Are you a former teacher who’s looking to change careers? If you are, don’t worry—thousands of other former educators have been in your exact position.
Plenty of teachers choose to change their careers for many reasons, and their biggest concern is whether it’s an easy process.
Thankfully, the answer is yes; there are plenty of jobs for former teachers, both in and out of education.
Starting a new career is simply a matter of finding a good fit, cultivating new skills, and adequately marketing yourself. If you’re a former teacher looking for a new job, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Helpful tips for starting a new career.
- The best careers for former teachers in the education industry.
- The best careers for former teachers in other industries.
- The best careers for former teachers looking to help others and start their own business.
Helpful Tips for Starting a New Career
One of the keys to successfully rebuilding your career as a former teacher is finding the right fit. Identify your passions and seek employment that utilizes the skills you developed while teaching.
You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that your skills and knowledge as a former educator can be transferred to many industries. Before making the leap, however, here are a few helpful tips to kick-start your new career:
Tip 1: Update your resume for your target career
First, it’s essential to update your resume and set up a LinkedIn profile (if you don’t already have one) so that headhunters and potential employers know that you’re back on the job market.
Don’t only update your latest job and list of responsibilities; instead, highlight the skills and achievements relevant to your target career.
It also helps to study the role you’re applying for and consider how your current skills fit into that. Many companies are willing to consider candidates from different fields if they can demonstrate that their skills and experience match the role they’re applying for.
Tip 2: Study the requirements of your target career and work on developing new skills and certifications
Some career options may need further training and certification. If your target career has prerequisites that you don’t have yet, consider taking a flexible job to support you while you work towards it.
Not only will developing new skills open more career opportunities for you, but it could also ensure that your next job will pay higher. A study showed that, on average, higher-level degrees resulted in a higher income.
Tip 3: Get rid of mental blocks, fears, and insecurities
Leaving your current job and jumping into a new career can be daunting. However, it’s essential to recognize that taking risks is necessary for building a better life for yourself.
If you find that your fears, insecurities, and mental blocks stop you from moving forward, take the time to address them first. Changing careers will require work, time, and thought, and the whole process will be much harder if your mental blocks hold you back.
Once you have overcome your mental blocks, it will be easier to find a new job and successfully transition to a new career.
Best Careers for Former Teachers
Once you’ve prepared yourself for your career change, there are many career options to choose from. There are many jobs for former teachers, and finding a new career is simply a question of matching your skills and interests.
Here are some of the best career options for former teachers, both in and out of the education industry.
Top 6 Careers for Former Teachers in the Education Industry
1) College or University Academic Advisor
If you enjoy guiding students, consider being a college or university academic advisor. Deciding what to do after high school is one of the most confusing times of a student’s life, and you can make a significant impact by guiding them through this process.
Former teachers make great advisors because they know what students need to successfully navigate the academic requirements of their chosen field.
Academic advisors primarily work with post-secondary educational institutions, so it’s perfect for former teachers who want to stay in education.
Average salary: $43,916.
2) School Administrator
If you’d like to remain in education without overseeing your own classroom, consider being a school administrator. Most elementary, middle, and high school principals began their careers as teachers themselves, making this a viable choice for former teachers.
As a school administrator, you’ll be responsible for managing your institution’s operations, while also counseling students and supporting teachers and other staff members.
Many school administrator positions require at least a master’s degree in education leadership or administration, so consider taking an advanced degree if you’re interested in this role.
Average salary: $74,513.
3) School Guidance Counselor
If you love being personally involved with students’ development, becoming a school guidance counselor may be a good fit for you.
Teachers who enjoy one-to-one interaction with students often transition to being guidance counselors because of the opportunity to work closely with students.
Usually, a guidance counselor requires a master’s degree. However, the role also allows you to be more involved with a student’s personal and academic development, which may be worth the additional certification.
Average salary: $57,040.
4) Educational Consultant
If you prefer the “big picture” and making changes to educational policy, you may enjoy working as an educational consultant.
An educational consultant’s job is to provide insights and recommendations on things like educational policy, curriculum development, administrative procedures, and other relevant information for educational organizations.
It’s one of the best jobs for former teachers who want flexibility in their schedules and want to be able to choose who they work with.
An educational consultant is an independent contractor; you can choose short- or long-term assignments with government agencies, educational institutions, and even families.
Education consultants may require an advanced degree such as a Doctor of Education (Ed. D.).
Average salary: $64,230.
5) Curriculum Designer
Also called instructional coordinators, curriculum designers work with teachers, organizations, and clients to create and implement educational courses and programs.
As a curriculum designer, your goal would be to improve the overall quality of education for students.
You would be responsible for designing courses, learning materials, tests, and teaching guidelines. You may also need to observe teachers and make recommendations on how to improve their teaching.
