The private sector encompasses all businesses that are not operated or owned by the government, and that work for profit.
The private sector has many fields, each with its own breadth. Some of these types of industries include:
- Small and medium-sized businesses
- Multinational corporations
- Banking
- Partnerships such as legal, accounting, and tax
- Private healthcare
- Media organisations
You’ll also find that many professions that appear in the social sector will often have a counterpart in the private sector.
Whatever your reasons for leaving teaching, whether you're looking to increase your earning potential, follow your passion, or you'd simply like a change of scenery, there are lots of positions available for former teachers to pursue.
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Business & Finance
Although the world of teaching can seem quite distant from the world of business, there are actually many fundamental similarities. Your education degree and skills as a teacher, and your knowledge of people and development could make you an ideal business employee.
Sales Manager
In sales, the required skills often overlap those of teachers: patience, creativity, conveying information, organisation, and getting people excited about something.
Whether it’s boosting your team’s morale or getting a customer interested in a product, being a salesperson can be a lucrative way to capitalise on your previous teaching experience.
Human Resources
Every company needs a human resources department, so the type of business you can work with is limitless!
Human resources employees are responsible for maintaining the functionality of a company. Disputes are resolved, training is administered, budgets are inspected, workflow is improved, and wages are negotiated.
This is a highly important role in any company to ensure that employees are taken care of and at the same time, the business is running smoothly from every angle.
Financial Analyst/Adviser & Accounting
This route is especially welcoming to former maths teachers, of course.
Working in finance is one of the most highly-paying jobs you can have without working for many years to climb a ladder or take big risks. Companies, especially bigger ones, enlist financial advisers to ensure that their money is coming in as expected and being handled appropriately.
This job requires organisation, maths skills, attention to detail, and initiative-taking.
Entrepreneur
If you’re interested in getting involved with the business world and are self-motivated, why not start up your own company?
As a teacher, you are a natural manager. You have experience navigating tough situations, organising activities, directing people, and juggling many tasks at once. This makes you a perfect candidate to forge your own path and make your very own business endeavour come to fruition!
You'll need a lot of patience, drive, and planning to make your own business, but it's been done before and you can do it, too!
I want to look back on my career and be proud of the work, and be proud that I tried everything. -Jon Stewart
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Science
The scientific field is an interesting way to stay academically inclined while going beyond the classroom.
Researcher
If you’re passionate about learning and tired of being in the classroom, perhaps being a researcher is your next move! Whether it's looking through books, interviewing people, or out in the field, a researcher's work is never done.
Certain types of researchers may require further training unless your education to become and experience as a teacher covers everything you need to know.
Museum Curator
Whether it’s anthropology, history, earth science, art, or palaeontology, a curator is always required when releasing information and artefacts to the public.
As a curator, it’s your duty to design exhibitions in a way that best intrigues and educates visitors. What items do you need to give sufficient knowledge of the subject? What kinds of informative signage do you need and who do you get to write it? What’s the best way to arrange everything to lead people through the exhibit?
Software Developer
There is no shortage of potential in the software industry. There will always be a new programme that can be developed and an existing programme that can be improved.
If you have knowledge and passion for computers and code, a natural shift in your career would be to pursue software development.
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Education
Just because you want to leave your current teaching position doesn’t mean you can never be a teacher again. There are plenty of other ways to impart knowledge and wisdom into people’s lives outside of the traditional classroom.
Admin / Principal
If you still want to remain directly in the education profession but want to step out of a teaching role, you can search for jobs as a principal or other school administrative positions. Since you already have a thorough knowledge of how schools function and how to work with students and staff, you should easily be able to find a position in this type of role.
Academic Adviser
As an adviser, you may work for a school or for another organisation that requires this type of employee, like youth, immigration, unemployment, and re-integration programmes for people leaving correctional facilities.
Many people are in need of further education but aren’t aware of how to access it or even what kind of education they need. You can give them all the help and information required to take the next step in bettering their lives.
Tutor
If you love teaching but aren’t thrilled about working in a school or institution, you can pursue public or private tutoring.
This method of teaching allows you to teach specific subjects of your choice to students of your choice, usually in a one-on-one setting. In this individualised environment, you can really see your students shine and grow with your tailored help and attention!
Programme Developer
Programme or curriculum developers work with educational entities that need structured programs for attendees.
This can be a school, university, kid’s camp, vocational facility, business training organisation, or any other learning program you can think of!
As a teacher, you’ll not only have experience creating syllabi and programmes, you’ll also understand what is required to make a successful, useful, and worthwhile course.
