WHAT CAN I DO WITH A TEACHING DEGREE?
Besides teaching children?
Which jobs can teachers do outside of education? | Jobs that pay well
Are you a teacher feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, spending your weekends grading papers and planning lessons? Do you wonder if there's more to life than just teaching? If so, you're not alone. I've been in your shoes, and I want to show you that you can do more with your teaching degree. In this blog, I'll share three potential career paths you can consider to make a successful career change. But first, let's dive into the world of job opportunities.
1.EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
In simple terms, an executive assistant is like a superhero's sidekick for a big-shot boss. They do a whole bunch of important tasks, like organizing schedules, managing emails, helping with expenses, planning trips, and even handling big company events. Just like a teacher, they need to be super organized and smart. And they can use their diverse set of skills to help the boss and make the company run smoothly.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers are versatile professionals with strong communication skills, making them excellent candidates for an executive assistant role. Their experience in managing classrooms and schedules equips them to excel in organizing and multitasking.
2.EVENT COORDINATOR
An event coordinator is like a magician who conjures up fantastic parties and special events. Their job is to make events fun and exciting, just like planning a super cool birthday party. They work with grown-up companies to organize events that help those companies shine, teach and train their team, talk to people to ensure everyone's happy, and come up with creative and exciting ideas. It's like being a party planner for grown-ups!
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers are natural educators and communicators, which makes them great at understanding and engaging with people. Their creativity, problem-solving skills, and professionalism can transition smoothly into event planning.
3.PROJECT COORDINATOR
A project coordinator is like the conductor of a symphony, ensuring all the musicians play harmoniously together. They bring all the project players together, keep things on schedule, organize materials, talk to everyone, and help with paperwork. They make sure the project runs beautifully, just like a conductor makes a symphony sound wonderful.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers have excellent organizational and time management skills. Their ability to multitask, communicate effectively, and adapt to diverse needs in a classroom setting aligns perfectly with the responsibilities of a project coordinator.
By the way, if you're ready to take the plunge into a new career, I've got a free career quiz here. It can help you discover which career path might be the best fit for you. Give it a try and start your journey towards a fulfilling and exciting new career. You can find the link in the description and comments section.
4. TRAINER
Have you ever stood in front of a classroom, delivering captivating lessons that left your students eager for more? Well, you've already mastered the art of engaging an audience, and that's a skill that can take you far in the world of training. As a Trainer Extraordinaire, your role would involve sharing your expertise in a specific field, be it education-related or any other niche, with employees or company staff.
Imagine transitioning from a traditional teaching role where you were making around $48,000 a year to becoming a sought-after corporate trainer. In this role, you could find yourself working with diverse organizations, from tech startups to established businesses. Your income potential could surge to a handsome $120,000 or more annually, depending on the industry and your experience.
For example, you could become a certified trainer in leadership development, teaching professionals how to lead teams effectively. Or, you might specialize in soft skills training, honing employees' communication and interpersonal skills. The corporate world is hungry for skilled trainers who can make learning exciting and practical, and that's where your expertise as an educator becomes invaluable.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers are experts at conveying complex information in a clear and understandable manner. They know how to adapt their communication style to meet the needs of diverse learners. This skill is invaluable when training individuals with varying levels of expertise.
5.CHANGE MANAGER
As a Change Manager, you would be the go-to expert when an organization is going through significant transitions, such as mergers, acquisitions, or the introduction of new technologies. You're the one who ensures that employees smoothly adapt to these changes, just as you've guided students through adjustments during your teaching career.
Your role involves not only managing the logistics of change but also understanding the psychological and behavioral aspects of it. You become a bridge between leadership and employees, helping everyone navigate the transformation with as little disruption as possible.
For instance, picture yourself as a Change Manager in a tech company. They're merging with another company, and it's your job to create a strategy that eases the integration of the two teams, minimizes resistance, and ensures a smooth transition. Your expertise in managing behaviors in the educational context directly applies to guiding employees through these corporate changes.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
In your career as an educator, you've undoubtedly managed classroom behaviors, orchestrated smooth transitions between lessons, and guided students through changes within the educational environment. Teachers excel as change managers because their professional experience equips them with essential skills to navigate transitions effectively. In the classroom, teachers frequently adapt to new teaching methods, curricula, and technologies to meet the evolving needs of their students. This adaptability and flexibility are pivotal qualities for managing change, as they can guide organizations through transitions smoothly. Teachers are adept at communicating and providing clear directions, which are crucial for helping individuals embrace change and understand its purpose and benefits. Their role in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment helps them build trust, rally teams, and ensure that everyone is on board during change initiatives. Furthermore, teachers' ability to handle challenges with composure and problem-solving makes them resilient change managers who can address obstacles and guide teams toward successful transformations.
6. PROJECT MANAGER
Are you the type who thrives on juggling multiple tasks and deadlines with ease? If so, welcome to the realm of program management. Program managers are like the conductors of a well-orchestrated symphony, overseeing projects, delegating tasks, and ensuring everything runs like a finely tuned machine. Their expertise lies in orchestrating complex projects, aligning teams, and meeting objectives. As a program manager, you'll not only find personal satisfaction in successfully completing projects but also substantial financial rewards.
