Are you a teacher considering a new career path? You are not alone. According to the statistics, 35% of teachers admit that they are ready to quit the profession within two years. After many years in school, people experience stress and burnout or simply want to realize their potential in a different industry.
To make your transition smoother, you need to prepare a resume that presents your skills and potential for a new career. In fact, your background in teaching has helped you develop a well-rounded set of skills that you can use to succeed in many professions. Your task is to highlight these strengths in the right way. This guide will give you some of the best practices for writing a career change resume that gets you noticed.
Are you planning to transition into teaching? If your situation is reversed and you are dreaming about a career in education, a teacher resume writer can prepare a resume and a cover letter to increase your odds for an interview. An education resume writing expert will focus on how your experience aligns with your teacher career and emphasize your passion for working with children.
What are the best career options for former teachers?
If you are confident that you are ready to quit teaching but are at a crossroads about where to move next, here are some professions you can consider:
- Corporate trainer
If you enjoy teaching but want to change the context, the role of a corporate trainer might be a good fit. These professionals develop and deliver training programs for employees to help them work productively and eventually foster business growth. You can leverage such skills as instructional design, curriculum development, presentation, and assessment. You will work with department heads and management to identify the need for training and assess the efficiency of training in the long run.
- Educational sales representative
Teachers who know the ins and outs of the education industry can also work as sales representatives in the education industry. You will close deals between educational companies and schools, offering software, equipment, supplies, and consulting services. If you have excellent cooperation and negotiation skills, can make beautiful presentations and are great at identifying the needs of school districts, a sales rep can become a rewarding career for you.
- Writer/copywriter
As a professional with advanced writing and communication skills, you can build a lucrative writing career. If you plan to stay in the education industry, try yourself as an education publisher. This role involves creating educational materials and resources. Otherwise, you can work as a copywriter or editor for a marketing agency, or company, or as a freelancer. Your role will entail creating different types of content (blog articles, PR articles, website copy, e-books, and more) and proofreading it for clarity.
- Education administrator
For those planning to build a successful career in the education industry, administration positions are a good option. You can work as a school principal or superintendent and supervise the school district, creating a productive learning environment for schools and organizing the teaching process. If you’d like to transition into higher education, you can work in academic advising, student affairs, or admissions committee.
- HR manager
Leverage your interpersonal, conflict resolution, and organizational skills by becoming a human resources manager. These professionals are in demand across many industries and organizations, including small businesses, corporations, startups, and even government agencies. HR managers oversee such functions as recruitment, hiring, advising the top management on strategic planning, and liaising between the management and employees.
How to transform your teacher resume for a new career?
Identify your transferable skills
Start by identifying skills and competencies you can offer to a potential employer. As a rule, teachers excel in these areas:
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Adaptability
- Subject matter expertise
- Presentation
- Emotional intelligence
- Problem solving
- Development of learning materials, etc.
Your knowledge of office software, teaching and project management tools, and programming languages can also increase your employability.
Reflect on your professional journey in teaching to recollect and note down all skills and experiences. Think about how your target employers can benefit from these skills.
Analyze the target job postings
Next, you need to understand the requirements of the private sector better. For that, analyze several target job postings on LinkedIn, job boards, or company websites. Pay attention to keywords and phrases, required skills, attitude, and software proficiency. Consider the skills and competencies that occur frequently in job listings. Compare your findings with what you can offer and focus on the most in-demand skills when updating a resume.
If this sounds too challenging, it is a good idea to work with a specialized resume consultant in your target industry. For example, if you’d like to transition into a nursing or healthcare administration role, consider a medical resume writer. A consultant from a physician cheap resume writing service can update your resume in line with the industry trends, focusing on the skills that hospitals are looking for.
Use a functional or hybrid resume format
A chronological resume isn’t the best fit when you’re changing industries. You may use a functional format to focus on your skills, achievements and relevant projects in the target field. This format downplays your work history and draws attention to your relevant training, competencies, and career summary. A hybrid resume is a good choice as well. It starts with a summary section and a list of skills, letting you present your relevant knowledge right away. It also includes a detailed work history, so you can emphasize your competencies in teaching.
Address career change concerns
Upon receiving your resume, a hiring manager will wonder why you are changing careers in the first place. They will also be concerned that you lack relevant experience, and specific skills, or are overqualified for your target position. Address these concerns by explaining how your teaching background aligns with your target industry and what inspired you to change careers. Say, if you are applying for a marketing position, your summary may sound as follows:
- Result-driven educator with a track record in fostering an engaging learning environment and building interpersonal relations. Capable of communicating complex concepts and adapting to varied audience needs. Looking to leverage experience in storytelling and data analysis for a marketing career.
Focus on training and upskilling
When you lack professional experience in the new industry, focus on your recent training, courses, and certifications. By adding them, you let the employer know that you have theoretical knowledge and background you can apply for a new field. Make sure that you have the necessary certifications and licenses if your career requires it. Mention education early on your resume so that the recruiter can instantly see it.
If you have volunteered or completed projects in your target field, include them as well. Even though they are unpaid, you will show that you have applied the new skills in practice.
Attach a matching cover letter
For teachers changing careers, adding a cover letter is a must. Otherwise, the employer might not see how your experience can be beneficial, and reject your resume whatsoever. You need to show them why you are fit for the role. Here are the components of a good cover letter:
- Address the hiring manager by name to personalize a letter;
- Explain your reasons for changing careers (hint: tired of teaching isn’t a good reason);
- Show your transferable teaching skills and accomplishments;
- Prove that your skills align with the company’s objectives;
- Include additional training and professional development;
- Keep the letter to 3-4 paragraphs;
- Finish on a positive note and add a call to action.
Transitioning into a new career requires a strategic approach. You need to identify your current skills and strengths, and explain how your employer in the private sector can take advantage of them. If you need further help with polishing your career change resume, be sure to reach out to a resume consultant to get your resume fully prepared for a job search.
