For many former teachers, stepping away from the classroom is a decision filled with many mixed emotions, such as relief, sadness, excitement and uncertainty. Teaching shapes your identity, I should know – I am a former teacher with fourteen years of experience in the classroom.  I had a career before teaching, then a teaching career and now a post classroom portfolio/freelance career.

Teaching is more than a job, it’s a way of life. So when you leave, you’re not just changing careers you are transforming how you see yourself.  The skills gained through teaching in my opinion are some of the best when compared to other jobs.

Why Teachers Make Powerful Career Changers

Teaching is an incredible foundation for any career. You’ve mastered communication, empathy, planning, multitasking, crisis management and working under pressure, take a moment to pause and consider all of the situations that you have managed. These are exactly the kinds of transferable skills that other industries seek.

Many former educators go on to become:

• Instructional designers
• Learning and development specialists
• Corporate trainers
• Writers and editors
• Coaches or mentors
• Entrepreneurs

The key is reframing how you present your experience and recognising that you already have what it takes to succeed elsewhere.

Navigating The Emotional Shift

Leaving teaching isn’t just a career move, it is a life shift.  Even now nine years out of everyday teaching, I sometimes “double check” in my own mind when booking personal activities during term time!  

Being out of the classroom can bring up questions like:

• “Who am I if I’m not a teacher?”
• “What if I fail at something new?”
• “How do I start over at this stage in life?”

These are completely normal thoughts. The truth is, most people feel this way during major life changes. This is about growth.

Self-Development

Over the course of my career, I have been asked a few times on how I have developed myself.  I will say this –  it is continuous work.  So, whether you are remaining within teaching, building a freelance career on the side or stepping away completely, I am offering you a free self-development book (postage paid by you).  It’s titled 30 Tips for Self-Development: Transform your life and career today. 

The book will provide you with tips on how you can elevate your personal and professional lives, sharpen your skills and maintain well-being.  There are 10 sections, such as “Confidence and Empowerment”, “Work-Life Balance” and “Skill development”.  Each section has 3 tips and a corresponding section for written reflection, to take you on a journey of self-development over 30 days.  If you’re ready to take steps toward a more fulfilling future, this book could be your guide.

Final thoughts

Transforming your life and career is a bold move and it takes courage.  You are effectively opening up the door to a new version of yourself.  Take small steps and you will get there.

Claim your free book

There are  5 copies of “30 Tips for Self-Development: Transform your life and Career” available for the first 5 people who email beverlyclarkecoaching@gmail.com  (you will need to pay £2.50 postage to claim your copy). This offer is available until the end of June 2025.

*Please note the book cover will differ from the same title available on Amazon.

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👋🏽 I am Beverly and I work to bridge the gap between industry and education.
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