So many people feel trapped in teaching, because they don’t know what else they can do. Perhaps it’s because it’s a specialized profession, perhaps it’s the money or perhaps it’s because teaching becomes an inextricable part of our identity. It can be hard to walk away for a number of reasons and it’s probably different for everyone, but something we all have in common is that our time as teachers has equipped us with an impressive set of transferable skills. What we choose to do with these skills will depend on lots of other factors, but the important thing is that we recognise our worth, have confidence in our ability and go into the job market armed with the knowledge that any employer would be lucky to have us. Of course, it’s necessary to focus on different skills (depending upon the job) and provide concrete examples on a CV, but for now I’ve found that just writing down a summary of my transferable skills has made me feel more optimistic. If you’re a teacher or have previously worked as a teacher then you possess all of these skills and more.
1. Verbal Communication Skills:
Communication is at the heart of teaching and not just because we spend our days imparting knowledge. Of course, the presentation skills we hone everyday are an enormous asset, but it is in the nuances of communication that we truly shine. We’re constantly adapting our tone, our body language, our vocabulary to the ever changing needs of our audience. We apply the arts of persuasion and negotiation to influence the children in our care and make a positive impact on their lives. We are teachers, but too often we become counsellors for children who are having a tough time and need someone to listen, mediators for fractured friendship groups and psychologists for children with a broad range of social and emotional needs. We build relationships with parents, collaborate with colleagues, and show diplomacy when tackling delicate issues. Teachers are communicators extraordinaire!
2. Advanced writing skills:
Teachers write. A lot. As part of our day job, we model writing poems, stories, reports, instructions and persuasive texts. Our relationship with grammar is far more intimate than required by many employers. After the children have gone home, we create intricate plans, write reports and profile our children for safeguarding officers, social workers and educational psychologists. We write emails, letters and even try our hand at digital marketing; setting up class blogs and managing social media feeds. Furthermore, we spend a large part of our day editing other people’s writing; annotating mistakes and suggesting improvements. Our attention to detail is borderline obsessive. Teachers are accomplished, prolific and in many cases, incredibly talented writers.
3. Leadership and Management Skills:
Some teachers have line management responsibility for colleagues, but the rest of us have been sharpening our management skills as class teachers. We are the masters of target setting, monitoring progress and assessment. We respect diversity and can identify each individual’s strengths and areas for development. We are leaders who motivate and inspire. We understand the importance of developing a positive culture, encouraging a growth mindset and striving to help others reach their potential. We delegate responsibility for jobs around the classroom and encourage children to take accountability for their work. As subject leaders, we ensure that teachers are aware of the standards and expectations for our subject. We chair meetings, mentor colleagues, provide training, scrutinize books and planning, observe lessons and provide constructive feedback. Oh and dare I mention the “D” word. Love it or hate it, teachers are proficient in the production, manipulation and presentation of data….and we all know how much management love data.
4. Planning and Organisation:
Teachers rock at planning and organisation. Teaching without these skills would be the equivalent of bungee jumping without a rope. We research and plan detailed lessons, gather resources and differentiate every activity in line with the needs of our children. We organise our classrooms to maximize engagement, encourage independence and foster collaboration. We plan walks to the library, coach trips to the museum and run extra- curricular clubs – all within a tight budget and with risk assessments in place to mitigate every potential mishap. We work to tight deadlines, prioritise workload and juggle changing and often conflicting requirements. And because we’re required to prove that we did all of this and more, we’re first-rate record-keepers and experts in administration. And if things don’t go to plan? We always expect the unexpected and have the flexibility to adapt our style, tweak an activity or even accept that there is a lesson to be learnt that is more valuable (at the time) than the one we had planned.
5. Creative Thinking and Problem Solving:
Teachers excel in creative thinking. Every day we come up with new and exciting ways to inspire and motivate our classes. We find ways of connecting with children who experience significant barriers to learning so that we can provide them with the tools they need to succeed. When children are struggling to grasp a concept, we find another way to explain it, or to model it, or we enable the children to discover it for themselves. We encourage children to look at problems in different ways and explore different possibilities. We share ideas, identify issues and work together to resolve them. Teaching is a dynamic profession; nothing ever stands still for long. We’re continuously adapting our practice to assimilate new ideas, apply current research and meet the needs of our audience, whilst at the same time trying to make it fun and engender a lifelong love of learning. Teachers come up with intelligent, innovative and exciting ideas. Every. Single. Day.
Teachers are amazing and I have huge respect for all of those who continue to work their socks off for the good of the children. But if you’ve reached the point where you need a change in direction, then know your worth. Yes, you are a teacher, but that’s not all that you are, and it’s certainly not all that you could be. I hope you find what you are looking for.
Thank you for reading my post. I hope you found it useful. I welcome all feedback and would love to hear about your own experience of leaving (or not leaving) teaching.
What the Teacher Did Next 