Unpacking Education Job Postings for Teachers Outside the Classroom
When you’re looking for jobs for teachers outside the classroom, it can be completely overwhelming. From coming across terms you don’t know anything about (hello, business speak!) to skills you didn’t even know you have, unpacking what education job postings really mean can be challenging.
Don’t worry! You’re trying something new and entering into a whole new world when you start exploring other jobs for teaching degrees. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you see job postings that feel both interesting and intimidating. It doesn’t matter whether you’re exploring jobs as an educational consultant, education writer or something entirely different - it’s a big change!
Luckily, there’s no need to avoid education job postings or stop wondering what else you can do with a teaching degree. Instead, take a deep breath and follow these steps to demystify the postings and start applying!
You don’t have to check every box on education job postings
First things first: you do not have to meet every single requirement before applying for jobs for teachers outside the classroom. Instead of focusing on the job requirements you don’t have, treat the list of descriptions in a job posting as a wishlist.
If you meet most of the requirements and feel like you can learn the other ones, go ahead and apply! For example, let’s say you see this education job posting for a curriculum developer:
ELA Curriculum Developer
✅ Experience planning ELA lessons for grades K-5
✅ Knowledge of Common Core State Standards
✅ Classroom teaching experience
❌ Two years professional writing experience preferred
You might start reading this education job posting and feel excited because you check all the boxes. But then you get to the part that says “two years professional writing experience preferred” and suddenly get bummed out because you don’t have that.
But guess what? You can gain writing experience. Also, the posting says preferred not required. Think about other writing experience you might have (writing blogs or newsletters for your class, writing Donors Choose grants, writing for your credential program, etc.) and highlight that writing in your resume and cover letter.
When you’re exploring non teaching jobs for education degrees, there’s almost always going to be some skills that don’t completely match with your resume. But that’s ok. Above all, take a risk!
When I was super pregnant with my daughter, I was scouring education job postings and eventually applied for a consulting position that wanted someone full-time, in the office. I wasn’t able to do either of those things (I was about to go on maternity leave!) but I was so excited about the position that I applied anyway.
It turned into my first big, from-home contracting job that allowed me to leave the classroom and spend the majority of my time at home with my daughter. You just never know how things will work out!
Map your skills to find jobs for teachers outside the classroom
You might not fit every desired skill or experience in an education job posting, but you definitely should fit some if you are going to apply for the job. Look closely at the requirements listed and map your skills. You probably have more applicable experience than you think!
The fact is, being a classroom teacher requires all kinds of skills that are highly transferable to jobs for teachers changing careers.
Take notes about how your experience fits the desired qualifications. Be as specific as possible! After getting a clear, internal sense of why you’re the right fit for the job, draft your resume and cover letter.
Pro tip: be sure to always tailor your cover letter to the particular education job postings you are responding to. No more cookie cutter cover letters for you! Walk the prospective employer through your skills, letting them know how your past experience prepares you for the job you want.
If you want to go above and beyond, you can also tailor your resume by pointing out specific skills and experience that make you the best fit for the job.
Own Your Experience
Seeing education job postings with lots of intimidating acronyms and unknown words can feel overwhelming. But anything that you don’t know, you can learn. As a teacher, you bring so many important skills and experience to the table. The most important thing is to own your experience!
When you feel like you might just not apply for jobs outside the classroom because the whole process seems overwhelming, don’t give up. Remind yourself of your experience, embrace your brilliance, and keep going. You’ve got this!
Conclusion: How to Find Jobs for Teachers Outside the Classroom
Using the practices above, you’ll be ready to apply to a wide variety of education job postings and start finding jobs for teachers outside the classroom.
There are so many jobs you can get with a teaching degree, and so many career paths you could explore after a career in teaching (or alongside a classroom career!). The key is to own your experience, be confident in the skills you’ve gained throughout your career and be ready to apply them to a new experience.
Need more help finding jobs outside of the classroom? That’s what we’re all about! Contact us to learn more or explore our Beyond the Classroom course to get started on your next chapter today.