Identifying your transferable skills

Introduction

You’ve made the decision to leave teaching. You’ve reflected on why you want to move on and now reality is setting in.

What if I don’t have the right skills? What if I’m not qualified for anything else?

Let's stop that way of thinking right now.

As a teacher, you have an incredible skill set: one that employers are actively looking for. The challenge is learning how to reframe and present those skills in a way that gets you noticed.

This lesson is all about helping you understand and articulate the value you bring to the table.

You have more skills than you think

Many teachers assume their experience is too specific to the classroom.

“I’ve only ever worked with children, so how does that help in an office?”

Here’s the truth: If you can manage a class of 30 children, navigate school bureaucracy and handle constant pressure, you’re already equipped for most professional environments.

Think about it:

• Communication: You break down complex ideas daily. That’s a core skill in training, marketing, customer service and more.
• Leadership: You’ve led classrooms, projects, and possibly teams. Leadership isn’t just about titles.
• Problem-solving: You adapt to challenges every single day. Employers love people who are quick on their feet like you.
• Organisation: Planning lessons, juggling admin, meeting deadlines...you already know how to manage time effectively.
• Public speaking: You stand in front of a room full of people and engage them. That’s a rare and valuable skill in many fields.

Your experience counts. It’s all about learning to package it correctly.

Activity: mapping your skills

To help you see just how valuable your experience is, I’ve put together a worksheet.

This activity helps you:

• Identify key transferable skills.
• Find real-life examples from your teaching experience.
• Start thinking about how to present your skills to future employers.

Take your time with this. Be honest, big yourself up and start recognising your potential.

How to complete it

1. Download the worksheet.

2. Go through the list of transferable skills.

3. Write real examples of when you demonstrated each skill.

4. Reflect on which skills you enjoy using the most. These will help you plan your next career move.

Final Thoughts

Changing careers is a process but the first step is realising your worth. You are more than just your teaching title, you have a wealth of skills that can take you anywhere.

So get to work, and start mapping out your next move.