A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm. -Charles Schwab
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Healthcare
While many healthcare jobs fall under the social sector umbrella, there are still plenty of private practices and companies that deal with healthcare in New Zealand.
Enrolled Nurse
To become an enrolled nurse, you must attain Nursing Council-approved Diploma in Enrolled Nursing programme (NZQA Level Five programme) from a polytechnic or institute of technology. These programmes are typically 18 months long, so you can start your new career in less than two years.
While it takes some training, many people find that nursing is a fulfilling and meaningful job that brings a lot of personal fulfilment. It’s a great choice for anyone changing careers, not just teachers, especially since healthcare workers will always be in demand.
Clinical Billing and Coding
While perhaps not the most glamorous job, clinical billing and coding is a necessary part of the healthcare industry.
Coders ensure that patient records have the correct medical codes logged and recorded. This ensures that the patient's file is correct and up-to-date for medical reasons and allows them to use their medical insurance appropriately. You’ll require training to learn what the medical codes are.
Counselling
Guidance counsellors work with kids in schools and help them manage things like their educational trajectory, home life problems, and emotions.
You may also be a counsellor independent from schools and work in a counselling centre or on your own. And, you’re not limited to counselling youths, either! People of all ages require counselling at one point or another in their lives.
Further education and certification is typically required for this role. The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) requires new members to have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in counselling. You must also be in accordance with The Vulnerable Children Act if you wish to help youths.
Coach
For a less formal approach to counselling, you can become a coach. What you want to coach about specifically is up to you!
There are certifications you can get in a variety of different specialities, like fitness, nutrition, life, career, relationship, business, spiritual, addiction, mental health, and many more! Coaches typically work with a client for a specific amount of time to achieve a goal, but you can also provide mentoring services and work with the same client for years.
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Arts
Feeling like you need to let your creative side shine? There are many ways to enter into an artistic career other than just being an artist.
Writer
There are more kinds of writing than can be discussed here, but some of the most common ways that people break into becoming authors are:
- Nonfiction
- Fiction
- Poetry
- Textbooks
If you have a subject you specialise in or want to research more about, why not write a nonfiction or textbook to pass on the information to others?
Event Planner
You may not think of event planning as an art, but it really is! Taking everything into consideration to curate a successful event takes talent, an eye for detail, and strong organisational and people skills.
As an event planner, you can work on all sorts of projects like weddings, corporate events, graduations, baby showers, and more.
I've learned that "making a living" is not the same thing as "making a life." -Maya Angelou
Photographer
A great change of pace from teaching is photography, where you are in a studio or plein air to capture shots of your subjects.
Whether you choose studio portraiture, wedding and other milestone photography, nature photography, scenic, or another avenue, this unique and artistic career might be just what you need.
Social Media Manager
Managing an online presence takes an artist’s eye to execute well. Whether you create designs or not, as manager you are in charge of ensuring that the brand you represent has a coherent and professional appearance and presence online.
Best Jobs for Former Teachers: Other
Unique jobs are fun and interesting! You're likely to meet interesting people and be a part of events that many people don't even know exist!
Translator / Interpreter
Language translators are always in need in interesting places! Whether it’s another spoken or written language or sign language, you’ll always find someplace that needs your services.
Many international companies will require writers to translate content into another language. You might translate books, websites, TV shows and movies, songs, and more. You can also provide services to people who need to communicate via a translator.
Grant Writer
You can help acquire funding for meaningful organisations and projects through grant writing! This job requires a lot of research and teamwork to write a compelling proposal to grant providers. Your persuasive and well-researched writing can directly secure necessary funds for organisations close to your heart.
Tour Guide / Experience Curator
Nowadays, there are numerous ways to lead tours. Here are just some of the types of tours you can lead:
- Food tour
- Harbour tour
- Kayaking tour
- Camping tour
- Architecture tour
- Historical Site tour
- Ghost tour
- Walking tour
- Helicopter tour
- Bus tour
- Cycling tour
- Museum tour
- City tour
- Cultural tour
If it exists, you can find people who are willing to pay you for the experience of seeing it and learning about it! Tours are not limited to foreign tourists. Many domestic people would be interested in a tour of something in their own country that they haven’t seen before.
For even more curation, you can even develop and lead experiences that last a day, a week, or a month! Think of a week-long yoga retreat. While you may not be a yoga teacher, you can secure one and be the facilitator for the retreat. The possibilities are endless!
While leaving your teaching career in pursuit of something else may seem daunting and scary, there is life on the other side. If teaching no longer matches your wants and needs in life, you can definitely find another career path. It might take some time, effort, and funds, but if it means you will be leading a more meaningful life, it’s worth it!
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