From the Classroom to the Boardroom:

As a teacher transitioning to a new career, it can be daunting to think about how to market your skills in a way that will appeal to hiring managers in a different industry. But fear not, I'm here to help! In this post, I'll explore the world of transferable skills and how you can showcase your teaching experience in a way that highlights your value to potential employers in the business or technology fields.

First and foremost, it's important to recognize that as a teacher, we have a wealth of skills and experiences that can be applied to a variety of industries. From communication and leadership to problem-solving and creativity, the skills we've honed in the classroom are highly sought after by employers across the board. The key is to be able to articulate and showcase these skills in a way that resonates with your target audience.

So, how can you effectively market your teaching skills on your resume or CV? Here are a few tips and insights to get you started:

Make it "Business-ier"

It is important to translate your teaching experience into business language. When describing your teaching experience, use language that resonates with business professionals. For example, instead of saying you "facilitated learning" for your students, you might say you "managed a team of learners." Instead of talking about lesson plans, discuss your experience with project management or strategic planning. The goal is to highlight your transferable skills in a way that makes sense to potential employers in the business world.

Prove You get RESULTS

What demonstrates anyone's value at their job? Results. When talking about your teaching experience, don't just list your duties or responsibilities. Instead, focus on the outcomes you achieved. For example, instead of saying you "taught a class of 25 students," you might say you "successfully increased student engagement and participation in a class of 25." By emphasizing the results of your teaching efforts, you demonstrate your ability to achieve measurable goals – a highly valuable skill in any industry.

Innovation is Key

Highlight your technology skills. As a teacher, you've likely used a variety of technology tools and platforms to support your teaching. Be sure to highlight these skills on your resume or CV, as they are highly valuable in the technology field. Whether you're proficient in learning management systems like Canvas or Blackboard, or you have experience with video editing software, these skills can set you apart from other candidates because they demonstrate your well-roundedness and ambition to learn new systems.

Be SAWFT

In addition to technical skills, it's important to showcase your soft skills on your resume or CV. As a teacher, you've developed a range of interpersonal skills, such as communication, leadership, and collaboration. These skills are highly valued in the business world, so be sure to highlight them when describing your teaching experience.

As a teacher transitioning to a new career, it's important to recognize the value of your transferable skills and to be strategic about how you showcase them on your resume or CV. By focusing on outcomes, highlighting technology skills, and emphasizing soft skills you can effectively market your teaching experience to potential employers in the business or technology fields. 

Hopefully, these tips can help you. Happy hunting!

-Ryan