To be a curriculum designer, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, and preferably a relevant master’s degree, and additional courses in instructional design.
Average salary: $66,920.
6) ESL Teacher
Although a role as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher is still technically teaching, it can be a completely different experience—especially if you’re used to teaching English-speaking children.
Many people worldwide want to learn English, which means that ESL teachers could work anywhere. Potentially, you may be teaching students of all ages who speak other languages and come from diverse backgrounds.
The idea of traveling and experiencing new languages and cultures makes ESL teaching an exciting prospect and is very different compared to traditional school jobs.
ESL teachers can become private tutors and find employment at international schools in foreign countries. They could also hold online classes, which gives them the freedom to set their own schedules to travel or earn another certification on the side.
Becoming an ESL teacher requires a bachelor’s degree and ESL training and certification. It’s also helpful to be fluent in a second language to improve communication with your students.
Average salary: $50,162.
Top 6 Jobs for Former Teachers in Other Industries
1) HR Specialist
HR specialists primarily deal with the employees of a company. Their job includes everything from finding a suitable candidate for vacancies to overseeing current employee satisfaction and productivity.
Former teachers have many skills that can be applicable to HR; they can recognize the skills and strengths of a candidate and evaluate whether they’re a good fit for their organization.
Also, former teachers tend to have good communication and interpersonal skills, which makes them experts at managing employee relations and conflicts.
If you’re interested in becoming a HR specialist, consider enrolling in a master of human resources program or an MBA program specializing in human resources.
Average salary: $59,624.
2) Training and Development Specialist
As a former teacher, you have experience in educating and training new minds, which applies to children as well as adults. A training and development specialist’s primary role is teaching employees the tools and processes of a company.
In a corporate setting, this could mean training employees on how to use content management systems, as well as office policies and procedures. However, these specialists may also work in industries such as healthcare and nonprofit organizations.
The minimum requirement to become a training and development specialist is usually a bachelor’s degree in training and development, human resources, education, or instructional design.
Average salary: $62,700.
3) Writer or Editor
If you were a former teacher who specialized in writing and editing, you have a bright future ahead of you.
There is a huge demand for content in today’s digital world, and companies and businesses are constantly looking for writers and editors to produce content for them. You may want to look for jobs as a copywriter or content writer for online media.
Also, the publishing industry is vast, and your writing and editing skills could be applied in a wide variety of industries. You could work as a writer or editor for books, magazines, newspapers, online publications, blogs, and newsletters.
As for qualifications, many writers choose an associate or a bachelor’s degree in English, emphasizing journalistic writing or creative writing.
Alternatively, you could have a degree in a relevant field (i.e., education or English) and build a portfolio of professional writing work—most companies accept this for entry into their organization.
Average salary: $52,440.
4) Museum Education Director
Many museums consider themselves educational institutions, which isn’t far from the truth. Museums offer educational programs and opportunities to visitors, making it an ideal workplace for former teachers.
As a museum director, you will have various responsibilities, ranging from overseeing exhibits and programs to managing budgets. You’ll also need to supervise daily operations and ensure that visitors are engaged in learning experiences related to the museum’s collection.
A museum education director position is perfect for former teachers since they rely on telling stories and educating visitors of every age.
Museum directors typically need a master’s degree in museum studies, history, or other related fields, as well as sufficient work experience.
Average salary: $50,000.
5) Customer Success Manager
The first thing to know is that customer success managers are not customer support. Customer support provides support for customers, while customer success is all about building relationships.
A customer success manager’s primary goal is to ensure that the customer is happy and using the product to its full potential. As a former teacher, your interpersonal and communication skills can help companies achieve this.
A customer success manager is also responsible for ensuring that the customer stays loyal to your company and renews their purchase with you. To that end, you may be tasked with implementing and training with new products, which is an excellent fit for ex-educators.
To be a customer success manager, you want to have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or another relevant course. Beyond that, you’ll likely undergo on-the-job training to obtain some experience with handling clients and products.
Average salary: $74,465.
6) Public Relations Manager
Knowing how to communicate and relay information makes former teachers great at public relations. A public relations manager is responsible for building a company brand and maintaining a favorable public image.
A public relations manager evaluates all forms of external communications to ensure that it complies with a company’s brand and messaging, and handles public perception during times of crisis.
In a nutshell, a public relations manager is the communication touchpoint between a company and the public.
Becoming a public relations manager requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as public relations, communications, or journalism.
Average salary: $112,653.
Top Jobs for Former Teachers Looking To Help Others and Build Their Own Business
Some teachers leave their profession because they simply want to work on their own terms. If this sounds like you, building your own business is the best choice.
You don’t need to have a business degree or prior experience to start a business. You can leverage your skills as an educator and provide a valuable service for others looking to improve themselves.
