For Teachers Who Want To Make The Transition From The Classroom To Corporate
It is easier than you think but there are some things you need to do to get there!
At least once a week I get a message in my Inbox on Linked In from teachers wanting to transition out of the classroom into the corporate, ed-tech world.
For reasons we won’t go into today, let me just say:
I get it. I wouldn’t go back to the classroom at this point in my career.
Even before the pandemic, there were good reasons for my decision that I talk about in this article.
I made the transition from the classroom a while back despite the raised eyebrows of many of my colleagues. Now the trending hashtags on Linked In include #classroomtocorporate and #transitoningteacher. Maybe I was ahead of my time.
Here’s my best advice on how to parlay your teaching skills into a job in the ed-tech industry
- Start with what you know. You used curriculum and supplemental products in the classroom. Start following those companies, get job alerts, and check out the jobs they are hiring for. An enthusiastic and experienced user will probably get the edge over the candidate that does not know the product.
- Showcase your skills on your resume. Resume readers don’t want to see a list of your experiences only, they want to see how your skills and experience translate to the job posting you are applying for. Maybe you were an early adopter of a product or tool that your colleagues were having trouble learning to apply in the classroom. Did you provide team training on that product or coach other teachers during the school year? Maybe you were instrumental in your school choosing a supplement tool. How did you explain that this product was a good fit for your students?
- Be willing to be a beginner. You may have 15 years of classroom experience but moving into the ed-tech world will mean learning the way the business world functions and learning a whole host of new skills. Don’t expect to move from the classroom to a director role overnight. An entry-level job may even mean a pay cut. Keep focused on why you want to transition, your long-term goals, and stay humble. There’s a lot to learn but there is also a lot of opportunity out there!
- Narrow down your choices and goals. Just throwing some applications at the wall and hoping something sticks isn’t the best strategy. What do you like to do? Are you willing to travel? What other skills did you cultivate at other jobs? What are your strengths? Do you like to be on camera, in Zoom, or are you a behind-the-scenes type of worker? Being clear about what you want in your next role will help you apply filters to the job postings you are sorting through. It’s a big next step and you don’t want to end up in a role that doesn’t suit you.
- Investigate before applying. Do your due diligence about the company you are looking into. Do you like their product? Can you see yourself selling, training, or supporting that product with enthusiasm? Reach out to friends and connections who work at the company. They can provide you with some insight into the role and if it’s a good fit for your skill set.
- Be prepared for the change in culture. I love working with teachers but after a decade of working with business leaders, I can tell you that sometimes the teacher’s heart has trouble reconciling the way the business world works. Understand that you will be working for a company that has a goal to make a profit. You may not always understand or agree with the decisions that are made. Can you live with that?
The challenges of being a classroom teacher are greater than ever before. I applaud those who stay in the classroom and I will always be a fierce supporter of educators. For those who choose to take the challenge from #classroomtocorporate, I hope this article has helped.
P.S. Please remember to pay it forward once you do land that shiny new position!
This article was originally published on Linked In. If you would like to share it with someone on that platform, here is the link.