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Leaving Teaching? How To Make Your Resume Stand Out in the Corporate World

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If you’re a teacher leaving the profession in search of a career that can give you more flexibility, creativity, and autonomy, you’ll need some teacher resume tips to help you stand out from the crowd.

Don’t think of yourself as “just a teacher.” Your experiences and skill set align with many jobs outside of teaching. It’s just a matter of how you present it in your resume. For example, teachers have a level of work ethic and determination that can translate to many different roles.

Here are three resume tips to make teachers more desirable to potential employers:

Resume Tip for Teachers #1: Relate the job description to your experience.

When you apply to teaching positions, you typically think about your experience and outline it on your resume. Usually, it looks something like this:

  • Taught third and fifth grade while serving as a member of the Leadership Team
  • Served as an Instructional Coach
  • Guided district teachers in effective instructional practices
  • Mentored student teachers through the credential process

Unfortunately, this experience might not be relevant to the job you’re applying for. Honestly, recruiting and hiring managers may have no idea what these experiences mean. Instead, identify elements in the job description that relate to your experience and list them out to explain the connection.

Let’s look at this job description for an ed-tech job:

  • Develop new material including courses, lesson plans, challenging problems, and other educational resources for in-person courses
  • Work with Curriculum Team Leads, Senior Curriculum Developers, and other Curriculum Developers to plan new material
  • Review and provide feedback on material created by other team members and incorporate feedback from others into your materials

How can your experience and skills fit the job description? Think about it in terms of your professional planning and lesson plan experience.

Change your wording:

  • Developed lesson plans and other educational resources for in-person and hybrid courses
  • Worked with team members, as part of a Professional Learning Community , to plan and develop new course material, lesson plans, and assessments
  • Reviewed and provided feedback on lessons and assessments created by other team members and received feedback on my materials in order to improve learning for students

This description embeds the key words that are listed in the job description. It also relates to the work you did as a teacher. Change your experiences in your resume for every job you apply for in your job search . It’s important to relate your experiences to the specific requirements listed in the job description. This will help the hiring manager see the connection between your skills and the job they’re hiring for.

Resume Tip for Teachers #2: Be specific with numbers.

Your resume is an opportunity to showcase your skills through data and numbers. Be specific about the work you’ve done, and write it in a way that will show hiring managers you can increase productivity.

Your resume might look like this right now:

  • Led and supported school staff through the process of PBIS implementation
  • Supported teachers in integrating 21st-century skills into their lessons
  • Created and organized an intervention program in grades 3 through 5

Although these experiences are noteworthy, they don’t really paint a picture for hiring managers. So use data and numbers to make your experience more compelling.

Try something like this:

  • Led and supported school staff through the first-ever implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and decreased student referrals from 37% to 12%
  • Through leadership with PBIS, student attendance across grades 1 and 2 increased from 67% to 89% within three months of structured interventions
  • Supported teachers in integrating 21st-century skills into their lessons and helped 42% of teachers increase their evaluation scores from 3 to 4
  • Created and organized an intervention program in grades 3 through 5 and increased student academic achievement in math from 43% proficiency to 78% proficiency

Including this type of data will show hiring managers that your hard work and skills increased productivity within your organization.

Resume Tip for Teachers #3: Be specific in your cover letter.

Make your application stand out with a cover letter. It’s your chance to be specific about your experience. You can drive home the relevance of your skills and how they relate to the job you’re applying for.

Instead of starting off with the typical …

Please accept this letter as an application for the position of _ for _. I am passionate about instructional design and have a strong foundation in instructional coaching and assessment design and trends. I have a deep understanding of K-12 education, as well as connecting assessment to instruction through data interpretation.

… be honest with the hiring manager. Start off with something that lets them know you’re changing roles. Your experiences can translate to the new role even though your only experience is teaching.

It can sound something like this:

I am writing to express interest in the position of _ for _. As an experienced educator, I have the skills and disposition to excel in this role.

I am making the change from classroom teacher to a role in _ and feel my abilities and experiences would be an asset to your team.

These are some of the skills I can bring to your company:

  • List out skills that relate to the job description and your skills.
  • Make connections, add data, and be specific.
  • Limit it to three points and use the keywords from the job description.

The most important thing to keep in mind is don’t give up.

Transitioning out of teaching is hard and there is a lot of competition out there, but companies are hiring ( labor shortage , anyone?). Create a LinkedIn profile and use these same tips to showcase your experience. Start connecting with recruiters, hiring managers, and employees at the companies you want to work for.

When it’s interview time, check out some ways AI can help you nail your next interview .

Plus, if you need help with your resignation letter, check out these resignation letter examples .

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If you're a teacher transitioning out of the classroom, check out these resume tricks that can help you get more interviews.

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Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

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If you want to land that new job, you’ll have to work hard on your teacher career change resume. Remember, your teacher transition resume is your first impression. It’s all about showcasing those transferrable skills and highlighting why you’re the best fit for getting the job done.

If you need help leaving the classroom, check out the  Teacher Career Coach Course .  This step-by-step guide has helped thousands with a transition from teaching. Save time and get support with every step of picking a new path, rewriting your resume, and answering tricky interview questions.

It can be intimidating applying to jobs outside of the classroom, no matter how badly you want out! You may be having a hard time identifying the experiences to highlight on your resume. Maybe you’re struggling with how to write them in a way that applies to a job outside of the classroom. Anyhow, you’re about to break through that barrier! Here are some of my top tips from The Teacher Career Coach Course . These will help you put your best foot forward and land that interview! But first, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to start from scratch.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just a teacher,” it’s time to look closely at all you do on a daily basis as part of that role. Honestly, teachers are some of the most skillful and multi talented professionals I know. The truth is, many teachers battle with Impostor Syndrome , often overlooking their achievements and the value they bring to the table in many careers. Whether you realize it or not, the skills and accomplishments you have already achieved will make a stellar resume. (Trust me). 

You are an asset to your school, and you’ll be an asset wherever your career transition takes you next. First, identify your career accomplishments as a teacher. Then you can effectively apply them to the next chapter of your working life. Without knowing the specifics of your teaching experience, as a former teacher, I know you have desirable skills and valuable experience. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. Your new career change resume should reflect your many achievements and in-demand teacher skills! 

Teacher Career Change Resume Resources

In this post, I gathered expert advice to help you master rewriting those resume skills. I want to help you avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when writing their teacher career change resume. Read on to learn how you can tweak your teaching-focused resume to highlight your skills and experience that apply jobs outside of the classroom.

You can also listen to my interview with HR and Resume-writing expert Alli Arney to learn how to effectively translate your teaching experience on your transition resume . 

Let’s get to rebranding your expertise, shall we? 

