sample cover letter career change from teaching

• Cover Letter Tips

How To Write the Best Career Change Cover Letter (+ Examples) 

So, you want to try something completely new? When you’re thinking about a career change, your cover letter is an essential tool. Your resume will tell the hiring manager about your experience, but you’ll use the cover letter to fill in the blanks.

Frankly, when you're changing careers, you have to work just a bit harder than any other applicants with a more intuitive work history. That means showing that the experience you have is an asset and that it can be transferred to this new role. Luckily, you can do all of this (and more!) by writing a well-thought-out career change cover letter. 

A career change cover letter is an opportunity to start a conversation to explain exactly why you're applying for a job outside of your current field. Get this right, and you will convince any hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for the job. But how do you get started?

Here at ZipJob, we give you the resources you need to supercharge your job search. In the following guide, we’ll share seven tips from our professional resume writers on how to write the best career change cover letter. We've also got a career change cover letter example for you to check out.

More common than you might think

First, a word of encouragement: In our fast-paced and rapidly changing economy, people are changing careers at rates that would have been unthinkable just a few short generations ago. In fact, recent statistics show that people have an average of 12 jobs in their lifetime. 

That can create problems for many applicants, however, and you may not be sure how you can use your resume to properly convey the right experience needed for your new career. The good news is that you can take care of that concern by using that other vital application tool: the cover letter.

7 tips for your career change cover letter

Ready to put pen to paper? When you're writing a career change cover letter, it's important to stay on task. This isn't the place to write a heart-to-heart that reads more like a journal entry than a professional document. Instead, focus on what makes you a great applicant. 

To help you along the way, we have some expert-backed tips below:

1. Make sure you use the right words

Changing careers is a big deal. While your resume will have covered your skills and experience, you can use this letter to really sell yourself to the hiring manager. What you lack in experience, you may be able to make up for in the willingness to learn.

While you can use your cover letter to explain why you want a new career, it doesn’t start and end there. This is also an opportunity to share why you are ready to switch things up. With that in mind, use words that excite the hiring manager and show your desire to work in your chosen field. The more creative you are with the language you use, the better here.

2. Be honest about your career change

The biggest mistake you could make here is trying to sneak your way into a new sector. The hiring manager already has your resume, so they know that you don’t have experience in this field. You should never try to bamboozle them into interviewing you on the basis of faux experience. Even if you do make it to the interview level, you will soon get found out. 

Instead, you need to be 100% honest about your career change. Direct your cover letter to the hiring manager and be clear about why you are switching industries. For example, you may have reached the highest heights in your current sector and feel it’s time for a change. On the other hand, you may have a real passion for this new field and want to pursue it. 

Whatever your reason is, now is the time to talk about it. You don’t need to write a short memoir. The hiring manager will ask you more in-depth questions at the interview stage. However, it’s smart to outline your reasoning here so that you fill in the blanks. State that you are looking to move sectors and try to give a compelling reason to the reader now.

3. Emphasize your transferable skills

When you’re writing a career change cover letter, this is vital. Transferable skills are your current talents that would help you succeed in a different position. These skills are often soft skills but may also be technical or analytical skills from your previous profession. Identify what your strengths are. How might those help you in another industry?

You can also approach this from the other side by spending some time analyzing the company’s needs. Look at the job description, the company website, and recent media coverage to identify the core skills that this company requires. Once you’ve honed in on those needs, you can determine which of your skills can help to make you a great candidate for the job.

Of course, you should heavily feature your transferable skills on your resume. Once you've noted them, you can offer more of an explanation in your cover letter about how each skill will apply to this new job. 

Emphasize your relevant skills within the body of the career change cover letter too. That means including specific examples of how they have helped you to achieve certain results and goals in the past. Show the hiring manager what you have to bring to the table. You can do this by identifying the overlap between your two fields and highlighting it clearly. Be brief, but be sure to answer why you're applying and why you're worth interviewing.

