Teaching is a very versatile job that helps you develop various skills that employers in different sectors are looking for.

We know that teaching is very demanding and it can take its toll physically, emotionally and mentally, so, congratulate yourself for going into this profession in the first place, making a difference to young people across the country and remember, your teaching certificate will be valid if you decide to return.

Perhaps right now you need more flexibility, a remote job, less stress, more time for family and friends.

So, what can a former teacher do?

There are plenty of alternative jobs for teachers. Below, we’ve listed 10 of them that are an excellent fit for teachers.

1. Tutor

This is a natural fit for former teachers as it closely aligns with both your hard and soft skills. There are a whole host of different options when it comes to tutoring from the traditional 1:1 offering in a physical context to online group tuition where the potential for higher earnings is a very real possibility. Due to the rapid communication improvements associated with globalisation, there is now the possibility for you to target the lucrative overseas market servicing students aspiring to join some of the UK’s leading independent schools. The later option also offers the distinct advantage of delivering during GMT school hours by utilising online tools and capitalising on timezone differences. The demand for tutoring continues to grow making this a very viable alternative role for teachers looking for jobs outside the classroom.

2. Corporate Trainer

Every company needs to train and educate its staff on company procedures, products and services. As a former teacher, you will understand the pedagogical methods and knowledge of different learning styles to make a success of such a role. Working in this role as a former teacher you will have to consider the organisation’s goals, objectives and commitments whilst designing lesson plans and assessment materials that are accessible to all types of learners. As an ex-teacher, you will have both the brilliant organisational and presentation skills required to thrive in this type of position. 

3. Account Manager

This role is about fostering long-term relationships with organisations, building a company’s portfolio and increasing its market position. You will also need to ensure that current customers are satisfied with the products that they are using. If you are a former teacher then you will be highly desired by EdTech organisations who value not only your knowledge of the educational landscape but also the insights you can provide regarding how to market to schools. This can give you a distinct advantage over other candidates in this space. With a growing demand for more automation in the classroom and school-based management information systems continuing to be in demand we expect this industry to require new talent throughout 2024. 

4. Content Writer

Ex-teachers have the curricula and subject knowledge to forge a successful new career in this role. You have an innate understanding of learning strategies and understand how to build programmes of learning to engage students. This coupled with your granular understanding of exam board specifications and assessment places you at the top of the podium of candidates applying for such roles. With a healthy amount of competition in this space one of the best ways for educational companies to add authenticity to their sales pitch is for their products to have been designed by teachers. Therefore content creator roles will continue to offer an excellent alternative job for teachers in 2024. 

5. Education Officer

There are a large number of charities in the UK that focus primarily on improving the life chances of young people. Either by focusing on pioneering strategies to facilitate increased social mobility or through support designed to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing young people today. You would have gone into the teaching profession because of your determination to enact positive change and the lives of young people. This altruistic urge is not going to dim if you are stepping away from the classroom. So for former teachers such a role offers the potential to increase your contribution to serving and supporting young people on a wider level than that of your previous role as a classroom teacher. 

6. Programme Manager

This is your chance to combine your educational knowledge, understanding of young people and mastery of planning, coordinating and running events. Many of the organisations that we work with require highly organised and resilient individuals to run programmes on a local or national level. Former teachers have the ability to run large-scale programmes because management of such activities is a core part of the profession. From coordinating and leading new learning strategies to planning and running whole school events often involving thousands of people you have what it takes to thrive in such a position. 

7. Project Manager

Teaching is a multifaceted job with many different elements. Your friends and family may only consider the traditional classroom-based activities as your job function. However, as a teacher, you are constantly running longer-term projects to meet specific targets. Not only are former teachers like you excellent team players used to collaborating with others but you will also be a  leader with an understanding of how to get the best out of teams. It is likely that since the pandemic you have become more confident in using different software systems to manage school workflows. Therefore hiring and onboarding you for such a whole will involve much less friction than those of other candidates. 

8. Career Coach

Career coaches provide advice and suggest suitable career pathways for young people. In many ways, this is what you do every day and so therefore to work in this industry is a natural fit. If you have worked in the secondary sector where career decisions become more pressing then you will already likely have a track record of guiding young adults and delivering careers education.  With a range of different companies now working in this space, there is now increased opportunity. 

9. Editor

Editors read through the work of authors. This might be in the form of blogs, books, magazines, textbooks, or novels. You have an excellent grasp of the conventions of written English and so can therefore can lend yourself well to this work. In this role, you may suggest improvements, check facts, recommend deletion or help rewrite passages so that they appear grammatically correct. 

10. Curriculum Developer

We are seeing more of these roles appearing in 2023 as academy chains and large organisations look to improve their schemes of learning that offer cutting-edge opportunities, pique student interest and engagement whilst maintaining academic outcomes. In such a role you would design long-term learning schemes, design structure curriculum intent and advise teachers on the best techniques in which to deliver them to students of all abilities. Such a role offers former teachers to increase the impact of their pedagogy by working at a different level within a larger academy of schools. 

You should be very proud of the skills you have developed in the classroom as these are highly sought after by many organisations in a variety of sectors.

Our Job Board features roles from organisations that are actively seeking teachers, so you can apply with confidence.

If you are concerned that your CV might be letting you down, visit our Courses Page for expertly written content or arrange a call with us so we can support you with your next career steps.