What I Wish Career Changers Knew
If I had 30 seconds with every career changer thinking about becoming a teacher, here’s what I’d say:
First, teaching is an incredible career. It’s a chance to make a true difference in young people’s lives, and your impact can carry on for generations.
Second, teaching is also an incredible commitment. You’re responsible for children, their wellbeing, and their social and emotional growth. That can’t be taken lightly.
As Chief Human Resources Officer for Rockdale County Public Schools in Conyers, Georgia, I manage hundreds of career-changer teachers. Rockdale hires about 200 teachers every year, and somewhere around 25% of those are career changers.
I’m also a career changer myself. I’ve been in education for more than 20 years, but my initial degree was in counseling, and I thought I’d become a psychologist.
From my experience, here’s what I wish all career-changer teachers knew ahead of time:
This is not an easy job.
Your experience from your previous career will undoubtedly benefit you in the classroom, but it’s still going to be a transition. We’re not just talking about mastering your subject — that might be the easiest part of teaching. It’s also classroom management, lesson planning, learning how to effectively communicate with students, learning how to work with parents, and so much more.
I remember one career changer who was switching from a university job to teaching 4th grade. An easy transition, right? Wrong. School started on a Monday, and by Wednesday, he was ready to throw in the towel. (What could the 4th graders have done?)
Sometimes, people think teaching is easy, that anyone can do it. The truth is it’s a challenging job that requires preparation, dedication, and continuous learning and development.
Ask for help (and you’ll get it!).
Education is the most supportive community I’ve ever seen. As a career changer, make sure you take advantage of that. Lean into your mentor. When you’re stuck, ask your principal, your lead teacher, or your teacher team for help. It’s OK to say, “Hey, this is hard for me. Is anybody else struggling with X, Y, Z?”
When you’re honest about what isn’t going well, I guarantee you’ll get the help you need.
Teaching comes with plenty of perks.
- Let’s start with an easy one: summers off. Teachers have time to travel, take an art class, learn a new language, read books by the pool. There aren’t many jobs that come with spring break, winter break, summer vacation, and most major holidays off.
- Teachers have excellent retirement plans. This is easy to overlook when you’re in your 20s, but it’s a really valuable benefit.
- Teachers can get student-loan forgiveness. This won’t apply to every career changer but depending on the type of loan you hold and where you’re teaching, you could be eligible.
- Teachers have plenty of opportunities for career growth. You could become a lead teacher, move into administration, work in HR or recruiting, transition to curriculum. There are plenty of places to go and people to help you get there.
- Schools are fun. They’re full of energy and excitement, and there’s always something going on and something to celebrate.
Don’t procrastinate on certification.
In Georgia, most of our career changers can get a 3-year provisional certification. I advise them to take the first semester to settle into the job and to start their Educator Preparation Program the following semester.
Will it be a lot, a full-time teaching job and an EPP at the same time? Yes.
But is it better than putting it off and having to scramble at the last minute? Or worse, losing your job because you run out of time? Again, yes.
My advice is to jump in and get it done.

I was 26 years old when I made the switch to education. My initial motivation, if I’m being honest, was money. I could make more as a teacher with a master’s degree than as a community counselor.
But looking back, the biggest benefit by far has been the chance to make a difference. I got to help a first-generation college student with her applications (and then saw her graduate). I’ve had students come up to me, sometimes years after I had them in class, and tell me I made school fun. I’ve seen them grow up and have families and children of their own.
And now, I get to help other educators, sometimes career changers like me, find a lasting, meaningful career. If you’re considering the switch, here’s what I can tell you: It’s a decision that will change not just your career, but your life.
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