Trading Teaching for Corporate: A Step-by-Step Guide

I was in a real funk when the job advert for AMG fell from the sky. I’d given up teaching, a career I’d put my heart and soul into, and my next step was shrouded in doubt. As someone in their 30s with no experience of the corporate world, trawling LinkedIn for inspiration for the next step was an intimidating and soul-destroying experience. I wasn’t sure how I could apply the skills I’d developed to a new world, let alone know how to convince recruiters that I was capable of it. That’s when — on a Facebook page for expats in Bolivia of all places — the course of my life, and career, changed.

Flying the Nest into the Corporate World

Teaching is many things, and a comfortable, loving, and nurturing nest is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, what teaching does offer is the comfort and stability of knowing that there’s always work out there for qualified teachers. As one contract finished, I put myself to applying for the next role, safe in the knowledge that I’d get work.

My first forays into LinkedIn were an exercise in being out of my comfort zone. Through my inexperienced eyes, I saw posts that spoke about people’s achievements as self-aggrandisement and boastful. I simply hadn’t encountered that type of attitude towards work before; in teaching, you celebrate your successes quietly with your students, not publish them for the world to see.

However, I quickly realised that I’d have to adapt if I wanted to be a part of this strange new world. I’d have to be proactive in my approach, swallow my pride, and put myself out there if I was to have any chance of survival. 

Changing direction is possible but requires a concerted effort on your part.

Step 1: Understand Your Destiny Is in Your Hands

Changing your career isn’t easy. It requires guts, a commitment to hard work, and - hardest of all - a complete shift in mentality. However, it’s also an empowering experience when you realise that your destiny is in your hands. Changing direction is all about taking the necessary steps to get you where you want to be. In my case, the key was education.

Step 2: Upskill

Not having the relevant background knowledge for a new role is no longer an excuse for staying in a career you’re not passionate about. Websites like Udemy and Coursera offer a wide range of courses on almost any type of corporate skill to get you up to speed on your chosen industry. Other platforms can also upskill you on typical office skills you might have missed out on like Excel or making PowerPoints.

In my case, I chose search engine optimisation as my target skill. Google offers several foundation courses that cover the essentials of SEO and give you the knowledge base to be able to talk about SEO best practices in an interview. This is in addition to other, more comprehensive courses that take you into the fine details of backend SEO.

Step 3: Create a Portfolio

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block on the journey to changing your career is your lack of experience. Though your career in teaching developed many widely applicable hard and soft skills, showing what you can do will make all the difference when you start applying for jobs. But how do you show experience without any work? This question is a crucial part of the process that will decide if you’re capable of change or not. The answer: you create your own work and put anything you create in a portfolio.

Finding platforms to showcase writing work is easy. However, it’s worth taking time to think carefully about what you want in a portfolio before paying for any subscriptions. At this point, a simple online portfolio platform will probably be enough to demonstrate your work. However, you may want to consider setting up your own website as you create more content, or if your content is more elaborate.

Remember that you’ll eventually send a link to your portfolio when you apply for jobs. Make it beautiful, as compelling as possible, and make sure it reflects everything you want a prospective employer to see.

Key Portfolio Elements

A strong personal online portfolio in 2025 serves as a dynamic and interactive representation of your skills, experiences, and professional identity. Its content will vary depending on the industry you’re looking to get into. However, this breakdown of essential elements it should include is a great generic starting point:

1. Homepage/Landing Page:

2. Clear Introduction: A concise and compelling summary of who you are, what you do, and your key skills or areas of expertise. Think of it as your elevator pitch.  

3. High-Quality Professional Headshot: A friendly and approachable image that represents you professionally.

4. Clear Navigation: Intuitive and easy-to-understand links to the other sections of your portfolio (e.g., About, Work, Skills, Contact).  

5. Call to Action (CTA): What do you want visitors to do? (e.g., "View My Work," "Download My Resume," "Contact Me for Projects")

2. Work/Projects Section:

   • Showcase Your Best Work: Select a curated collection of your most impressive and relevant projects. Quality over quantity is key.

   • Variety (If Applicable): If you have diverse skills, showcase a range of projects to demonstrate your versatility.  

   • Detailed Case Studies: For each project, provide context, your role, the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes or results. Use visuals (images, videos, GIFs) to bring your work to life.

   • Clear Descriptions: Explain your process, the tools and technologies you used, and the skills you applied.  

   • Link to Live Projects (If Possible): If the project is live (e.g., a website, app), provide a direct link for visitors to experience it firsthand.

3. About Me Section:

   • Your Story: Go beyond your resume and share your passion, motivations, and what drives you. Make it personal and engaging.  

