careers after teaching

Many teachers reach a point where they start to wonder what life beyond the classroom could look like. For those who love planning, organising and helping people create memorable experiences, the travel industry can offer a surprisingly natural transition.

In this guest article, Travel Counsellors explore five signs that suggest you might be ready to swap the classroom timetable for the flexibility of running your own travel business.

Whether you’re considering a franchise, building your own business, or simply exploring what else is possible, learning from former teachers who have made the leap is one of the most useful (and reassuring) steps you can take.

Often, the first response is to search job boards and start applying for roles that feel like an escape route rather than a considered next step. While that’s understandable, it can lead to rushed decisions or a sideways move that doesn’t truly solve the problem. This blog explores how teachers can gain clarity with careers after teaching.

A practical guide for teachers and leaders on getting your first education consultancy contract without leaving education or taking unnecessary risks.

Teachers heading to BETT? This practical guide shows how to use the BETT Education Show to explore new careers, network with employers, and spot transferable skills beyond the classroom.

Match and Dispatch: your complete celebrant career toolkit, building a solid foundation for a sustainable, successful celebrant business. We looked at what already existed and decided to raise the bar, to create training that’s honest, upfront, and realistic about what it actually takes to build a self-employed career that lasts.

Burnt out or looking for change? Discover why more teachers are leaving the classroom for emotional wellbeing roles and how a franchise like Mind Marvels can help you reconnect with what matters most.

“I’d leave teaching… but I’ve no idea what else I’m qualified to do.”
It’s one of the most common fears we hear from the brilliant educators who follow Those Who Can. And we get it, it was one of the reasons we created our website in the first place. 

Teaching isn’t just a job, it’s an identity. It’s all-consuming. For years, you’ve lived the rhythm of the school calendar, led classes like clockwork, and poured energy into everyone else. The thought of stepping outside that world feels scary, especially when you’re not sure where you’d even begin.

If you’re a teacher thinking about your next chapter but are not sure where to begin, then our Career Transition Workshop is specifically for educators who want to move in a new professional direction—with clarity, confidence, and support.

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.

Those Who Can’s job board is a one-of-a-kind resource designed to connect teachers with job opportunities outside the classroom. Unlike generic job boards, Those Who Can’s listings are tailored specifically to teachers’ unique skill sets, highlighting roles in various industries that value and build on your experience in education.

Opting for a career in teaching, demonstrates you are motivated to make a difference and it can be leveraged as evidence to show your values align with the causes of a charity employer. You possess a wealth of soft skills that are in demand. This blog explores the important skills needed to forge a successful career in the third sector and why as a teacher you have them covered. 

An academy is a good route into the advice profession for someone not coming from a financial background, according to Ben Hughes, an adviser at Doxford Financial. Hughes, who recently graduated from the St James’s Place Academy, told FT Adviser that before becoming an adviser he worked as a school teacher for several years.

Neil made the decision to swap teaching for property in 2019, qualifying as a residential property surveyor in 2022 through the Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation. Fast forward to 2024 and Neil is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors running his own successful surveying firm providing condition surveys for homebuyers and homeowners as they buy, sell and renovate their homes. 

For teachers a career as a financial adviser is both rewarding and promising. From high earning potential & job security to the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in clients’ lives, the benefits are substantial. Hear from 2 teachers who have made that journey.

There are so many important skills that I developed during my years of teaching which have gone on to support me with building my franchise business. I find myself meeting people, visiting new settings and communicating with a variety of age groups. It’s such a wonderful part of the job and I believe the communication skills developed from teaching have really supported me with this.

The role of career guidance for young people is essential in today’s complex job market, providing them with the tools and confidence to navigate their future careers successfully. Teachers, with their unique skills and experience, are well-positioned to transition into this rewarding field.

The Data School’s webinar was a treasure trove of knowledge for beginners, by focusing on the fundamentals, choosing the right tools, adhering to best practices, and learning from real-world examples, anyone can enhance their data visualisation skills.

If you’re looking to get out of teaching, Emma’s story could be just the inspiration you need to embark on a new chapter. Emma transitioned from the classroom to being her own boss, read about how much her life has changed for the better since making the switch.

Making the jump from a guaranteed wage in teaching to working for yourself is scary and you do need to have a bit of a financial safety net to help you through the first months of building your business up but teaching has prepared you with so many skills. 

If you are seriously thinking about running your own business or starting a franchise after teaching you need to do your research. Find out about the realities of these options, and talk to people who have swapped teaching to run their own business or franchise.

I’ve always wanted to own my own business and being part of a franchise, literally buying a business in a box provided me with the support from head office to succeed. I’ve only been in the franchise for 12 months and already I can see the potential growth my business financially and be able to work around my family working half my teaching hours!

The educational landscape can be tumultuous. Many schools reorganise, restructure and merge as Multi Academy Trusts, a big shift in focus towards STEM subjects and the reduction in contact time experienced by creative subjects has left them overstaffed and underfunded. Such disruption has inevitably led to some staff redundancies.

Lisa made a decision to leave teaching and start her own business. Read about her journey from the classroom here. Lisa kindly offers tips and advice for any teacher wanting to follow the path to become a Virtual Assistant.