*But first a note!* Much of what you include in your resume and cover letter will be dependent on the job for which you’re applying. If you’re not sure what jobs you’re qualified for or even what’s out there, take a look at Best Jobs For Former Teachers . This post will give you an idea of what’s out there, who’s hiring, and what you need to qualify for a position.

Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume

Every teacher career change resume needs a cover letter! Your cover letter introduces who you are and what you can offer in position X at company Y. A common mistake I see teachers make is creating a generic cover letter to send with all of their applications. 

Some hiring managers may approach your application with the assumption you’re willing to take any job outside of the classroom. Even if that’s the truth, you don’t want the hiring manager to know that. Use the cover letter and an opportunity to showcase why their job is a great fit for you and what you can bring to the table for their company. Hiring managers want someone qualified, excited about the position, and a good fit for the company culture. 

Make sure every cover letter is unique to the job and company you are sending it to. Add in specifics regarding what excites you about the role and how your experience will translate into the new responsibilities. Do research about the company and address how you are equally passionate about their core values and company culture. You will learn so much from a company’s website, including its mission statement and core values.

Get Started on you Cover Letter

First, start with an introduction paragraph. This will likely stay the same on every cover letter as you introduce yourself. Next, add five to six bullet points about why you are qualified for this specific position and reflect on your qualifying achievements. For example, I am constantly focused on collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that advance the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. Last, add a closing statement about the position to which you’re applying, why it excites you, and how you will be able to effectively fulfill the role and responsibilities.

What career outside the classroom is right for YOU? Free Quiz

Add an Elevator Pitch to your Teacher Career Change Resume

An elevator pitch is basically highlights who you are,  your area of expertise, and your career intentions. It’s clear, concise, and is key to a teacher transition resume. Think about it like this: Imagine being on an elevator and only having about 30 seconds to sell yourself to the hiring manager. You should utilize your elevator pitch on your resume and when you get in front of a hiring manager at an interview. Just like your cover letter, this pitch should always be catered to a specific audience rather than being overly generic. 

Practice your elevator pitch so that it is second nature. It may sound silly but practicing your pitch in front of a friend or even a mirror helps. You can gain confidence in front of a hiring manager or an interview committee after practicing.

Again, an elevator pitch goes beyond your resume. Have your pitch handy at networking events, in job interviews, on any social bios, and in your resume header. Let’s say you are an experienced teacher looking for a transition into a Training and Development Manager position. Here’s an example of an elevator pitch you could use at a networking event or in your LinkedIn bio:

Elevator Pitch Examples

“I have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and various training methodologies, and I am currently looking to transition from the classroom to the corporate world. If you know anyone who is adding to their Training and Development Team, I hope you’ll send them my way.”

To adjust it to be more resume friendly, you could make the following tweaks:

” have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and a variety of training methodologies, and I am currently looking to make a transition from the classroom to the corporate world as a Corporate Trainer at Company X.”

While your elevator pitch is short and sweet, you should always be prepared for follow-up questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the different occupational terms and acronyms associated with any career path you seek. This shows your audience that you are knowledgeable and ready to move into that field of work.

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Formatting Essentials

When it comes to your teacher transition resume, we need to talk about the big F-word: Formatting. 

A whopping 75% of resumes NEVER GET OPENED or seen by a hiring manager. One of the biggest culprits? Formatting. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through applications before they even make their way to a hiring manager’s hands. Luckily there are a few formatting tips that can help you pass the test. 

Length, File Format, and Other Tips For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

When it comes to the length of your resume, it really depends on your experience. While one-page resumes were once a rule-of-thumb, most resumes are now one and a half to two pages. However, if you have 15 years of work experience, you shouldn’t shy away from your accomplishments. In that case, it’s totally acceptable to have a 2-page resume. 

Next, you want to focus on another F-word: file format. There are different platforms and software, but I recommend you send your resume as a Word document, unless otherwise specified. So, when you go to save your resume file, be sure it’s saved in the .doc or .docx format. ATS will reject files saved in Pages, Excel, or JPEG format. 

The last big resume formatting tip is about style . If your go-to is a creative and colorful template that landed you your job in the classroom, it’s time for a change. Simple, chronological resume templates are your best bet in the corporate world, listing your experience starting with your most recent job. This is the most popular resume style, and it’s best for ATSs. It also happens to be preferred by recruiters and HR professionals, so you really can’t go wrong here. 

A chronological resume should be written to include the following elements in the listed order: 

  • Header (including your personal information and your keyword-rich elevator pitch) 
  • Technology experience and expertise 
  • Current volunteer experience (if applicable)

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Spill About Your Skills (The Right Way). 

As a teacher, you already have skills that can be utilized in the corporate world. It’s time to brag about them. Before you can do that, you have to move past any Impostor Syndrome you may be experiencing and acknowledge the value, experience, and expertise you have to offer. Trust me. You have a lot more to offer in roles outside of the classroom than you may think.

For example, your organization and multitasking skills can easily transfer to administrative tasks. Parent-teacher conferences give you the experience to handle customer service situations, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement. You’re no stranger to goat setting or data tracking and analysis. Think about any committees or after-school activities you’ve contributed to or helped organize as project management experience. 

Related Resources: Creating your Instructional Designer Resume

WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK 

It’s not just about identifying your transferable skills but how you translate them on your resume.

Here are three of my biggest tips to help you effectively translate your transferable skills and experience on your teacher transition resume. 

First, be specific by quantifying your accomplishments . 

Second, unless you transition into an education-based role, leave out the teacher-specific terminology, acronyms, or pedagogy.   One of the biggest mistakes teachers make on their transition resumes is not rewriting or translating their resume experience so that it is applied to the world outside of the classroom setting. 

Make sure you are showcasing your skills and experience in a way that translates into the new roles you are looking for. Hiring managers don’t want to see you as a teacher. They want to see you as someone qualified for and ready to take on the role you are applying for.  Depending on the role, managers don’t want to know about record keeping for 25 students, but that you managed a portfolio of 25 clients. They don’t want to hear about teaching pedagogy and lesson planning but about training strategy and training materials. The corporate world isn’t about grading and cumulative assessments but about data tracking and analysis. 

Go back to your career buckets. Figure out which teaching duties fall under each and then focus on translating the teacher-specific language into corporate-appropriate terminology.  Then you’ll have an already translated list you can easily pull from any time you need to tailor a resume for a new job. 

Do Your Research For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

Last but not least, do your research and include job and industry-specific language and keywords in your resume. These terms should be peppered throughout your elevator pitch summary and throughout your highlighted experiences throughout your resume. Not only will using the language make your experience and skills more relatable to the position you are applying for, but it will show the hiring manager that you have done the work and are fully committed to stepping into the role, rather than a teacher looking for any new job they can get. 