   • Key Skills and Expertise: Briefly highlight your most relevant skills and areas of specialization.  

   • Values and Approach: Briefly touch upon your work ethic, collaborative style, or any unique aspects of your professional approach.  

   • Optional: Personal Interests: Sharing relevant personal interests can help create a connection with visitors. 

4. Contact Section:

   • Clear Contact Information: Provide your email address and other preferred methods of contact (e.g., LinkedIn profile, professional social media).  

   • Contact Form (Optional): A simple contact form can make it easy for visitors to reach out directly.  

   • Professional Social Media Links: Include links to your relevant professional profiles 

5. Resume/CV (Optional but Recommended):

   • Easily Accessible: Provide a downloadable link to your up-to-date resume in PDF format, a QR link, or simply present your CV on its own page.

Beyond the Basics

Some portfolios should be a little more elaborate, especially if you’re looking to get into tech or a highly creative field like video making or graphic design. Consider these elements to make your portfolio stand out:

• Video Introduction: A short, professional video introducing yourself can add a personal touch and make a strong first impression.

• Testimonials/Recommendations: Include quotes or short testimonials from previous clients, employers, or collaborators to build credibility.  

• Blog/Articles: If you create content related to your field, a blog section can showcase your expertise and thought leadership.  

• Interactive Elements: Consider incorporating subtle animations or interactive elements to make your portfolio more engaging (ensure they don't detract from usability).

Step 4: Gain Self-Confidence

Your growing portfolio should be all the evidence you need that a new career is just around the corner. However, you might still be suffering from gnawing self-doubt in your experience, skills, or ability to change. 

Remember, you’ll never convince somebody else of your abilities if you don’t believe in them yourself. This makes gaining self-confidence a key part of changing careers. 

Leaving self-doubt behind is challenging. However, some proactive strategies will help you build confidence in your abilities:

• Acknowledge and Validate Your Past Achievements: Reflect on your accomplishments and skills gained in your previous career. Recognize that these experiences have equipped you with valuable transferable abilities.

• Focus on Transferable Skills: Identify the skills you've developed that are relevant to your new career path. Highlight these on your resume, in your networking, and during interviews.

• Network with People in Your New Field: Connect with professionals in your target industry. Learning about their experiences and building relationships can provide support and insights.

• Find a Mentor or Career Coach: Seek guidance from someone who has successfully navigated a career change or specializes in career transitions. Their support and advice can be invaluable.

• Celebrate Your Progress: Acknowledge and reward yourself for each step forward, no matter how small. This positive reinforcement will boost your self-esteem.

• Focus on Your Strengths: Identify your natural talents and how they can be applied in your new career. Leverage these strengths to build competence and make a positive impact.

• Reframe Setbacks as Learning Experiences: Understand that challenges are a normal part of any career change. Analyze what you can learn from them and use them to refine your approach.

• Visualize Success: Regularly imagine yourself thriving in your new career. This mental rehearsal can build belief in your ability to succeed.

• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind and patient with yourself during this significant transition. Acknowledge that it takes time to adjust and build confidence in a new field.

• Track Your Growth: Keep a record of your learning, accomplishments, and positive feedback. Reviewing this progress can reinforce your increasing capabilities.

• Take Calculated Risks: Step outside your comfort zone by applying for roles or taking on tasks that slightly challenge you. Successfully navigating these risks will build confidence in your adaptability.

Self-Confidence for Ex-Teachers

Much of the lack of confidence I’ve seen in teachers is the belief that teaching doesn’t develop any skills relevant to other jobs. Nothing could be further from the truth!

It’s worth sitting down and reviewing all the tasks you’ve done as a teacher and the hard and soft skills you learnt from them. These could include:

• Leadership

• Organisation and planning

• Communication

• Technological proficiency

• Subject matter expertise

• Problem-solving and critical thinking

• Emotional intelligence

• Adaptability and flexibility

Think about how you can explain your skills and how you can apply them to the roles you’re applying to. Be ready to explain how your skills are transferable and how teaching has made you ready to learn skills for other positions.

Step 5: Start Applying for Your Dream Job

There’s now nothing stopping you from spreading your wings and getting the job you’ve been dreaming of. Use all your resources to apply for jobs with confidence in your abilities and assurance that the opportunity you’re waiting for will come your way.

Know Your Worth as an Ex-Teacher

Half the battle when leaving teaching for another profession is believing in yourself enough to take the leap. The other half is being proactive in your approach and showing prospective employers your great worth.

Starting a career in teaching doesn’t mean you have to stay in your role forever! There’s a whole world of possibilities out there waiting for you, if only you have the confidence and self-belief to make it happen.