Career Change for Teachers: How To Use Your Skills For New Horizons

Are you a teacher contemplating a significant career change? Discover how your teaching skills can open new doors beyond the classroom.

Many educators (e.g., teachers, lecturers, early years nurses, etc.) may reach a point where they are considering a career change, exploring paths that can offer new challenges and rewards. But is it possible to change careers as a teacher, regardless of age limits? In this article, you will learn different methods regarding career changes for teachers, from why teachers wish to leave the profession, to alternative career opportunities, and how the skills you have obtained can be used in various other industries. 

Key points:

Careers After Teaching: Is It Possible?

Transitioning from teaching to another industry can seem daunting, but many teachers in the UK find it a liberating step that opens up new professional avenues when discovering how to change careers. The skills developed in the classroom setting, such as communication, organisation, leadership and more, are highly respected in various sectors. In fact, many teachers contemplating a career change often discover that they are already well-equipped for a range of roles outside the classroom.

Why Consider a Career Change?

The motivations for seeking a career change can vary significantly among educators. 

Some common reasons include seeking better work-life balance, desiring a new challenge, or wanting to escape the growing pressures of educational environments. These factors provoke many to explore careers after teaching in the UK, which often offer more flexibility and potentially, a different kind of job satisfaction.

Before you consider changing your career, though, have you took into account these factors:

• Finances: Are you financially prepared to support yourself during the transition between careers?
• Growth potential: What growth opportunities does your prospective job offer?
• Motivations for change: Have you thoroughly assessed your reasons for wanting a career change?
• Work environment comparison: How do the work cultures of your current and potential new job compare?
• Lifestyle: Does the new career align well with your desired lifestyle?

Is Changing Careers Common For Teachers?

The choice to pursue a career change for teachers in the UK is increasingly common, with a significant number of educators opting to leave the profession each year. 

Between 2022 and 2023, for example, research conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) found that 44% of teachers wanted to leave their job role compared to previous years. It has even been suggested that “10 out of 17 secondary subjects are forecast to under-recruit”, highlighting the dramatic shift that teacher recruitment rates are dropping faster whilst the leaving rates are higher. 

Despite the fact that teaching offers a stable income—where the average salary of £41,799 significantly surpasses the median UK full-time wage of £31,461—teachers are exploring alternative careers, even with the wage increase rising by 5.5% from September 2024. 

The substantial holiday period of 13 weeks per year does not seem sufficient to offset the drawbacks faced by educators, contributing to a surprising decline in retention rates. Only three out of five teachers who started a decade ago are still in the profession, indicating a shift towards other sectors that perhaps offer a better work-life balance or different professional fulfilment.

Why Do Teachers Leave?

Teachers exit the profession for various reasons, often driven by the demanding nature of the job. 

Long working hours extend well beyond the typical school day, with early starts and late finishes consumed by lesson planning, meetings, as well as administrative tasks. It has only been in recent times (January 2024) that the Workload Reduction Taskforce promoted that the average educators’ working week would be cut by five hours within the following three years. But is this even enough?

The requirement to mark student work during personal time further impacts their work-life balance, reducing time for personal activities and family commitments.

As stated above, the profession’s incompatibility with family life is another significant factor. The logistical challenges of aligning a teacher’s schedule with their children’s needs often requires additional childcare arrangements, requiring both financial and emotional constraints. 

Additionally, the ongoing stress from high expectations and constant evaluations contributes to burnout, with 89% percent of educational professionals reporting symptoms of work-related mental health issues e.g., appetite changes, fatigue, anxiety, etc.

Class sizes are growing increasingly larger too —a result of demographic shifts and the drop in teacher numbers. This can lead to a sense of being overwhelmed and undervalued, further driving teachers to reconsider their career paths.

What Skills Are Transferable After Teaching?

Many educators wanting to leave their job role may be surprised at just how many skills they have learned and developed during their career as a teacher. 

These professionals, for example, will excel in spelling and grammar, and possess thorough communication skills, both written and verbal, essential for crafting compelling CVs and excelling in job interviews. 

Such capabilities can help to make you stand out further in the application process for further jobs.

Moreover, the diverse skill set teachers acquire is highly transferable and includes:

1. Decision-Making: Teachers make numerous quick decisions daily, adjusting lesson plans and managing classroom dynamics, showcasing their ability to think on their feet and adapt to changing situations.
2. Communication: Educators excel in conveying information clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally, essential for almost any professional setting, as well as providing valuable and constructive feedback when needed.
3. Writing: Strong writing skills are developed through crafting lesson plans, grading assignments, and communicating with parents and staff, making teachers excellent candidates for roles requiring proficient writing.
4. Assessment: Teachers regularly assess student work, which hones their ability to evaluate tasks critically and provide constructive feedback.
5. Leadership: Managing a classroom involves significant leadership, from lesson planning to mentoring and counselling students, skills applicable in managerial or supervisory roles.
6. Training: Educators are natural trainers, adept at explaining concepts and guiding others to understanding, useful in training or coaching positions.
7. Negotiation: Teachers often negotiate with students and parents over grades and classroom management, skills that are also valuable in business or administrative contexts.
8. Motivation: Inspiring students to learn and succeed is part of teaching, akin to motivating teams in a corporate environment.
9. Listening: Effective teaching requires excellent listening skills, enabling teachers to understand and respond to students’ needs and concerns.
10. Organisation: Teachers plan curricula and manage the day-to-day activities of their classrooms, demonstrating strong organisational skills.
11. Scheduling: Managing a classroom schedule and juggling various tasks effectively shows a teacher’s ability to maintain control over complex schedules.
12. Record-Keeping: Accurate record-keeping of grades, attendance, and student progress is critical in teaching, applicable in any data-driven environment such as safeguarding.
13. Time Management: Teachers efficiently balance teaching, planning, and administrative duties, often under tight deadlines.
14. Social Skills: Teachers work with diverse groups, requiring sensitivity, adaptability, and the ability to manage and handle various group dynamics.