Key Takeaway

The key to a career change cover letter is to identify and highlight related and transferable skills.

4. Focus on your results

Results matter more than you think. The number one thing that will push you ahead of your competition are fantastic accomplishments on your resume . Your accomplishments are still valid, even when changing careers: awards, honors, and other results that show you're a high-achieving employee will make you look like a winner. 

Your career change cover letter gives you a chance to explain why it's so impressive that you accomplished something. Try to figure out numbers or metrics – these really stand out on resumes and cover letters. Quantifying your results will show the hiring manager that your hard work achieves big things. This fact will surely grab their attention. 

To showcase those results, you need to emphasize the success that you’ve enjoyed in prior jobs, providing details that help to connect those successes to your transferable skills. From there, you only need to complete the picture by explaining how your prior achievements and transferable skills can offer tangible benefits to the new company.

Always use the STAR method

Showcasing your results and quantifying them doesn’t have to be hard. Make your statements stand out by using the STAR method throughout your cover letter. 

5. Demonstrate genuine passion

Let your passion for the company be on full display so that the hiring manager knows you care about getting the position. Mention something new or interesting the company has accomplished, or relate to the company's core values. You can add your personality to your cover letter – as long as it stays relevant!

Take the time to do your homework so that you have a firm understanding of what the company does and how it hopes to achieve its goal. It’s also worth trying to understand the company culture ahead of time. That will enable you to properly convey your passion for the position in the body of your cover letter. In short, figure out what the vibe is and match it.

6. Tailor your resume to reflect your career change goals

If this is your first time creating a career change cover letter, be sure to review your resume when you’re done so that everything is properly coordinated. It all needs to match up. You don’t want any inconsistencies between those two important documents: your cover letter should only talk about experiences that are also mentioned on your resume.

To keep your message clear, make any resume changes that are needed to keep it aligned with the message on your cover letter. Remember, it’s the little things that often make the difference between success and failure. 

If your resume isn't tailored for your career transition goals, check out this article next: How To Tailor Your Resume For Different Positions

7. End with a strong conclusion 

When you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to sign off. The end of your cover letter is a good chance to reaffirm why you want to take this step. You may also want to add that you will help the business in question meet its goals. One of the more critical things you can do with your career change cover letter is insert some type of call to action – encouraging the reader to reach out to you. 

Remember, the hiring manager will naturally slow their reading pace down as they reach the bottom of the page. For that reason, it is vital that you end on a strong and clear note.

Career change cover letter example

This example is to the point and easy to scan through. It has several examples of how the applicant has added value in the past, using numbers that are easy for the reader to translate to a different industry.

Notice also that this letter – like all good cover letters – includes a professional heading and uses a business letter format. It is highly specific, a quick but clear message that you've put some thought into tailoring your cover letter. 

The letter does not use a generic "to whom it may concern" greeting; ideally, you can find the name of the hiring manager. When in doubt, addressing your letter to a "hiring team" is a good alternative.

The heading with your own information was borrowed from the updated resume format we used to share 200+ resume examples written by our professional resume writers. Using the same format for your resume and cover letter is another instance of details that stand out.

Focus on value; win the day 

As you can see, the cover letter for a career change is similar to many others. You still want to focus on the value you can add to the company. By emphasizing your transferable skills, focusing on past achievements, and demonstrating your interest in the new company, you should be able to leverage your existing skill set in a way that sets you apart from the crowd.

Ready to take the leap and start that new career? Use the ZipJob free resume review now to get the insights that you need to perfect your next application and get ahead of the competition. 