Insider tip? You can utilize job descriptions as a tool, looking for the keywords and experiences highlighted throughout. Find a way to incorporate the industry-specific language as you translate your skills and experiences. Just make sure you know enough to expand upon the ideas if asked in an interview.

If you don’t feel like you have experience in any of the major keywords that pop up, look them up before you write them off. You likely have more experience than you are giving yourself credit for. More often than not, teachers have the skills. They’re just used to calling it something else.

Acquiring New Skills for Your Teacher Change Resume

Even after translating all of your relevant experience, you might find that there are some areas where you are lacking and that’s okay. Depending on the experiences you had while teaching and the role you are looking to transition into, you might find that there are certain skills that would be beneficial to have to make you a more desirable candidate. 

The good news is you can work on new skills while you are still teaching in the classroom. There are a variety of online classes and tutorials you can take at home and add to your teacher transition resume. The added keywords will make it easier for you to find a new career and you’ll likely go into it feeling more confident and prepared. 

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Final Thoughts.

I know that was a lot of information. Maybe you were already stressed about writing your career transition resume, and now you’re feeling even more overwhelmed. If that’s the case, start by taking a deep breath. (Right here, right now). You don’t have to write and send out a hundred resumes in one day, or even one week. 

In fact, you don’t have to write hundreds of resumes at all. 

A lot of teachers ask, “Do I have to create a million different resume templates for all of these jobs?”   Absolutely not. While you should tweak your resume to fit each specific position you are applying for, you can save time by creating a template for each general category of positions you apply to. For example, you might have one template for training-type positions and another for jobs that fall under curriculum writing and instructional design categories.  One final word of advice? When it comes to taking resume writing advice, please, please, please vet your source to ensure the information applies to the position and industry you are applying to.

Teacher Career Change, Beyond the Resume

Developing a professional teacher transition resume is just the first step on your journey to a new career. If you have more questions like: How do I get employers to notice my resume? What kind of jobs am I qualified for? What do I do after I get the interview?!?

I want you to know that if being in the classroom is no longer an option for you, there are many career options for teachers. As a former teacher who transitioned out of the classroom, I have been at that crossroads. I successfully moved from teaching into a new career that has left me happier, healthier, and more relaxed than I ever could have been in the classroom.

Next steps to a new career

One of the biggest mistakes that we see teachers make is that they try to  navigate this process alone . Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. I want to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door. You don’t have to do this on your own. With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, I’ve created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom.  Tap the button below to learn more .

Step out of the classroom and into a new career, The Teacher Career Coach Course

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3 Teacher Career Change Resume Examples For 2024

Stephen Greet

Teacher Career Change Resume

Professional teacher career change resume, formal teacher career change resume.

  • Teacher Career Change Resume Writing 101

Hardly a day passed without Demetri thinking of his favorite programming projects, and his ability to work with a diverse group boosted his confidence: After teaching math for several years, he was ready to switch gears—but was his teacher career change resume equally prepared?

Demetri knew he’d need a standout resume layout to reflect his organized and analytical mindset to get a position at the Academy of Art University. He also planned to take advantage of a free cover letter builder to enhance a career-switch resume, too. So, after researching the academy, he began outlining his most relevant accomplishments.

Are you in a similar position, looking to shift your career path in a fresh direction? If so you might want to look through our selection of resume examples and tips like the ones that helped Demetri switch careers successfully!

or download as PDF

Teacher career change resume example with 8+ years experience

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What Matters Most: Your Skills & Professional Experience

Your resume skills and work experience

Your skills section might seem a bit confusing at first if you’re switching careers—do you list skills related to your old job, or the new one? Well, it’s a bit of both! You want to prove that you’ve mastered the general essentials of teaching as they apply to the career you’re switching to.

Recruiters want to see skills that relate directly to the role you’re applying for, so avoid including subject-specific points from your previous role unless they overlap with the new job’s description. If you’re aiming to work in software development, don’t emphasize English teaching skills!

And ensure that you’re as specific as possible, especially with your soft skills and software tools. Name your favorite programs, and spell out exactly how you’re good at interacting with others.

Check out these examples:

9 most popular teacher career change skills

  • Problem-solving
  • Project Planning
  • Data Presentation
  • MS Excel/PowerPoint

Sample teacher career change work experience bullet points

Now that you’ve told recruiters how you’ve taught and helped students, it’s time to cite examples of the times you’ve fostered a successful group environment in the past! Think of ways your past teaching accomplishments can suggest future achievements in different settings.

If you use to teach history and are pursuing a career change to become a real estate agent, think of experience examples that feature things like lesson adjustments (which are parallel to customizing lease agreements). Or think of things more technically and share stories about how you helped others overcome obstacles.

No matter what you’ve taught or helped your students achieve, you’ll need to give recruiters some solid metrics for your success! Use quantifiable data to back your claims—especially if you have satisfaction or engagement rates that would transfer well to other jobs.

Here are some good examples:

  • Created and taught a refresher course for standardized testing to 28 students, 92% of which passed
  • Established an after-school club with honors students to develop apps using Python to enhance students’ learning experience and provide tutoring that resulted in an 11% increase in engagement
  • Worked with physics instructor to develop lesson plans, curriculum, and assignments for a first-year program for 31 students, resulting in a grade average of B+
  • Created tests, quizzes, homework packets, and in-class activities to teach objectives, re-teaching lessons to ensure that a student passing rate of 94% or more

Top 5 Tips for Your Teacher Career Change Resume

  • Remember: Just because your focus should be on the career you’re aiming for doesn’t mean you can’t include great points from previous class experiences! Things that carry over well across fields include test score increases, student engagement percentages, and feedback ratings. These show your ability to foster individual and group success.
  • Any of our templates will help you make your qualifying teaching experiences look good, but pick whichever one makes the big picture look downright great! Make sure each section is clear, with a good hierarchy in your resume layout so that recruiters have an easy time skimming over what qualifies you for your new role.
  • A career switch is a great time to utilize a handy resume objective! Just make sure your objective statement is concise and packed with new, valuable information about your personal selling points. Focus on stepping into your new job, and avoid listing teaching-related points that you’re planning to address later.
  • Even if many of your experience points naturally relate to your previous area of expertise in the classroom, your skills section can include software and interpersonal abilities that speak more to your qualification for the new role. Showcase any instances when you utilized objective, technical skills behind-the-scenes in your previous job, too!
  • Switch up your metrics to keep things interesting and show how well-rounded your abilities are. Whenever possible, tie them in with the new job role you’re applying for through context or relevant backstory, like tutoring classes you led or group projects that involved specific programs.

Letters of recommendation would absolutely be helpful in your situation! A few professional reference letters can help bridge the gap between your history as a teacher and where you hope to work next by testifying to your transferable abilities.