How To Change Careers From Teaching

If you are still dedicated in wanting to change careers from teaching, here’s how to do so:

1. Plan your transition

Your transition of a career change from teaching requires careful planning and strategic thinking. It’s essential to avoid rushed decisions that might lead you back to the job market sooner than anticipated. Clear goals and a well-thought-out plan are crucial for a successful transition.

• Set Clear Objectives: Define what job satisfaction means to you in a new role and understand your primary motivations for leaving teaching. This clarity will guide your career change process.
• Timeline and Goals: Establish a realistic timeline and set achievable milestones to keep you motivated and on track.

2. What options are available?

Exploring new career opportunities outside the classroom involves thorough research and a good understanding of your professional desires and personal circumstances. Based on our above list about why you should consider a career change, the same applies here:

1. Career Exploration: Consider whether you seek a completely new environment or just a shift within the educational sector. Research alternative careers for teachers in the UK to find roles that might be a good fit.
2. Financial Considerations: Evaluate your financial situation to determine how long you can afford to be without steady income if you decide to study or transition slowly into a new field.
3. Personal Circumstances: Reflect on your personal life and how a career change could impact your family or personal commitments. Besides, it’s never too late to go (back) to university and learn something new either.

3. Seek professional advice

Navigating a career change can be complex, and seeking advice from a career coach can provide valuable insights and support.

• Career Coaching: A professional coach can help you assess your skills and interests and guide you towards making informed decisions. Although there might be a cost involved, their expertise can be instrumental in your transition.

4. Try before you commit

Before making a final decision, consider temporary or part-time engagements in your fields of interest.

Engage in part-time work, freelancing, or volunteering in roles related to your interests to gain firsthand experience. This can include online tutoring, freelance writing, or helping out at local museums or libraries.

Alternative careers for teachers

Many teachers interested in a career change still wish to leverage their educational background but in new settings. Here are some roles within the educational sector that can offer fresh challenges and environments:

• Tutoring: Offering one-on-one assistance to students can be a fulfilling way to continue teaching without the classroom setting.
• Early Years Practitioner: Working with younger children can provide a different pace and a rewarding experience in early education. Try our early years at QLS level 3 course for an insight into how to become an early years teacher.
• Educational Writing: Crafting textbooks or educational content allows teachers to apply their subject knowledge creatively.
• Adult Education Lecturer: Teaching adult learners can offer a more flexible and engaging teaching environment.
• Teaching Abroad: This allows for cultural exchange and the opportunity to travel, making it an appealing option for adventurous educators.

Teachers looking to completely step away from traditional teaching roles might find administrative or support roles within educational institutions fulfilling. Positions such as office manager, student services coordinator, or school finance officer utilise organisational and leadership skills that teachers possess.

Venturing outside the education sector

For those ready to leave the educational field, numerous opportunities exist where teaching skills are still valued:

Social Work and counselling: Roles within this industry that require skills gained from teaching (empathy, patience, and communication) include:

• Child psychologist
• Child therapist
• Children’s charity worker
• Probation officer
• Social worker
• Youth worker

Business and corporate training: For more diversifying roles where you could find yourself working alone, or with a smaller or larger team, include:

• Business coach
• Financial advisor 
• Health and safety advisor
• Project manager 
• Policy advisor

Transitioning to a new career may require additional training or certification, which can often be completed online or part-time. It’s important for teachers to assess their interests and skills honestly to find a fitting role. Some roles may offer less financial stability or require a change in lifestyle but can provide greater job satisfaction and a healthier work-life balance.

Can NCC help with a career change?

We provide a valuable resource of online courses for various career changers, including teachers, looking to change their career path. With a wide range of courses designed for skill improvement for different industry sectors, thereby helping to bridge the gap between teaching and new professional opportunities. 

In conclusion, it is entirely feasible and understandable to change your career as a teacher. However, whichever route you take will undoubtedly have its obstacles. Ultimately, you have to prioritise your finances, your family, and career happiness in order to find something new and lead forward with a new life and, therefore, a new career. 

FAQs

Sources

McLean, D., Worth, J., Smith, A., (2024) Teacher Labour Market in England – Annual Report 2024. National Foundation for Educational Research. [online] Available at: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/media/hqdglvra/teacher_labour_market_in_england_annual_report_2024.pdf [accessed 04/09/2024]

Tes reporter. (2024) Teacher pay scales 2024-25: what will your salary look like? Tes Magazine. [online] Available at: https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/teacher-pay-scales-how-much-are-teachers-paid-england [accessed 04/09/2024]

Protocol Education. (2024) How to Manage Your Teacher Workload in 2024. Supporting Education. [online] Available at: https://www.supportingeducation.com/content-hub/how-to-manage-your-teacher-workload-in-2024/ [accessed 04/09/2024]

Education Support. (2024) Teacher burnout and how to avoid it. [online] Available at: https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-individuals/articles/teacher-burnout-and-how-to-avoid-it/ [accessed 04/09/2024]