The Show Notes
In today’s episode, I’m addressing the key questions teachers are asking when they are considering their next job after teaching. If you know me at all, I am not about offering fluffy suggestions.
I want to provide you with relevant and actionable items for finding your next job after teaching. If you find that you are asking a lot of the questions we discuss today, stick around until the end of the episode because I have an amazing resource for you!
The Journey Begins Now!
When it comes to thinking about your next job, there are a few phases of transition. These first two include:
- Recognition and Reflection: Something’s off and needs to change. Is it your family circumstances? Are you feeling burnt out? Stagnant?
- Brainstorming: What’s even possible? What jobs are out there? What do they pay? What companies hire for these jobs?
For me, the brainstorming phase literally took two years. That’s way too long when you know you’re ready for a change! At the beginning, this process can feel overwhelming and random. My goal for you is that this phase is much shorter. I also want you to feel the clarity and confidence to explore and pursue what opportunities are out there.
So in this episode, I am going to help you get that clarity by asking some questions to help focus your search. I challenge you to take out a pencil and paper and jot down the answers you have to the questions we are going to explore. Your answers could bring you one step closer to finding your next job!
Questions to Help You Discover Your Next Job After Teaching
What are your strengths and skills?
The best way to find your next job is to start from within. Ask yourself: What do other teachers, parents, students, or administrators give you positive feedback on most often? Your expert organizational skills? Your ease with technology? Your impressive interpersonal skills?
If you still feel unsure about answering this question, check out Campbell’s Interests and Strengths Survey. This is a perfect tool to be able to answer this question with more confidence. Write down what you discover!
What are your personal and financial needs for your next job after teaching?
If you are courageous enough to consider a job beyond the classroom, then this is certainly the time to determine what qualifications make a job ideal for you. Ask yourself:
- Do you want to work full-time or part-time?
- On site? or Remotely?
- Do you need insurance?
- How much income do you need or want to make each month?
The thought of working a job that doesn’t provide benefits may feel overwhelming. If it does, I challenge you to do the work of considering how much private insurance would cost for your family. If you were to find a job with better income but no benefits, this would of course cover the difference.
What are your non-financial needs for your next job?
You are craving something more for an important reason: what is it? Do you want to satisfy a growing interest? Do you want to have a bigger impact or work towards a different purpose? Be specific and write these answers down!
What opportunities are you interested in?
- Do you want to work for a company?
- Do you want to work for yourself in a contractor or freelancer capacity? (ie: an educational consultant or editor)
- Do you just want to develop a side hustle for now?
What type of company would you want to work for?
- Ed-tech?
- Higher ed?
- Non-profit?
- Something entirely different?
Putting It All Together
Your next step is to compile all the answers to these questions and use this input to find an opportunity that matches well. Easier said than done though, right? This is the hardest part!
Because I totally understand, I have developed a resource that organizes all the types of jobs and companies where teachers thrive in one interactive guidebook.
The Next Job for Teachers Guidebook will help you identify which job you would enjoy most and shows you exactly where to find hundreds of CURRENT job openings in the roles that would interest you most.
It’s practical, interactive, and is absolutely going to shorten the brainstorming phase for finding your next job after teaching. If you love what you find in this resource and are craving even more support, you can find that in the Find Your Next Job Course. This guide is just the first step of that course.
Whether you are just realizing it’s time for a change or you’ve known for a long time, the only way to discover what’s possible is to dive in, answer these questions, and then use resources like the Next Job for Teachers Guidebook.
Are you ready to see what’s possible?
A Breakdown of the Episode
[1:02] Learn what the first two phases of transitioning beyond the classroom entail
[3:50] Find out the two easiest ways to determine your specific strengths and skills
[6:13] Discover how you can think differently about insurance and benefits
[9:19] Hear about the different types of companies you might enjoy working for
[11:13] Find how to take your answers to these questions and match them to jobs that need you and your skillset right now!
If you enjoyed this episode I invite you to take a screenshot and tag me on your Instagram stories @teachertransition and tell me your biggest takeaway!
Want to know what other work opportunities you might love beyond the classroom? Click here to get the FREE Top Jobs for Teachers download.
