Career moves to consider when teaching is your passion

If you love to teach, you’ll probably naturally be drawn to working in a school — but that’s far from the only career you can choose from. Maybe you’ve worked in education for decades and are looking for a new way to make a difference in students’ lives, or maybe you’re looking for a creative way to jumpstart your career in education. No matter your goals, when you start looking outside the standard teaching jobs, you’ll find nearly countless career opportunities to choose from.

Teach others to be teachers

If you’re looking for a fulfilling teaching job that pays well, consider teaching future teachers and professionals as a college professor. A career as a college professor will require that you earn your doctorate and possibly additional licenses and certificates, but once you’re working as a professor, you can enjoy job security and the chance to help many students every year.

As a college or university professor, you’ll help students prepare for their careers. If you focus on teaching teachers, the effects of your love of education can be tenfold, since you’ll be preparing the educators of tomorrow. No matter what field you teach in, though, you can give students a chance at a bright future where they can make a difference in the world, whether they become lawyers, counselors, or any other type of professional.

Work as a trainer

You may also want to consider working as a trainer. This position is very similar to working as a teacher, but you’ll usually focus on a niche topic that you’re highly experienced in. Trainers work in a variety of settings and help students (both adults and children) learn valuable skills that will benefit them in careers.

Training is a promising field, thanks in part to the growing need for IT specialists and skills. For instance, as an IT training specialist, you might teach at a technical school, college, or university. Your goal would be to prepare students for professional careers and to do that, you might focus on a variety of topics like software development, network administration, and advanced IT topics.

As a trainer, you could find yourself in any number of settings. Training opportunities exist in nonprofits, vocational schools, retreat centers, business settings like corporations, and more.

Work with causes that matter to you

While teaching is naturally rewarding, finding an opportunity that supports a cause that matters to you can be an even more exciting and fulfilling experience. For instance, adult illiteracy is a significant concern throughout the country, and there are many ways that you can use your teaching skills to support that cause. Charities and literacy organizations may need tutors and teachers who are skilled in working with adults, and you might be able to find a volunteer or paying position as a result.

Nonprofits can be a valuable source of teaching opportunities, too. Look for local nonprofits running educational programs, training programs, and afterschool programs. These nonprofits will need to hire teachers and educators, and you may find yourself making a difference in the lives of underprivileged children, adults in need of career skills, and more.

Think outside the box

In addition to traditional jobs, get creative in looking for teaching jobs you can get outside of the classroom. If you’re a talented writer, you may be able to find a position writing or editing textbooks. These positions are available on both an employee and as a freelance basis. Of course, always remember that you could write your own book on teaching to share your thoughts with the world.

If you’re open to freelance opportunities, consider starting your own tutoring business and taking on local clients. Your clients might be students who are struggling in middle or high school, or they could be college students who need help with some of their classes. And, if you’re well-versed in the college admissions process, there’s an opportunity for you to work as a consultant, helping students to prepare for and apply to college as you guide them through the admissions process.

In addition to teaching students face-to-face, don’t be afraid to branch out into virtual teaching. Working as an online tutor can help you access more students than those who are available locally, which is particularly helpful if you specialize in a niche topic. You might also want to look into online teaching opportunities in the K-12 field. These opportunities can help you to gain experience if you’re just starting your career, or they can make for a nice way to scale back if you’re considering retiring but aren’t quite ready to stop teaching yet.

As a teacher, you have valuable gifts to share with the world, and the potential to change hundreds of lives. Even if you’re not inclined to seek a traditional classroom teaching job, there are still plenty of opportunities that will let you use your teaching skills.

About the Author:
Jori Hamilton is a writer from the Pacific Northwest who has a particular interest in social justice, politics, education, healthcare, technology, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @ HamiltonJori.