Blog
5 Great Career Change Ideas for Teachers
Teaching is a necessary and very rewarding career, but it can lead to burnout very easily, especially when you don’t have all the resources you need. If you’re looking for a career change and still want to work with children or use the knowledge you picked up as a teacher, there are a few career change ideas that just might suit you.
01. Jobs In Your Area of Expertise
One of the easiest ways to transition from teaching into a new career is to look for jobs that are in your area of expertise.
If you were a math teacher, perhaps an accounting or financial analyst position would work for you. If you taught English or writing, a career as a technical writer, editor. or author might be your next career path.
Take a look at the skills you have and the knowledge you’ve obtained in your field of expertise and research the possible careers in that field. You might be surprised by what’s out there and what you might enjoy doing! There are so many jobs out there for teachers who are ready to move on from teaching — it’s just good to know you have options.
02. Curriculum Specialist
A curriculum specialist has a strong connection with the teaching world, making it a perfect fit for anyone looking for a career change from teaching. They provide support to teachers by helping them create materials that are used in the classroom.
A specialist can also look at student data and improve the material used in the classroom to the benefit of the students and the teacher.
Any teacher who has been in a classroom for a couple of years is well-suited to this position. The insight a teacher gains during their time in the classroom will not only give them an idea of what works and what doesn’t but also what kinds of materials and technology are available and where to look for them.
03. Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is not just for students looking to help other students, it can be for adult professionals who have been in the teaching profession and are looking for something different.
Private tutors can make excellent money, but it will depend on where you’re located, the subject you tutor in, and how much of an expert you are.
Tutoring is also a pretty flexible job. You can pick and choose your hours in a way you can’t when you’re a full-time teacher. If something pops up in your schedule, you can always reschedule a tutoring session and not have to worry about getting a substitute or missing work.
04. Corporate Training
Corporate training could also be a great career change idea for teachers to go into. You’re still teaching people new things, but instead of math or science, you’re developing and implementing new programs to help build employees’ skills that they can use at their current job and in the future.
During a typical day, you may lead training sessions for employees, develop programs so employees can learn new skills, or team up with the HR department to identify what the training needs are and the best ways to implement them.
This role may also include onboarding new hires, training employees on how to use new technology, training employees on skills specific to a certain job, or teaching new workplace rules or company policies.
The job uses the same skills you learned when you became a teacher but you’re working with different information and a different type of student. You can still use the same types of materials and strategies you used while teaching, just with a different subject.
05. Early Intervention Specialist
If you’re looking to get out of teaching but still want to work with children, an early intervention specialist might be a great choice for you.
An early intervention specialist requires many of the same qualifications as a teacher. The big difference? You’re not working in a classroom!
An early interventionist goes directly to a child’s home, daycare, or school so they can learn in a familiar setting and helps them with any developmental delays they may be experiencing. This can range from a speech impediment to a learning disability to an autism diagnosis. If you have a passion for education and like working with young children from 0-6, there really could not be a better career choice for you.
This job also gives you control of your own schedule so you aren’t tied to a specific time each day and it gets you away from working in an office all day. (For a glimpse at what life is like as an EI, check out our blog — What Does a Day In the Life of an Early Interventionist Look Like?)
Early intervention is a very rewarding career and one that puts you in charge. If you’re ready to work from home and support children and families one-on-one, then a career at About Play might be perfect for you! Check out our available positions online today.
If you live in South Carolina and think your infant or child is experiencing developmental delays, we can help.
where do we offer early intervention services?