Stick with one page and one page only! Anything on page two is unlikely to get through anyway—recruiters really prefer short resumes that are quick to read through. And concision shows your ability to adapt smoothly during your transition to a totally new career.

You want your resume to look modern, clean, and professional. If you want to use a little bit of color as a highlight here and there, go for it, but avoid anything that distracts from what makes you perfect for the new job. Use sleek fonts for readability, too!

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How to Craft Your Teacher Career Change Resume + Ace Your Interview

Once you’ve decided that you want to leave the classroom, the next big question on your mind is, “What career am I going to pursue?”  Well, there are two different ways you can go…the employee route or the entrepreneur route.

The entrepreneur route means that you go into business for yourself. Maybe you start a website , a boutique , a virtual assistant business , an online tutoring business, a photography business , or a TpT shop . The career is irrelevant; the important thing to note is that as an entrepreneur, you are going into business for yourself.

The employee route means that you choose to work for another individual or company. Again, we are less concerned with who hires you and more interested in how to get you hired for the job of your dreams.

So in today’s episode, we are going to focus on the employee route and how writing a teacher career change resume will help you land some of the best jobs for teachers outside of education. The cool part about what I’m sharing is that these tips will help you in getting hired for ANY position.

But we are going to spend the majority of our time unpacking some of the specifics you might not have considered when you began thinking about landing the best jobs for teachers outside of the classroom .

So let’s discuss the 15 things you need to do to design a winning teacher career change resume and land your dream job outside of teaching.

Creating Your Teacher Career Change Resume

1| write specifically.

Everyone has a resume, but there is a lot of difference between a “leaving teaching resume that includes all of your teaching experience and literally nothing else” and a well-planned, well-executed specific resume.

Think about it like this. There are dollar store pens and then there are flair pens…I rest my case.

The whole point of writing a resume is to give the applicant board as much relevant information as possible in as little space as possible.

So you want your transition out of teaching resume to be unique and a nice reflection of you while still being completely tailored to the position for which you are applying.

Your resume shouldn’t be generic. I know this may feel frustrating when you’re applying for a lot of positions at once, but I promise it will pay off in the long run. You definitely want your resume to reflect specifics of the field and position into which you want to move.

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2| Research transferable skills

Be sure to listen to Episode #5 where we discuss the top transferable skills that teachers possess that makes you a prime candidate for any job you want. Think about what types of transferable skills you have that apply to the particular field you are interested in.

The most important part about this is remembering that each field of study and each niche has its own language. So you want to take time to figure out which of the skills are your strengths and then translate those into the niche-specific buzzwords that particular community uses.

Then add those words onto your teacher career change resume so the application board knows you have the skills they are seeking.

3| Use niche-specific language

I mentioned this in tip 2, but you want to make sure that you speak the language of the people in your potential career. Most professions have a “lingo” and you want to be sure that you know the lingo of your chosen field of interest.

Think about teaching. We use words and acronyms like social-emotional learning (SEL), individualized education plan (IEP), and curriculum-based assessment (CBA).

If you stopped people on the street and asked them what these acronyms meant, most probably wouldn’t have any idea what you were talking about. However, if you are a new teacher wanting to get hired, these acronyms are important for you to know.

This same rule applies for other fields. If you want to break into a community or niche outside of the world of education, you need to learn the lingo. The best way to do this is by using Google and type in common acronyms for (fill in the blank of the field).

Once you understand the common acronyms for that field, you will want to compare these to your transferable teacher skills and see which ones are similar. Then research the buzzwords in the niche of the job you hope to pursue to find even more gold to add to your teacher career change resume.

4| Be prepared

You would think this would be supremely obvious, but according to my husband, who does interviews regularly for his job, the number of individuals who come to interviews completely unprepared is staggering.

So after researching the lingo (including buzzwords & acronyms) of your potential profession, make sure you research the specific position you hope to get as well as the company you want to join.

Make certain that your career goals align with the motto and beliefs of this particular company . You don’t want to go through the trouble of interviewing, getting offered the position, and working for one day only to realize you don’t agree with the company’s position on an important issue.

Once you determine you are a good fit for the company, take some time to look online for interview questions related to your chosen field and formulate answers as a way to prepare for the questions you might be asked in an interview.

This will instill confidence in you and help you get into the mindset of someone who already has the position…before you ever walk through the door of the interview.

5| Reach out to someone at the company

If you want to be prepared for a potential interview, then you need to know about the company and also the workers there.

You can call the company and ask to speak with someone in the department to which you are applying or ask to speak with the supervisor about the position.

Be respectful of this individual’s time and ask if he/she has 5 minutes to answer a couple of quick questions about the position. If the person is busy, let him/her call you at a more convenient time because the last thing you want to do is be a nuisance.

Ask a few preselected questions that will help you understand more about the work environment, the position itself, and the supervisor. Remember, to write these ahead of time so you don’t waste time trying to think of them on the spot.

The point of this exercise is to get a little extra insight and to get your name in front of the individual early.

resumes for teachers leaving profession

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Nailing Your Teacher Career Change Interview

6| know what you’re interviewing for.

This may seem ridiculous, but there are so many people who just saunter into interviews with no idea what they’re even interviewing for. My husband sees this all the time.

He is always astounded by how many individuals step into an interview completely clueless about the position. Ultimately, the interviewee is simply wasting everyone’s time.

This is a very frustrating situation…especially when an interview panel has a full day of interviews. Make sure you’ve spent time studying the position and dissecting the job requirements and duties so that you can answer the questions in an interview well.

Think about the specific skills you bring to the table that will allow you to be an asset to the company and how those skills set you up as the perfect candidate for the position.

7| Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses

In every interview, there is always the obligatory “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” question. While it may be phrased in a number of different ways, this is the moment for you to shine.

You want to spend time talking about what you have to offer the company that makes you the obvious choice of candidate. Then you want to be honest about your weaknesses in a way that does not make you look like a liability. Let me give you some examples.

Instead of saying this…

  • I’m a terrible speller.
  • I hate people.
  • I’m OCD about organization.

Say this…

  • I appreciate spell check as spelling isn’t my strong suit.
  • I work best independently as I tend to be introverted by nature.
  • I thrive in a tidy workspace . I’m not a fan of disorganization.

The point here is for you to admit your weaknesses, but in a way that doesn’t take you out of the running for this particular position.

8| Don’t assume anything

You cannot assume the interview panel knows anything you don’t say or that you haven’t told them during the meeting. You may have written something in your application or even in your resume, but you still need to mention it during the interview as needed. 

This is especially important if you happen to know someone on the interview board or you have worked at this particular company before. They are only able to write down things you say during the meeting and if you don’t say it, it might get overlooked elsewhere.

Also remember to avoid the word etcetera.

This is something people say when they’ve been asked a question that they aren’t fully prepared to answer. They will say “etcetera” to fill in the space of those things they can’t think of during the interview.

