject. Everyone who signs up for tutoring has a different goal in mind as well, and if you find that you’re more comfortable working individually with the students, tutoring is perhaps a good option for you. 

2) After School Program Coordinator 

Since you’ve worked with children as a teacher, you can put those skills into use as an after school program coordinator. In this position, you’ll be supervising staff, preparing snacks, and doing arts and crafts activities.

You still get to interact with kids, just in a different way. And best of all – you won’t have to spend your weekends writing report cards or lesson plans.

3) Exam Evaluator/Marker 

If you prefer the administrative aspect of teaching, you can perhaps try to find a gig as an exam evaluator. The SATs and ACTs need to be marked by someone, after all. You may be able to stay within the same school districts you’ve worked in, too.

Moreover, there are plenty of subjects for evaluation, ranging from math, science, all the way to writing. So, you can utilize multiple skill sets in this position. 

4) Technical Writer 

If you consider yourself an expert in a specific subject, why not showcase your expertise through writing?

After all, you would have to utilize communication skills in order to teach your preferred subject, whether that would be to students or to a broader audience.

Technical writing is a growing field, especially in education. Technical writers are in high demand. Every classroom will need a guide or textbook for the students to learn from. And you can be the one to create it. 

5) Youth Worker 

Did you enjoy interacting with the students, but did not enjoy the formal aspect of working in a classroom?

For a more informal environment, consider becoming a youth worker. This is a great way to interact with young people more on a one-to-one basis, plan different activities with them, and learn more about current trends amongst the younger generation.

Your teaching experience will not be wasted.

6) Residence Counselor 

Similar to the youth worker position, you can also utilize your communication skills and the knowledge that you gained through teaching as a residence counselor which is different than a school counselor.

Many boarding schools will often hire for this position, as they need staff to monitor the students in residence throughout the evening.

Moreover, you get a free room to live in for a year as well. And you may also be able to eat free food from the cafeteria too. 

7) Executive Assistant 

If you’re looking to do some admin work within the education industry, you can also consider becoming an executive assistant. In the post-secondary education world, many school administrators such as vice-principals, deans, or provosts will need an assistant to manage their bookings, schedules, and documents.

This is a good option for career changers who want a new role but don’t want to pursue a different bachelor’s degree or master degree. Although doing admin work may not have been something you envisioned, you are still able to contribute to the educational field in a different manner.

8) Field Placement Coordinator 

For those of you who enjoyed the mentorship aspect of teaching, another option to try out is being a field placement coordinator at a local community college or university. You’ll liaise with different employers within a specific industry, and work with students to find an ideal organization or position which suits their interests.

Being able to bridge the aspects of both worlds – the academic and the professional worlds, can be impactful and fulfilling work for those who have an educational background. 

9) Student Services Advisor 

Perhaps, counseling the students instead of facilitating a classroom may be one of your strengths. And if that’s the case, there are plenty of opportunities to utilize these skills as a student services advisor.

You’ll get to play a huge role in contributing to the student’s growth within the academic world, and help them with their professional plans and goals. 

This may be one of the best jobs for high school teachers who want to continue working with younger students but want to step out of the classroom. You can still have an impact in the future!

10)  Project Manager 

If you’re passionate about children’s rights and implementing different activities, you can also consider a role in project management at a non-profit organization.

You’ll be able to use some creativity skills which you may have not had a chance to use as a teacher while still learning new skills. Moreover, you’ll be able to make an impact in your organization. 

11) Admissions Advisor

Many post-secondary and secondary institutions hire admissions’ advisors to read applications, assess program suitability, and make decisions.

If you’re collaborative and prefer to work in both group and individual settings, perhaps a job in admissions can be the next step to your education career. After all, you get to play an important part in a student’s life and their academic decision. 

12) Workshop Facilitator 

Do you want to continue facilitating different topics and discussion, but just do not feel the motivation to teach in front of a classroom anymore?

Many organizations continue to hire workshop facilitators – individuals who conduct workshops focused on different topics. You’ll get to use your leadership skills and work experience to create training programs and other workshops.

Since you have gained the skills to present and communicate information to various students in front of a classroom, you will have the knowledge to conduct discussions. Moreover, you get to converse and hear different perspectives. 

13) Camp Coordinator 

If you want a summer filled with fun activities, you can also apply to work as a camp coordinator. Similar to the after school coordinator position, you’ll be supervising staff and planning games for the children.

You’ll get to play an integral role for a child’s summer. This is great for someone who enjoys curriculum development but wants to move away from the education sector.

14) Student Case Management Specialist 

Mental health is becoming more of a priority amongst many academic institutions. And as a result, schools are responding by implementing more support services for students.

One of the services include case management for student care; workers ensure that students feel supported mentally and emotionally through identifying their goals and empowering them. If you want to work with students on a more holistic level, you can consider becoming a case manager. 

In Summary: Best Career Change For Teachers

As a teacher, you’ll have gained a diverse set of interpersonal skills which will help you to implement them in different settings.

Some of these skills include administrative, facilitation, and communication skills, and all of them will help you develop great interpersonal relationships.

Therefore, if you feel that teaching is not a good fit for you, you do have other doors that are already opened, even if you may not notice them.

There are new jobs out there for your career transition that will take what you learned from your teaching career and allow you to thrive. 

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About the Author

Candice is currently attending school for social service work. One of her passions is helping others through my writing. In her downtime, you’ll find her listening to music, watching random YouTube videos, and writing about career goals and resumes. She hopes to start freelancing for writing and obtain a leadership position in a public services sector.