One of the best jobs for former teachers is being a coach or therapist. Your experience with helping students allows you to help people overcome challenges and achieve their personal goals.
Many teachers transition into this career because they find it tremendously rewarding to help others progress in their lives. Also, starting your own business gives you the flexibility to have a good work-life balance and can be financially more rewarding than working a 9-to-5 job.
If you’re interested in this line of work, here are some of the best career options for former teachers looking to start their own business as a coach or therapist.
1) Personal Trainer
Love helping people develop themselves? Becoming a personal trainer is one of the best ways of doing that while kick starting your own business.
A personal trainer helps clients achieve their fitness goals, and many people enjoy a higher quality of life because of it. As a former teacher, you may already have many qualities necessary for being a PT, such as being analytical, motivational, and nurturing.
To be a successful PT, you should enjoy working one-on-one with different kinds of people, be self-motivated, and be a good listener. Having organizational skills, patience, and a positive attitude is also crucial when dealing with clients.
The requirements for becoming a personal trainer are pretty relaxed; as a former teacher, you may not need further education beyond completing a certification course or receiving training from an experienced personal trainer.
Average salary: $62,576.
2) Online Therapist
The global pandemic has been tough on everyone, both physically and emotionally. Since the pandemic began, first-time downloads of mental wellness apps hit four million in April last year. Since then, there has been a massive demand for online therapists.
Therapists are mental health professionals who can help to lessen the symptoms of mental illness. They also help clients improve their emotional and cognitive skills and act as a support in times of crisis or high stress.
To put it simply, a therapist is there to help whenever a person experiences a psychological disturbance. Being an online therapist allows your clients to conveniently schedule a remote session with you whenever they need to.
As a former teacher, your skills in helping your students learn and develop themselves can also help you improve your clients’ lives.
Typically, therapists need to have a master’s level education and a license to practice psychotherapy.
Average salary: $82,000 (own practice).
3) Hypnotherapist
A hypnotherapist uses hypnosis to guide their clients into a state of increased suggestibility with the aim of helping them overcome their concerns and issues. They also help ease the effects of trauma and mental or behavioral disorders with this method.
Hypnotherapists achieve this by identifying the root cause of the issues in their clients’ subconscious minds and reframing them.
To be a hypnotherapist, you would typically need the proper qualifications from professional bodies, such as the American College of Hypnotherapy (ACH), before you can have your own practice.
Average salary: $89,060 (own practice).
4) Life Coach
If you enjoyed helping your students develop more than just academically, you will enjoy being a life coach. A life coach helps their client to set goals in life and achieve them.
As a former teacher, you would have the life experience, enthusiasm, and objective perspective to help your clients. Life coaches also work with their clients one-on-one, which may be something you’re used to doing with your students.
Becoming a life coach doesn’t require prerequisites; life coaches focus on behavioral modifications and personal growth to help their clients accomplish their goals, not clinical methods, so no official certification is necessary.
Average salary: $59,630.
Want To Fast-Track Your Way To Building Your Own Business and Helping Other People?
If you have a passion for helping people and want to start your business right away, consider becoming a Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®) therapist.
RTT® is a multi-award-winning therapy method that more and more career-changers are choosing to train in. It was created by world-renowned professional hypnotherapist Marisa Peer, based on her three decades of experience carefully and rigorously testing and trialing the therapy techniques capable of delivering rapid, long-term results.
It incorporates key aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, NLP, and neuroscience, with the aim of helping clients achieve their goals in the most effective and efficient way possible. Many RTT® clients report long-lasting results in minimal sessions.
RTT® is a highly effective modern approach to therapy, helping individuals let go of bad habits while setting them up for a brighter, more empowered future.
Like becoming a life coach, the RTT® training program does not have any educational prerequisites and can be done either online or in person. You can start your business quickly without spending years getting another degree.
The RTT® training program will teach you how to conduct powerful therapy sessions and you can also go on to learn effective marketing and business skills after you graduate. You’ll learn how to choose your niche and set up your practice to get your first clients.
Interested to learn more? Download the RTT® program prospectus and discover how the Rapid Transformational Therapy® method can help you become a cutting-edge RTT® therapist capable of helping clients achieve profound breakthroughs.
If you’d like to experience the program to see if it’s the right fit for you, you can also book a session with an RTT® therapist and experience the benefits firsthand.
Don’t Be Afraid To Change Careers
Many teachers leave their jobs worrying that they won’t be able to find a new career. However, nothing could be further from the truth; former teachers have a wide range of valuable skills for every industry.
One of the biggest strengths of being a former teacher is your ability to help your students develop and grow. This makes you an excellent candidate for similar jobs, such as being a therapist or life coach.
Whatever your choice, don’t be afraid to switch to a new career. We’ve shown you a list of jobs that would be an excellent fit for you in this article, so be bold and make that switch today!