Recommended reading: 

9 Cover Letter Mistakes That Cost You Interviews - ZipJob

7 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

How to Ask for a Job Referral + 5 Examples

Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer, Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer

Charlotte Grainger is a freelance writer living and working in Sheffield, UK. She has a passion for career development and loves sharing tips and advice. Follow her on Twitter

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Teacher Career Change Cover Letter Example

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When starting a cover letter for a teacher career change, open with a strong, attention-grabbing statement that highlights your passion for education and the new industry you're pursuing. Then, quickly pivot to emphasize transferable skills and experiences that are relevant to the new role. For example: "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], As an educator with [number] years of experience fostering student success and engagement, I am excited to apply my expertise in curriculum development and instructional design to the [new industry/position] at [Company Name]. My background has equipped me with valuable skills such as [skill 1], [skill 2], and [skill 3], which I am eager to leverage in a new context to contribute to your team's goals." This approach shows enthusiasm, acknowledges the career change, and immediately connects your teaching experience to the new field.

The best way for Teacher Career Changes to end a cover letter is with a strong closing statement that reaffirms their interest in the new role and highlights their transferable skills. They should express enthusiasm for the opportunity to bring their unique educational background and teaching experience to the new position. It's important to thank the reader for considering their application and to include a call to action, such as a request for an interview or discussion. Here's an example: "Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to bring my passion for education and my expertise in curriculum development to the [new position]. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my teaching experience and innovative approach can contribute to the success of your team. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience to arrange an interview." This ending leaves a professional impression and encourages the potential employer to take the next step.

Teacher Career Changes should include the following elements in a cover letter: 1. **Introduction**: Start with a strong opening statement that captures the reader's attention. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. If you have a connection at the new company or were referred by someone, mention this as well. 2. **Teaching Background**: Briefly summarize your teaching experience, highlighting your years in the profession, subjects taught, and any special initiatives or accomplishments. Emphasize transferable skills such as curriculum development, classroom management, and the ability to adapt to diverse learning styles. 3. **Reason for Career Change**: Clearly articulate why you are transitioning out of teaching. Focus on the positive aspects of the change, such as a desire to apply your skills in a new context, a passion for the industry you are moving into, or the opportunity to impact a different audience. 4. **Relevant Skills and Qualities**: Identify the skills and qualities you have developed as a teacher that are relevant to the new role. These might include communication, organization, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure. Provide specific examples that demonstrate these skills in action. 5. **Knowledge of the New Industry**: Show that you have done your research and understand the new industry or role you are pursuing. Discuss any relevant courses, certifications, or professional development activities you have undertaken to prepare for the transition. 6. **Enthusiasm and Commitment**: Convey your enthusiasm for the new opportunity and your commitment to succeeding in a new field. Employers want to see that you are motivated and ready to take on the challenges of a career change. 7. **Closing**: End your cover letter with a call to action, such as requesting an interview or a meeting to discuss how your experience and skills make you a strong candidate. Thank the reader for considering your application. Remember to tailor your cover letter to each job application, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills

Related Cover Letters for Teacher Career Change

Career coach cover letter.

Transitioning Teacher Cover Letter

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Career Agent Cover Letter

Substitute Teacher Cover Letter

Teacher Assistant Cover Letter

Special Education Teacher Cover Letter

High School Teacher Cover Letter

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Transitioning Teacher Resume Example

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High school teacher resume example, try our ai cover letter generator.

Top Five Cover Letter Tips for Changing Careers to Teaching

Career changers have many different motivations for leaving the business world or other occupations and going into teaching. Some have been involved in business training and education and want to teach full time. Others have just seen their children off to school and are seeking full-time employment.

The career switcher almost always has related experience that has motivated the move into education. They may have worked as a corporate trainer and have no experience in a classroom or maybe they taught ESL part-time. Over the last 16 years, I am sure I have seen every type of career transition – surprise me with your career situation, if you can.

Whatever experience you bring to your new job search, the onus is on you to show how your past experience makes you well suited for the teaching position you are applying for. To help you make a convincing case and position yourself for your new career, I have compiled my cover letter tips for changing careers to teaching.

You may think you have no experience as a teacher, but you will have relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments once we start digging for them.