But remember, the interviewers don’t know what etcetera covers unless you clarify it. So just leave it out of the conversation completely.

9| Answer ALL of the questions

Another issue that my husband sees frequently in interviews is candidates not answering all of the questions. For example, the interviewer might ask you something like this…“Name some skills that you feel would be important to have to do this job effectively. Then tell us your strongest skill.”

Potential candidates answer with their strongest skill while completely ignoring the first part of the question. This isn’t an encouraging start for interviewers because they want an employee that actually listens.

So listen carefully to the questions asked and answer ALL of them as succinctly (and thoroughly) as possible.

Now what I just said might seem a bit like an oxymoron. How are you supposed to answer a question succinctly and thoroughly? Think of it like this…

You want to include as much information as needed to answer the question(s) completely without talking in circles and repeating yourself 53 times. You want to prove that you have a thoughtful answer while also being respectful of the interviewers’ time. 

10| Dress Appropriately

It doesn’t matter if you are applying for a non-profit, a grocery store, or a Fortune 500 company, you want to dress appropriately. Think about the old adage…Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have!!

Even if the place you’re interviewing at has “Casual Fridays” and you happen to be getting an interview on one of these days, you are not yet an employee and those rules don’t apply to you. So think about how a professional would dress and dress accordingly.

Men should wear a suit and tie or at the bare minimum a polo shirt and nice slacks. If you come in with wrinkled khakis and a shirt 2 sizes too small, you are not going to make a good impression.

Women should wear a nice pair of slacks or skirt with a MODEST dressy top or dress if you feel more comfortable. Leggings (unless under a dress), low cut or revealing tops, and bra straps make a terrible first impression.

Remember, you will be the face of this particular company to the world and they don’t want sloppily-dressed individuals representing their brand. And even the best teacher career change resume will not cover up the negative impression a poorly dressed applicant gives during the interview.

11| Don’t fidget

When we get nervous, we do annoying things without even realizing it. We tend to tap our pencils, shift in our seats, click our pens, or clear our throats because we literally don’t know what to do with ourselves. 

But this is super-distracting to the interviewers. That’s why practicing with someone prior to your actual interview can be really helpful.

You can simulate the interview environment (including paper, pen, or pencil on the table) to see if you have any fidget or annoying habit that will cause the interviewers to be distracted. After the simulation, the person can give you feedback on things you are doing well and things you need to work on before completing your interview.

12| Show interest

It is sad to even have to mention this, but another thing my husband has mentioned that amazes him is how little people seem to care about the job for which they are interviewing. There have been times he wanted to ask the interviewee if they actually even wanted the job.

To avoid this, be forthcoming with all of the information you have to share and don’t make the interview panel prod you for answers. This doesn’t make a good impression and since the goal is to land this job, you want to show interest.

If you don’t feel like you’ve had the opportunity to truly express why you want the job, at the end say something like…

  • “I want this position because…”
  • “I would like the opportunity to work here because…”

Then mention anything you gleaned during your conversation with the supervisor in your pre-interview phone conversation. This may be exactly what they’ve been waiting for someone to say!

13| Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the end

In many interviews, you will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the panel. Be sure to take advantage of the time and ask any clarifying questions.

You want to make sure you’ve already determined the types of questions you want to ask BEFORE you step into the interview though so you don’t forget them when you get nervous. You might even want to write them down and pull out your note at the end.

This will allow you to show the panel how serious you are about the position and also give you the opportunity to ask any questions that you would like answered related to work environment, their favorite things about working for the company, and how long they have been with the company.

Staying Front of Mind

14| send a thank you.

This is such an important part of the interview process. You want to thank the supervisor for the opportunity to interview for the position. This can be done “old school” style by sending a physical thank you note or card or it can be sent via email.

Make sure you are specific so that it doesn’t appear to simply be a canned response that you send to everyone. This is also one more way for your name to stay in front of the supervisor’s mind.

15| Ask for feedback

After you have sent your thank you email, you will find out whether or not you were chosen as the candidate for hire. If you did NOT get hired, don’t be afraid to reach out to the supervisor and see if he/she could give you a little insight into why you didn’t get the position.

This isn’t a power move; it’s simply a way for you to determine what you could have done better. But if you are going to go to the trouble of asking what you could have done better, be sure to listen carefully to feedback given to you.

Then take the time to turn that feedback into  better interviewing skills. And who knows? You may be able to use this insight to secure a different position with the company in the future.

Woman talking to a former teacher about his teacher career change resume

These 15 tips are designed to help you create an amazing teacher career change resume and deliver an awe-inspiring interview that leaves the company begging for you to work for them.

You are an extremely enticing candidate, but it is your job to show these companies just how badly they need you on their team.

So take time to create a standout resume designed for the position to which you are applying, prepare for the interview, arrive at the interview dressed professionally and confident that you are the best candidate.

You can do this!

If you know you need some help designing a teacher career change resume and strategic interview coaching, I can help! As a coach, I love helping clients leave the classroom ready to begin their new career with confidence. Click the button below for your free 30 minute Zoom call.

resumes for teachers leaving profession

Jennifer is a former elementary school teacher (M. Ed.) turned literacy interventionist, blogger, podcaster, TpT author, and homeschooling mom. When she's not with her husband & boys, she's sharing her love for Jesus, designing websites, helping other teachers pursue online businesses, organizing ALL THE THINGS, or watching New Girl. Read More >>

  • • Collaborated with teacher to create engaging lesson plans that aligned with state standards and students' needs resulting in a 25% increase in student engagement.
  • • Managed classroom behavior through implementation of positive reinforcement techniques resulting in a 50% decrease in disciplinary issues.
  • • Provided one-on-one support to students with learning differences resulting in a 20% increase in student performance.
  • • Designed and delivered lesson plans tailored to individual student needs resulting in a 30% increase in student performance.
  • • Provided individual and group tutoring to students in math and English resulting in a 40% increase in student confidence.
  • • Monitored student progress and provided regular feedback to parents and teachers resulting in increased collaboration and support for students.
  • • Designed and delivered engaging and culturally responsive English language lessons resulting in a 20% increase in student engagement.
  • • Assessed student progress and provided regular feedback resulting in a 15% increase in language proficiency.
  • • Utilized data-driven instruction and differentiated learning strategies to meet the diverse needs of adult learners.

5 Transitioning Teacher Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Customize this resume with ease using our seamless online resume builder.

All resume examples in this guide

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Traditional

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Resume Guide

How to craft the perfect transitioning teacher resume experience section, transitioning teacher resume skills section to impress recruiters, transitioning teacher resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices, transitioning teacher resume format 101.

