8 Tips for Career Changers from Career Changers

What do you imagine when you think about switching careers — an exhilarating adventure or an intimidating experience? The truth is that most career changers feel both ways at some point during their transition from one profession to another. Luckily, educators are both resourceful and willing to help, so we spoke with several career changers who started thriving teaching careers with support from Moreland University and asked them to share their best advice for navigating a transition into working as a full-time teacher.

Whether you’re considering teaching in the U.S. or exploring opportunities as an international educator, here are 8 tips from career changers who have been in your position:

1. Recognize the Transferable Skills You Already Have

Many career changers worry about not having prior teaching experience, but quickly realize their previous profession has helped them develop skills that educators use on a daily basis. Project management, communication, and leadership are all useful in a classroom setting, just to name a few skills that carry over.

“I worked at a small company so I feel like I gained a lot of experience there that allowed me to work well within small teams and handle problems from a critical thinking standpoint,” Shanghai-based science educator Nate Howard said during our webinar about becoming an international teacher. “I feel like this is an extreme skill that carries over into teaching, being able to pivot quickly and handle pressure well.”

2. Be Open to Learning and Manage Your Expectations

While some skills from your previous field will still be useful, teaching also requires its own set of techniques and strategies. Learning new instructional methods, classroom management styles, and how to address student needs are just a few of the important skills teachers must develop to succeed.

International teaching webinar panelist Maxine Go — who is currently completing Moreland’s TEACH-NOW program and plans to earn a Master’s in Education with a specialization in educational technology — shared a similar insight.

“You kind of have to be okay with starting small, like you would with any career transition,” Go said. “There are a lot of experiences from your previous roles that are definitely going to help you in a new teaching role, but I think it’s good to manage your expectations regarding that and [knowing] there’s a lot of new things that you’ll have to learn, as well.”

3. Find a Supportive Community

When you’re transitioning into teaching, it’s important to remember that you’re never alone. Connecting with fellow educators can provide you with plenty of encouragement, guidance, and support. Career changers can especially benefit from being part of a network of peers who share similar experiences. This often starts in the cohorts of their certification programs.

“Finding your cohort at Moreland University and having other people that you can direct message and you’re going to be in classes with, being able to…say, ‘Hey can one of you guys help me with this assignment? I don’t fully understand what’s going on’ [is important],” Howard said. “Some of the people in your cohort might have 20 years of teaching experience, so they along with your instructors are able to guide you.”

4. Take Advantage of Online Certification Programs

Switching careers can be challenging, especially if you’re expected to take classes in-person while still working a full-time job and balancing the rest of life’s responsibilities. Just ask Dr. Chaunda McDavis, a language arts educator in Georgia who participated in the How Career Changers Can Transition into Teaching webinar for U.S. educators. She shared that in 2017, she was interested in getting her teacher certification when an Atlanta Public Schools representative told her about Moreland:

“[TEACH-NOW’s online format] really attracted me to Moreland, being that the registration process, the excellent representation from Moreland, and the ability to have one-on-one informational sessions to guide you through the registration process facilitated it so well,” McDavis said. “It left me feeling so confident in not only my ability to complete the program, but [gave me] confidence in the support system embedded within this program and embedded in Moreland University.”

5. Consider Teaching Internationally for More Opportunities

Many career changers are drawn to international teaching for cultural exposure and the chance to travel, but there are also plenty of job opportunities abroad. U.S. teaching licenses are respected credentials worldwide and countries around the world actively recruit certified teachers, often offering benefits like housing and travel stipends.

William Hyun Gu Lee — whose sister teaches internationally and recommended the TEACH-NOW program to him — put it this way:

“I think realistically the advantage of teaching abroad or becoming an international school teacher is that you’re kind of free from housing problems because schools tend to pay [rent] for you and they provide a lot of different stuff, so in that way finding a job in your home country might be a harder thing than working outside of your home country.

6. Prepare for the Financial Considerations

While education can be a fulfilling career, there are costs that come along with getting your teacher certification, such as paying tuition for an educator preparation program (EPP) and licensing requirements in different states or countries.

During our U.S. career changer webinar, first grade French immersion educator and TEACH-NOW graduate Patricia Polster shared that how you view these costs — and which program you choose — can make an important difference in your teaching journey.

“It’s an investment,” she said. “You’re investing your time and you’re investing dollars into a program that is very well-known, that is rock solid in terms of reputation, and that’s going to give you a lot of value.”

7. Develop Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability

Depending on the school where you teach, you may work with a diverse population of students. That is a common experience for many U.S. teachers, especially those in major metropolitan areas. Understanding students’ unique backgrounds will help you connect with them more effectively and can positively affect their learning outcomes.

For international educators, adapting to a new culture is just as important as adapting to the classroom. Understanding cultural norms, language barriers, and educational expectations can help make sure your transition into a new country and a new profession both go smoothly.

“I think going abroad, you’re not super sure if you’ll be able to make it, in a way, or if you can sort of sustain yourself in that place,” Go observed, “but I think that those are just things that come with most experiences and the longer that you stay there, the more you’re able to adapt culturally to the place that you live.”

8. Embrace the Impact You Can Make

Many career changers find that their diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to the classroom, benefiting students in meaningful ways. Beyond that, choosing education as a second career means you understand that teaching isn’t just a job — it’s an opportunity to inspire and guide students. Or, as Polster called them, “young scholars.”

“The most important thing, if I achieve one thing, is communicating the joy of learning,” Polster expressed, “and if I can only ensure that my kids go home at the end of the day and they said, ‘That was hard, but I have learned a new word or I can count in [another language],’ and parents email me and they say, ‘She’s had the best day [and] she was able to read to us’ — for me, this is my mission.”

Start Your Teaching Journey with Support from Moreland

If you’re a career changer considering teaching, know that you’re not alone. Many people have made the same transition successfully, and you can, too! Moreland is ready to support you with 100% online programs, like the 9-month TEACH-NOW EPP and three 12-month master’s degree programs. Your classroom is waiting — apply today!

To learn more about making the switch to teaching, watch the full webinars on-demand:

• Change Careers and Become an International Educator
• How Career Changers Can Transition into Teaching