I'm an Instructional Systems Designer who also delivers training.
I've come across former teachers over the years who have tried to make the switch.
I've found that former teachers end up "teaching" and treating the employees like children.
Former teachers can work with templates for lesson plans but also end up being too rigid and inflexible.


It helps to have a certificate for credentials but a big part of my job is corporate savvy and building relationships with employees in the classroom.

OP, this is my field, as well. I am an HR executive who manages the various Talent teams such as training, recruiting, onboarding, etc. for a tech company. I think there are a few things to consider to make this transition. What have you taught over the course of your twenty-year career? Are you looking for training jobs where that experience is useful? Look into any certifications you can complete that moves you closer to that goal. Even if you are currently in-progress with those goals, they will enhance your resume. I would work with a headhunter on this. A headhunter can help you understand what fields may have roles where you will be a fit, and help you tailor your resume to reflect that. Also, the headhunter is able to have a conversation with companies about your resume to explain how and why you are a potential fit.

Keep in mind that teaching and training are not the same thing. Your natural skillset may genuinely be a good fit for corporate training; however, that is hard to convey on a piece of paper, especially if you do not have any relevant certificates or experience. After twenty years, one would surmise that you have expert-level knowledge in your subject field. Is that science? Math? History? Early elementary? Are you looking for jobs where you would be training individuals on something you have a solid understanding of already? If so, make that known in your resume. If not, take some courses and learn the skills. Without knowing what are you are interested in training, I don’t know what to recommend. But, I can tell you that if you are interested in training on OEM technologies (Cisco, Juniper, HPE, Checkpoint, etc) there are many resources available (some free) to help you gain that knowledge.

In my world, Instructional Designers design but do not train. Trainers need to know every details on how make learners understand what be able to put their new skill into practice. Designers need to create content and curriculum, possibly videos, storyboards, etc. But, they do not necessarily have to be the person delivering the training. Good luck to you!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I have been a vice principal and instructional.coach for 8 years so I am familiar with ADDIE and although I don't have an instructional design certificate, I do have experience with many of the elements of instructional design.

I have been trying to network but cold reach outs on linked in have not gotten much. Many of the talent team / HR internal recruiter contacts people have made connections for me with are so swamped (one told me she has 400-1000 applicants for some positions) and she didn't have time to chat this month.

Will look at joining a professional organization and see what that yields.

Get a certificate. You have many years of experience including administration but private/corporate is not necessarily going to see the connection. Have a fresh designation/certificate/learning experience.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't make any decisions about a 20 year career while you're feeling desperate and dejected.

You can check out and join your local Association for Talent Development (ATD). They offer several certificates. It would be a great networking opportunity.

Women in this field don't typically help other women out of the kindness of their hearts.

Keep in mind many corporate trainers have progressed through the ranks as customer service reps or some other front line staff. Some have never worked outside of their one company. The field isn't lucrative. You won't have summers off like with teaching. You won't have a contract. You will most likely work evenings.

This response is beyond stupid and ignorant.
Signed someone in the training field who started 20 years ago at 60K and now make 350+

I’m head of TM at my company. Ive been in the field for 20 years and the transition from teaching to corporate trainer can be done. I have colleagues who have done this successfully. There are some parallels and skills will transfer over… classroom management, facilitation skills, lesson planning, use of learning technologies. You can read up on the difference between pedagogy and androgogy (honestly some adult learners behave like kindergartners so you’re fine). What I would look for in an interview is CAN YOU MAKE THE SWITCH. Corporate culture is very different from the education sector. My spouse is a teacher, so I know. Can you work at pace, can you handle multiple projects, multiple curricula design projects, can you manage stakeholders (think of your most annoying parents that you deal with today, same idea - except they are the c level of the company, they all think they know how to do training, and unlike parents, their opinions actually count.) In an interview if you come across as more slow and one dimensional and tired, as opposed to hungry and willing to learn, and willing to work hard, you aren’t advancing to the next round interview, I’d rather hire a 25 year old who knows nothing. Note that most mid level trainers will make 1.5-2.0x a trainer salary, and it goes up from there, so it can be meaningful career change. Sign up for ATD membership, SHRM membership, take a couple certification courses, get those on your resume, and you’ll likely get a better response to your application. Good Luck!

Thanks. I have been a vice principal and instructional.coach for 8 years so I am familiar with ADDIE and although I don't have an instructional design certificate, I do have experience with many of the elements of instructional design.

I have been trying to network but cold reach outs on linked in have not gotten much. Many of the talent team / HR internal recruiter contacts people have made connections for me with are so swamped (one told me she has 400-1000 applicants for some positions) and she didn't have time to chat this month.

Will look at joining a professional organization and see what that yields.

Np - not being mean but if you haven’t done this before why would they hire you for a mid level position over someone with experience? Have you done informational interviews with people in the field? Networked? I think it would be really hard to get a mid-level position based on sending a resume in cold (but I’m not in the field so take this with a huge grain of salt). I’d talk to contacts and try to set up networking meetings first (again, others in field may have different advice and you may have already done this). I also think you may need to adjust expectations and start entry level. Good luck.

I would consider that an active teacher applying in February-now is unlikely to get hits because they assume you will either want to finish the school year or you are willing to bail mid-year.
Also consider that so many of us want to get out right now that you are one of many, many people looking to leave and submitting applications after hearing the same thing about being a "natural fit"

I wouldn't make any decisions about a 20 year career while you're feeling desperate and dejected.

You can check out and join your local Association for Talent Development (ATD). They offer several certificates. It would be a great networking opportunity.

Women in this field don't typically help other women out of the kindness of their hearts.

Keep in mind many corporate trainers have progressed through the ranks as customer service reps or some other front line staff. Some have never worked outside of their one company. The field isn't lucrative. You won't have summers off like with teaching. You won't have a contract. You will most likely work evenings.

I work at a F500 and the corporate trainers have mostly been very young. Communications majors less than 10 years out of college

This is my industry and I don't consider teachers a natural fit. Are you familiar with adult learning theory? Teaching children and training adults is very different.
Your resume should show that you understand they are not the same. Do you have any experience in instructional design for adults? If yes, make sure you highlight that.

Been a teacher for 20 years. Need to get out. Started looking in February. Everyone I talk to says "seems like a natural fit" to go from teaching to corporate training/ facilitation/ talent management. However, I have not even made it to the phone screen for any of the close to 20 jobs I applied for. I am not trying to get a senior or lead position. Just a mid level corporate training job.

Anyone been there done that and can offer ways to help make the transition? Do I need to go through a recruiter? Have someone redo my resume?

I am desperate and feeling dejected..