Transitioning Teacher resume example

Top Transitioning Teacher sections that make the best resume

  • Professional summary
  • Experience (with numbers & results)
  • Relevant skills
  • Certifications

what to write in your resume experience section

Transitioning Teacher Experience Section: Checklist

  • List your positions in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
  • Go for 4-6 bullet points;
  • Add only relevant work experience;
  • Include information about the challenges you’ve faced, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve achieved;
  • Use action verbs instead of filler words.

We’ve collected some of the top resume experience sections from real Enhancv users. Check them out when drafting your own Transitioning Teacher resume!

  • Implemented behavior intervention plans, resulting in a 25% decrease in disruptive behaviors in the classroom
  • Adapted classroom activities and assignments, resulting in a 15% increase in student engagement and participation
  • Provided small group instruction and supervision, resulting in a 20% increase in student progress towards IEP goals
  • Collected educational and behavioral data to measure student progress and adjust instruction accordingly
  • Assisted with teaching curriculum in specific content areas based on IEP goals and objectives
  • Provided preventative and follow-up behavior management to students exhibiting disruptive behaviors, resulting in a 10% decrease in behavior incidents
  • Assisted students in transitioning between classrooms, resulting in a 30% decrease in tardiness and disruptions
  • Collaborated with teachers to adapt classroom activities and materials to meet the needs of individual students
  • Implemented behavior management strategies, resulting in a 20% decrease in disruptive behaviors in the classroom
  • Assisted with data collection to monitor student progress towards IEP goals
  • Provided feedback to teachers on student progress and behavior
  • Assisted with the implementation of behavior intervention plans
  • Increased student achievement by 20% over two years by implementing research-based best practices in daily planning and classroom instruction
  • Developed and implemented a culturally responsive teaching curriculum that increased student engagement and participation by 30%
  • Created a positive classroom environment that fostered social-emotional growth and learning, resulting in improved student behavior and academic performance
  • Incorporated 21st century technology skills into daily classroom practice and team settings, enhancing student learning outcomes
  • Communicated regularly with families regarding the academic and social-emotional growth of their child, resulting in improved parent-teacher relationships
  • Collaborated effectively with colleagues to plan and implement non-instructional activities such as social events and field trips
  • Collaborated with teacher to create engaging lesson plans that aligned with state standards and students' needs resulting in a 25% increase in student engagement.
  • Managed classroom behavior through implementation of positive reinforcement techniques resulting in a 50% decrease in disciplinary issues.
  • Provided one-on-one support to students with learning differences resulting in a 20% increase in student performance.
  • Designed and delivered lesson plans tailored to individual student needs resulting in a 30% increase in student performance.
  • Provided individual and group tutoring to students in math and English resulting in a 40% increase in student confidence.
  • Monitored student progress and provided regular feedback to parents and teachers resulting in increased collaboration and support for students.
  • Designed and delivered engaging and culturally responsive English language lessons resulting in a 20% increase in student engagement.
  • Assessed student progress and provided regular feedback resulting in a 15% increase in language proficiency.
  • Utilized data-driven instruction and differentiated learning strategies to meet the diverse needs of adult learners.

In writing your Transitioning Teacher resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.

Action Verbs for your Transitioning Teacher Resume

Target Illustration

Recommended reads:

  • Resume Without Work Experience: 6+ Sections to Demonstrate Impact
  • Lying On A Resume: Here's What It Can Cost You

A skills section that shows what you’re capable of includes:

  • Keywords from the job advert to help you pass ATS;
  • Both hard and soft skills, incl. technical skills and people skills;
  • Skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for;
  • No more than 15 skills – to keep your resume readable.

Top skills for your transitioning teacher resume

Curriculum Development

Lesson Planning

Classroom Management

Assessment and Evaluation

Differentiated Instruction

Technology Integration

Data Analysis

Content Area Expertise

Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Student Records Management

Adaptability

Communication

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Time Management

Cultural Competence

Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.

  • How to Create A Resume Skills Section To Impress Recruiters

what to write in your resume header

Impressive Transitioning Teacher resume summary checklist:

  • Point out the achievements that make you a valuable applicant;
  • Mention the total years of experience you have;
  • Highlight the things you believe make you the best fit for the position;
  • Keep it short: aim at having no more than 3-5 sentences.

Resume summary formula:

When writing a resume summary or objective, avoid first-person narrative.

  • 83 Resume Summary Examples & How-To Guide

If a couple of years ago Transitioning Teacher resumes could be text files with no graphic elements, today’s recruiters need a bit more to remember you.

And yet, you can still choose between three basic resume formats:

  • Reverse-chronological resume format ;
  • Functional skills-based resume format ;
  • Combination (or Hybrid) resume format .

But when it comes to choosing the right format for your Transitioning Teacher resume, there are two factors to keep in mind: your experience and whether you’re looking for an industry change.

The reverse-chronological format is the most common one. That being said, it gives recruiters exactly what they’re used to in terms of order and information. However, it’s not suitable for applicants with employment gaps or not enough experience.

We at Enhancv suggest the functional skills-based resume format for people with limited work experience who find reverse-chronological resumes irrelevant. This format showcases the applicant’s most significant accomplishments, skills, and strengths.

hybrid (combination) resume format built on Enhancv platform

Here are some additional tips on perfecting your resume layout and style :

  • Go for a traditional resume font sized 12p;
  • Use standard 1-inch resume margins for increased readability;
  • Make sure your resume fits on a one-page template . In case you’ve got 10 years of experience or more, your resume’s length can reach two pages ;
  • Avoid unwanted editing and plagiarism – save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiters.

Want to take it a step further? Learn how to make your resume stand out without relying too much on creativity .

transitioning teacher resume example

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How to Craft an Effective Resume for a Teacher Career Change

Crafting an impressive teacher resume when changing careers so that you can land the job you really want.

resumes for teachers leaving profession

The path you chose in the early years of your career doesn’t have to stick! You could lose interest in your current role or find something more fulfilling along the way.  

If you’re feeling discontented in your teaching career, you don’t have to keep pushing through. There are several career paths you can choose from by leveraging the transferable skills you’ve developed in your career so far. 

Today, we’ll guide you on crafting an impressive teacher resume when changing careers so that you can land the job you really want . 

What Are Some Jobs For Former Teachers?

Here are some new career paths available to former teachers based on desirable skills requirements.

EdTech Professional

Turning to EdTech is the easiest career transition one could think of, as it allows you to continue impacting education but on a larger scale! Start from an entry-level role and fill the skill gaps by developing other relevant skills such as coding, design, product management, and data analysis. Course designing and content creation are some EdTech domains you could easily tap into as a former teacher.

5 key skills requirements:

  • Strong communication 
  • Problem-solving
  • Web development 
  • Knowledge of programming languages
  • Data Analytics

See this example job listing for a Learning Experience Designer at Columbus State University. It’s a perfect opportunity for experienced university teachers with a passion for course creation.