With more applicants than there are positions available, it's important to write teacher cover letters that get you noticed . The biggest mistake I see applicants make is sending a standard cover letter and resume and expecting the hiring manager to connect the dots. It is the teaching job applicant's responsibility to emphasize related education and work experience, highlight transferable skills, and demonstrate what other steps are being taken (e.g., courses, internships) to prepare for the job transition. 

Getting into teaching can be quite a challenge, if the career changer is not prepared. Whether you are looking for a new challenge, have always had a passion to teach, or just fancy a change, a newly focused teacher cover letter and resume that shows your readiness and enthusiasm for a teaching career will jump out of a stack of resumes.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter to Transition into Teaching

1. emphasize relevant career experience.

Many career changers I work with feel frustrated by a lack of relevant experience. More often than not, they fail to recognize solid teaching- related skills they possess. Relevant experience to teaching should take center stage in your teacher cover letter and resume.

I like to probe clients to survey their life experience, since many of us have played different teaching roles in various capacities, such as volunteer work and sports mentoring.

Begin your application letter with teaching-related experience. Cover letters do not have to follow chronological order like resumes, and thus provide more flexibility to position yourself for a targeted position.

An applicant with corporate training experience or ESL teaching during college years may want to bring forward this experience. Many careers share core skills with teaching:

• Nurse to teacher is a natural given the strong human relations skills required and experience instructing patients in health, post-operative care, and other areas.
• Corporate trainers, team leaders and project managers lead teams, mentor, instruct, and assess performance.
• Social workers and counsellors are experts in personal and professional development.

Many professionals seek to teach and share their area of expertise, such as:

• Accountants
• Computer programmers

Going back to school to sharpen teaching skills could be on your to do list to make a career transition to higher education .

Stay-at-home mothers who are re-entering the workplace have lots of fresh experience teaching and training their children. Over-relying on mommy duties in place of hard teaching skills, however, could weaken your teacher cover letter.

Examples of related experience worth mentioning would be running a daycare, volunteering to conduct reading help twice a week at you child's school, or teaching Sunday school or at the library. The school wants to know what behavioral management strategies and lessons you will use to engage individual students in a classroom.

2. Make a List of Transferable Teaching Skills

Matching transferable skills from your previous work experience to the targeted teaching job can help you identify skills and competencies valued in a teacher. To ensure you do not miss valuable transferable skills, compare teaching job ads with those of your profession.

Most managers today, for example, receive training in coaching, facilitation and mentoring – all valuable teaching skills that are often not mentioned in the cover letter.

Following is a list of core skills teachers should possess:

• Organization
• Mentoring and Training
• Program Development
• Making Presentations
• Multi-tasking
• Fundraising
• Collaboration
• Presentations
• Creativity and Imagination
• Problem Solving
• Team Building
• And the list goes on…

Many professionals find their love for teaching guiding the professional development of employees, so we have a lot of knowledge on making a career transition to a school teacher from a corporate trainer and other popular transition routes. Career switchers often also overlook many basic skills, such as working with training tools, videos, education software, and online learning apps.

3. Communicating Your Teaching Skills

Many career switchers transition to an education career using transferable skills . Showing how you apply these skills will help demonstrate how you will function in a classroom environment.

Videos of you in front a class training 30 employees will show you operating efficiently in a teaching context.  Make a point of describing, in your cover letter, the practical ways in which you have demonstrated and continue to develop these skills. Both hard and soft skills should be demonstrated.

If you require more experience, ask at your children's school for volunteer opportunities. Reference letters from schools will give your teaching skills real credibility.

Conduct an informational interview with teachers and principals. Many teachers will be happy to review your resume and provide guidance on how you can strengthen your application.

4. Show Contributions to Performance Improvements in Student Achievement

Like businesses, schools have to demonstrate their effectiveness by meeting academic performance standards. Your class' performance will not only measure your teaching effectiveness but will also become part of regional and national education performance rankings.

