Jobs for Ex-Teachers

The teaching profession typically has a very clearly defined career path. The marketplace outside the education sector, however, also presents huge opportunities. There are many jobs for ex-teachers which are a good fit in terms of the skills and qualifications needed.

Teachers possess a plethora of skills – including communication (verbal and written), literacy, organization, and management skills -- which can be transferred to numerous roles within different industries. The government, charity organizations, museums, and social services are often particularly interested in these skills.

If you are a teacher wanting to step away from the traditional working environment, then here are the top roles in which we believe your skills might be valued.

Recruitment

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment? With strong people skills to develop relationships, compelling and persuasive communication skills, and effective organizational and problem-solving capabilities, ex-teachers make great recruitment consultants. At Michael Page, we are always looking for talented individuals to join our team.

We have offices across North America, from Chicago to Toronto, as well as abroad in the UK and Australia. Many of our consultants enjoy the ability to transfer between offices and explore their options in new parts of the world.

Career progression is also high at Michael Page, so if you have a strong drive to succeed and want to build a long successful career, then a role in recruitment could be the change you are seeking.

Tutoring

If you enjoy helping students who need extra support, tutoring could be a great option for you.  Depending on your flexibility and time allowances, this can either be a side job or a full-time role.

This allows you to teach children outside of the classroom environment, giving one-on-one help to students who require more assistance or are looking to do better. There a number of agencies you can work for which will assign students to you based on your level and subject specialty. Alternatively, you could start your own tutoring business.

School counselling

Is your passion helping the younger generation to evolve and grow into well-rounded and successful people? School counsellors or psychiatrists can have a huge impact on the lives of those students who seek their help. As we further understand the importance of mental health and well-being, the need for these skilled professionals is likely to increase.

A career in school-based counselling is a challenging, yet highly-rewarding, path for anyone looking to use their skills in teaching to positively impact the long-term mental health of students.

Corporate training

Still want to teach, but not in a school? Outside of education proper, individuals within companies are constantly learning, not just on the job but also through planned training sessions hosted by their organizations. These take place either at external facilities or through their own team of in-house trainers. While the content and level of learning will be very different, the fundamental abilities required to teach others new skills remain.

Museum education

Museums are very often looking for professionals with teaching qualifications to join their teams. Not only do museums educate their visitors through tours, workshops, and interactive displays, but they also build strong relationships with schools and often host field trips. Therefore, individuals who have experience working with school groups and have an understanding of the education sector make excellent candidates for such roles.

These positions often require individuals to create learning and development programs for students and teachers visiting the museum, develop workshops and lectures, lead tours, and more.

Writing and Editing

As a teacher, it is likely you have writing and editing skills. If you also have an especially notable flair for the creative, why not put your talent to use? Whether you are interested in becoming an independent author or working for a company as a copywriter, your experience as a teacher will have sharpened your literacy skills significantly which makes you a particularly attractive candidate.

Similar to writers, editors are responsible for the final sign off on written content, ensuring copy is grammatically sound, error-free, and factually correct before publication. This might be as an in-house editor for website content or marketing materials, or for a publishing company working with writers to help improve their story structure.

Of course, every professional has their own unique skills, interests, and experiences which can make it difficult to determine roles every single ex-teacher is suited to. But teaching is a well-respected profession and employers recognize the value that such individuals can bring to their team.

To explore your career options get in touch with one of our specialist consultants or browse the opportunities we have available here.