Instructional Design

Instructional design is a division of EdTech that mainly focuses on creating effective learning experiences, including courses, manuals, learning simulations, and more. Your lesson planning and curriculum development skills will come in handy for this role. 

  • Understanding of learning models
  • Project management 
  • Presentation technology knowledge
  • Visual design and storyboarding
  • Assessment development

See this example job listing for an Instructional Designer to direct adult learning in a workplace. If you’re looking to work in a corporate setting and have deep knowledge about workplace practices, this role could be perfect for you!

The love for reading and learning is second nature to most teachers, which is why a career as a librarian is a good next step for former teachers. They are skilled in creating and delivering course curriculums, which translates well to a librarian’s responsibility of curating collections and resources to meet the needs of diverse readers. 

  • Organizational skills
  • Community engagement
  • Basic computer literacy
  • Research skills
  • Customer service

This example job listing for a Reference Librarian is ideal for someone who is great at research and has a knack for handling software related to library database management.

Writer/Author/Editor 

One of the most important skills a teacher possesses is the ability to articulate their thoughts and words effectively. If you’re great at this, you might want to consider writing or editing as your next career. You could try magazines, newspapers, websites, books, and any other publishing mediums that pay to write.

Additionally, you can tap into copywriting or advertising if consumer psychology and marketing excite you.

  • Excellent writing ability
  • Critical thinking
  • Storytelling

See this example job listing for a copywriter, which is perfect for someone who excels at storytelling and editorial writing.

Assessing and evaluating a person’s skills are a daily part of teaching, and you can translate these skills into recruiting candidates for a company. All you need is an eye for good talent, and you’re gold.

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Sales and persuasion

This example job listing is for Recruiters in the financial services space, perfect for former teachers with a commerce background.  

Corporate Trainer

How about teaching, but in a different setting and to a different audience? Offering training in a corporate environment allows you to experience a whole new world and expand your horizons. This role also allows for flexibility to set your own schedule—something that is a welcome reprieve from the rigid schedule of most educators.

  • Presentation skills
  • Technical literacy
  • Analytical skills
  • Cultural sensitivity

This example job listing for a Corporate Trainer is ideal for you if you love helping individuals perform better in their roles.

Teacher Career Change Resume Example

Your resume plays a critical role when switching from teaching to a more corporate role—it’s all about how you present your experiences and skills in a manner to make them attractive to any potential employer.  

Here’s one resume example that has the potential to get attention:

Teacher resume

Why does this resume work?

  • Using numbers and percentages to talk about results and transformations. This shows that the candidate is data-driven (which is perfect in the corporate realm) and the ability to drive results and productivity with their work. 
  • Employers love resume keywords such as “goal-setting,” “planning,” “strategy,” and “feedback.” These show the applicant knows the industry skills required and helps form a positive first impression.
  • The work history tells how the applicant has been more than just a teacher and has been involved in the development of their previous institution . This involves other relevant responsibilities such as leading a team of instructors, building partnerships with local schools, collaborating with faculties, designing training programs, and more.

How to Write a Resume When Transitioning from Teaching

1. make the most of transferable skills.

Transferable skills are the experiences and qualities you develop in your teaching career that can also be applied to your new career. 

These skills not only include your hard skills (i.e., your expertise) but also include all soft skills (problem-solving, analytical skills, team-leading abilities, etc) you pick up along the journey. 

How to identify your transferable skills:

  • Reflect on your teaching journey and note all your achievements, milestones, and the skills you demonstrated in those times.
  • Review job descriptions of the roles you’re interested in and translate your skills per the specific job requirements. 
  • Network with people from the industry you wish to join outside of teaching to learn about the potential roles you can apply to with your skills. 
  • Consider all the training and courses you’ve done in your teaching career and use them to create a portfolio. You can create a mock project to showcase your skills in a real-world scenario. 

Suggested reading: Resume templates for various industries

2. Customize Your Resume for a New Field

One resume will not fit every job role. You must adapt the jargon, formats, and language specific to each field. Align your experiences and achievements with the requirements of your new field.

Here’s an example:

“Prepared and curated lesson plans for students.”

This line from a teacher’s resume becomes….

“Oversaw curriculum development to maximize learning for students while collaborating with team members and leadership.”

The updated version shows you’re a team player who likes taking end-to-end initiatives. 

3. Address Career Change Concerns

Transitioning from a teacher to a corporate role may raise objections and concerns from employers. 

Some of these concerns could be:

  • Lack of experience in a corporate setting
  • Being overqualified for entry-level roles
  • Your ability to transfer and translate skills

You can address these concerns using the following strategies:

  • Share instances from your teaching journey where you applied your transferable skills. For example,  instances where you led a team and contributed to the development of your past organization. Or where you navigated a change that increased students’ performance by a significant percentage. 
  • Talk about the technical tools you’ve used in your past role and how they’ve helped you in the job.
  • Prepare a solid answer to the question, “Why should we hire you.” Use your skills like adaptability, team player, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc, to lead the argument.
  • Mention any courses, certifications, workshops, or additional education you have pursued or are pursuing to enhance your skills for the corporate role.

4. Showcase Accomplishments and Impact

Numbers speak louder than words, and quantifying your achievements emphasizes their impact. For starters, it shows the employer you really care about achieving results rather than just getting the work done. Secondly, it makes you look more credible and encourages the employer to trust you.

Here’s how to write a resume that highlights quantitative achievements:

  • Avoid vague statements and be highly specific—always specify who you helped, how you helped, and the results you produced. 
  • Highlight metrics relevant to the job you’re applying for, not just your old job.
  • It doesn’t always have to be a percentage—you can include the number of people impacted or a range of data in case you don’t have the precise figures. 

Here are two examples of showcasing impact: 

  • Led and managed a student mentorship program for senior students and helped 15+ students achieve scholarships to attend prestigious universities in Germany in 2022.
  • Aligned with key stakeholders to manage additional events in the organization to drive student engagement and learning. Raised $20,000 from trustees for this cause. 

5. Include Professional Development and Upskilling

It’s good practice to focus on training and upskilling when transitioning to a different career. It helps you close the skill gaps between your old and new role and make you more qualified for corporate. 

Here are some places you can search for courses and certifications:

  • Udemy: You get a huge library of courses for every field imaginable, at affordable prices.
  • LinkedIn Learning: This comes with your LinkedIn premium subscription. Showcase the course certification as you finish; it’ll act as a huge employer magnet on your profile!
  • Look for courses and certifications available in your local area. 

Don’t forget to highlight ongoing learning and upskilling on the resume. It shows the recruiter how invested you are in adapting to a new career path and the effort you put into making it happen.