For instance, let's say you're an ex-school principal who's overseen numerous educational initiatives. Transitioning into program management might mean leading large-scale educational reform projects for a government agency or overseeing corporate training programs. The compensation can range from a comfortable $50,000 to a substantial six-figure income, depending on the scope and scale of the projects you manage.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers make outstanding project managers due to their multifaceted skill set honed in the classroom. They excel in communication, both in conveying complex information and actively listening to the needs of their students. This proficiency in communication ensures that project goals, objectives, and expectations are clearly understood by all team members. Teachers are experienced in orchestrating lessons, assignments, and classroom activities, which parallels the organizational skills required for effective project management. Their talent for adapting to diverse learning styles and individual needs seamlessly translates into tailoring project strategies to accommodate various team members' strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, teachers possess a knack for managing multiple tasks while adhering to strict schedules, essential for ensuring projects are executed on time and within budget. Their ability to remain calm under pressure, solve problems, and foster a collaborative, inclusive atmosphere contributes to successful project outcomes. Teachers' innate dedication to helping their students learn and grow can be applied to guiding project teams toward achievement and excellence.
7. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Calling all the imaginative and creative souls out there! It's time to dive headfirst into the dynamic universe of social media management. As a social media maverick, you'll harness your creativity to help organizations shine on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and more. Here, your role is to craft compelling narratives, visually captivating content, and build an engaged audience around your brand's story.
Imagine this: You're an ex-school counselor, known for your exceptional communication skills. Now, translate that talent into curating meaningful social media content that resonates with audiences. Whether it's developing heartwarming stories about student achievements or creating visually stunning infographics about career advice, your goal is to amplify your brand's presence and influence.
The world of social media is a vibrant adventure where your branding skills become your paintbrush, and every post is a stroke on your digital canvas. While income can vary widely, successful social media managers can earn a comfortable living or more by partnering with multiple clients or becoming an in-house expert for a larger organization.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers make exceptional social media managers due to their unique set of skills and qualities developed in the classroom. Their expertise in effective communication, both written and verbal, enables them to craft engaging and informative social media content that resonates with a diverse audience. Teachers are adept at tailoring their message to suit various learning styles and needs, which translates well into creating content that appeals to different social media users. Additionally, their organizational skills, honed in lesson planning and classroom management, allow them to manage content schedules and analyze data efficiently. Teachers' patience, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities help them address challenges, foster positive online interactions, and respond to inquiries or comments with professionalism and grace. Their natural passion for education and community-building often drives them to build strong, inclusive online communities, making teachers exceptional candidates for social media management roles.
8. ONBOARDING
You don't get frustrated even when you have to repeat the same lesson again and again and you like welcoming new people into your class, your school, or even your friend circle. You are that welcoming face! You love showing other people the ropes when they are new in a place where you have been for some time.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers bring a wealth of valuable skills and qualities to onboarding and HR management roles. Their expertise in communication, honed through years of explaining complex subjects to diverse learners, enables them to convey company policies and procedures clearly and effectively. Teachers are naturally patient and empathetic, qualities that make them excellent at helping new employees transition into their roles and adapt to the workplace culture. They excel at creating structured and organized lesson plans, which can be applied to crafting comprehensive onboarding programs. Their experience in managing classrooms and diverse groups of students equips them with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, making them adept at handling HR-related issues and fostering a harmonious workplace environment. Teachers' dedication to nurturing talent and fostering growth aligns perfectly with HR's core objectives, making them excellent choices for onboarding and HR management positions.
9.SALES
You are always selling "ideas" to children and others around you. You can be extremely confident and persuasive when conveying your opinions and want to help solve people's problems by providing them with the right solution.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers bring a unique skill set to sales agent and leadership roles, making them exceptionally effective in these fields. Their ability to communicate persuasively and tailor their message to different learning styles is a significant advantage in sales. Teachers understand how to engage and captivate their audience, and they can apply this skill to connect with potential clients and customers. Their organization and time management skills, developed through managing classrooms and assignments, ensure they can efficiently track leads, close deals, and meet targets. Additionally, teachers are skilled in active listening, allowing them to truly understand customer needs and provide tailored solutions. Their passion for educating and guiding others makes them natural leaders in sales teams, inspiring and mentoring colleagues to excel in their roles. Teachers' resilience, honed through adapting to evolving educational methods and addressing classroom challenges, equips them to persevere in the face of rejection and setbacks, ultimately driving their success in sales and leadership positions.
10. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
You like lesson planning and creating courses and learning materials and you don't mind using technology to create e-learning activities for adults.
Why Teachers Fit this role:
Teachers make exceptional instructional designers due to their deep understanding of effective pedagogy and learning principles. Their experience in creating engaging lesson plans and educational materials makes them adept at designing training content that is both informative and captivating. Teachers are skilled at breaking down complex concepts into manageable components, ensuring that instructional materials are clear and comprehensible. They have a keen sense of how to adapt content to different learning styles, allowing them to create versatile training materials that cater to diverse audiences. Their expertise in assessment and feedback, honed through evaluating student progress, translates well into designing effective assessments and evaluation tools for training programs. Moreover, teachers' ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs of individual learners equips them with the capacity to design personalized and adaptive learning experiences, which are highly sought after in the field of instructional design.
12. CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
You want to get into a healthcare role. This is a great entry point! Read more here.
I know, change can be intimidating. But where do you see yourself a month from now? Time is ticking, and I'm here to be your mentor, your guide, and your biggest cheerleader on this journey to transition. Over 250 educators have already turned their $40-50K teacher salaries into six figures and beyond with my support. So, click this link to schedule a call with me and let's make your dreams a reality!
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You can also catch another read I've prepared just for you right here.
Until next time, keep reaching for the stars, and let's make your career switch an adventure to remember! 🚀🌈✨
Next, check out this article on Day in a Life of a Training Specialist
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