Here’s an example of how to highlight it on your resume:

Currently pursuing a certification course, “Email Marketing Fundamentals”, on Udemy after finishing “Digital Marketing 101”, and “Basics of Branding” successfully. 

Key Takeaways

Transitioning from teaching into a new role can be a smooth ride if you know where to look and how to apply and position yourself. Your resume is your entry ticket into another role—make sure you create an excellent first impression!

Tailor your resume for the field you’re applying to and show off your transferable skills. Remain calm during the job hunting process and continue upskilling for new roles to complement your existing skills and experience.  

And if you want to fast-track the resume writing process and increase your chances of landing your dream job, consider giving Rezi’s resume builder a try!

How do I write a resume for a career change from teaching?

Identify your transferable skills that fit the requirements for the role you’re applying to and follow these resume tips .

What do you put on a resume when leaving teaching?

Mention all your relevant experiences from your teaching background in your resume and tailor these experiences to the new role. 

How do I switch to a career in teaching?

Get clarity about who you want to teach and what should be your subject, and apply for all the necessary certifications to complete the process. 

Rezi is an ai resume builder to help you to create a resume that os sure to check the boxes when it comes to applicant tracking systems : Rezi Review by Ashley

Kels Styles

Kels is a career writer and editor with a background in entertainment, advertising, and startups. Kels aims to provide, reinforce, and organize authentic, digestible content that helps you take the next step in your career. 

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Resume Tips for Teachers Leaving Education

resumes for teachers leaving profession

How to write a resume is the number one question I get from teachers wanting to leave. We’re used to writing resumes for teaching and believe we need to learn how to write resumes for the corporate world. Is it a little different? Yes, but it’s manageable.

I also found that the EdTech space welcomes transitioning teachers and is okay seeing our teacher resumes. They are very forgiving, but you still should curate your resume in a way that attracts recruiters. So if you’re nervous about revising your resume, start with jobs in EdTech first.

Use these resume tips below to help you find a job outside the classroom.

Narrow Your Job Search

In my blog post, Jobs for Teachers Leaving Education, I mention some jobs that would be great for K-12 educators. Of course, you can’t apply for every job you see, you can, but unless you want to revise your resume to match all of those positions, I suggest focusing on jobs that fit your skill set.

Focus on one or two jobs you know you’d qualify for based on your experience; that way, you can have a resume or two perfect for that job.

Only Include Relevant Information

Let’s get right into it. If the job description doesn’t mention working with children, leave that experience off your resume. If you’re applying for Professional Learning Facilitator roles, you’ll only want to include the experience of you training adults. Let’s say you want to mention that you analyze data; say that. You don’t need to have that you analyzed student data.

If the job wants you to have experience as an educator, but working with kids is outside the actual role, make a list of your classroom experience, minus descriptions, on a second page.

Keep It Simple

I mentioned in the previous section that your resume might have a second page, but I’d keep it to one page. This is because you can successfully communicate your experience and qualifications on one page. And it is better for teachers attempting to leave the classroom, so you don’t have pages full of irrelevant experiences.

Search for Examples

Once you figure out what jobs you’re looking for, Google it! If you can find resumes on the internet that match the job you’re searching for, see how you can use them to write your own.

Honestly, it’s pretty easy to change your resume to fit the corporate world. Especially if you’re applying to roles within EdTech, I promise you can do it!

Related Posts

Jobs for Teachers Leaving the Classroom

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Jobs for Teachers Leaving the Classroom

Jobs for Teachers Leaving the Classroom

January 19, 2023

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  4. Sample Resume For Teacher Leaving Education

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  6. 20+ Teacher Resume Examples that Work in 2024

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  1. How to Add Teacher to Your Resume 🍎✍🏼 Resume Tips and Examples

COMMENTS

  1. How To Write a Resume When Changing Careers From Teaching ...

    Here is how to create a resume to impress any hiring manager: 1. Find the right career. If you aren't leaving teaching with a specific field in mind, this provides an opportunity to choose a career that suits you. Applying for jobs in a field where your teaching skills are transferable makes a switch easier.

  2. Leaving Teaching? How To Make Your Resume Stand Out

    Resume Tip for Teachers #1: Relate the job description to your experience. When you apply to teaching positions, you typically think about your experience and outline it on your resume. Usually, it looks something like this: Taught third and fifth grade while serving as a member of the Leadership Team. Served as an Instructional Coach.

  3. Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

    So, when you go to save your resume file, be sure it’s saved in the .doc or .docx format. ATS will reject files saved in Pages, Excel, or JPEG format. The last big resume formatting tip is about style. If your go-to is a creative and colorful template that landed you your job in the classroom, it’s time for a change.

  4. 3 Teacher Career Change Resume Examples For 2024 - BeamJobs

    3 Teacher Career Change. Resume Examples For 2024. Stephen Greet February 29, 2024. Hardly a day passed without Demetri thinking of his favorite programming projects, and his ability to work with a diverse group boosted his confidence: After teaching math for several years, he was ready to switch gears—but was his teacher career change resume ...

  5. Resume Writing for Teachers Changing Careers - LinkedIn

    So here are my (very unofficial) resume tips for success. Again- I am not an HR professional or recruiter, so use these (or don't use these) at your own discretion. Step #1: Skill & Experience ...

  6. 5 Resume Tips For Teachers Moving From The Classroom ... - Forbes

    In the UK, according to The Guardian, around one in five teachers (18%) expect to leave the classroom in less than two years. Also, two-fifths of teachers, school leaders, and support staff want ...

  7. How to Craft Your Teacher Career Change Resume + Ace Your ...

    Nailing Your Teacher Career Change Interview. 6| Know what you're interviewing for. 7| Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. 8| Don't assume anything. 9| Answer ALL of the questions. 10| Dress Appropriately. 11| Don't fidget. 12| Show interest. 13| Don't be afraid to ask questions at the end.

  8. 5 Transitioning Teacher Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

    Impressive Transitioning Teacher resume summary checklist: Point out the achievements that make you a valuable applicant; Mention the total years of experience you have; Highlight the things you believe make you the best fit for the position; Keep it short: aim at having no more than 3-5 sentences.

  9. How to Craft an Effective Resume for a Teacher Career Change

    Use your skills like adaptability, team player, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc, to lead the argument. Mention any courses, certifications, workshops, or additional education you have pursued or are pursuing to enhance your skills for the corporate role. 4. Showcase Accomplishments and Impact.

  10. Resume Tips for Teachers Leaving Education - Melissa Nikohl

    In my blog post, Jobs for Teachers Leaving Education, I mention some jobs that would be great for K-12 educators. Of course, you can’t apply for every job you see, you can, but unless you want to revise your resume to match all of those positions, I suggest focusing on jobs that fit your skill set. Focus on one or two jobs you know you’d ...