Demonstration of your ability to improve the performance of your students will be highly persuasive evidence of your teaching ability.

Examples of relevant teacher work experience to draw skills from includes:

• Grading of trainings, conferences and workshops you have developed. Participants are often asked to provide both quantitative (on a scale of 1 to 5) and qualitative reviews (remarks) of business training events.
• Quantitative evidence of the progress of students of your corporate trainings.
• Reviews of your performance by your superiors.
• Association and magazine rankings and rewards that reflect your performance, individually, or as part of a group or company.

5. Demonstrate a Commitment to Education

The last impression you want to give is as a job seeker who is chasing the hottest job trends. Schools want teachers with a passion for teaching, not a job seeker seeking a job in a recession-proof industry. In your teacher cover letter, communicate an awareness of current issues and trends in education. Join education associations and take teachings workshops.

Join social media groups. LinkedIn groups provide an opportunity to share information on targeted positions through groups for K-12 teachers, science and math teachers, special education teachers, and so on. Read education blogs and subscribe to education magazines.

Most importantly, research the school district and school and show knowledge of their educational curriculum and challenges, and how you can help address them. Your letter should convey someone who knows what's currently going on in education.

If you know someone who has previously transitioned into teaching, speak to them and find out if they can offer you any additional tips. Someone who has recently been through the application process can often offer valuable information about what is particularly important to include.

Seek out teachers who have made the transition into teaching. What challenges did they encounter? What tips can they offer?

Once you have developed a cover letter that presents your teaching skills and qualifications, proofread and reread your letter. Have others proofread it for you. Prospective teachers are expected to have excellent standards of literacy and numeracy.

Whether you are trying to transition from a business career to teaching or making a career transition from military to teaching , your cover letter should communicate your qualifications, related experience and preparedness.

To ensure you are ready for a teaching career, review 10 questions to ask if you are considering changing careers to teaching . The earlier you start evaluating you career transition, the sooner you can sign up for the courses, workshops and social media networks you need to sharpen your teaching skill set.

To present a convincing case for your career transition to teaching, review our resume and cover letter samples.

Need some writing assistance making an excellent professional career change resume, or CV curriculum vitae? Take the time to review and order one of our resume packages or individual services .

Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing my about me page . From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.

Have questions, please connect by sending an email to Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.

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Sample Career Change Cover Letter and Writing Tips

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Career Change Cover Letter Sample

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• Refocus Your Resume to Match

The Balance / Chelsea Damraksa

Are you considering a career change? If you are looking for a position in a different industry or career field, your cover letter or  letter of intent  is an important factor in the likelihood of your getting the job.

Since your resume may not contain the relevant experience that hiring managers are looking for, it's important to use your cover letter as an opportunity to demonstrate why you are a good fit despite lacking that specific employment history.

A well-written and strong cover letter will convince the reader that your work experience is a strength rather than a weakness.

Before you start writing, though, be sure you're clear on your goals for transitioning careers and that you're  positioned for a successful career change job search .

Tips for Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Any good cover letter explains why you are qualified for the specific job. However, a cover letter written during a  career change  needs to go beyond that.

Be sure to thoroughly  research the company  before writing your cover letter so you can convince the employer that you understand the company and can demonstrate why you want to be a part of it.

You must touch on three important points. This will help you rise above candidates who have more direct experience in the industry. You don’t necessarily have to cover all of these topics in order or in distinct paragraphs. The aim is to make sure you communicate these points somewhere in your letter.

1. Emphasize Your Transferable Skills

Most importantly, focus on the  transferable skills  you have that you can use in the new position rather than on the skills you have that are only related to your current role. Analyze the job description for the position you’re applying to, and look at the skills that the position calls for.

Choose the  ones that best match your own skills or experience . Then, if possible, use specific anecdotes from your work or academic history to illustrate some of these strengths in action. 

2. Highlight Your Superior Performance in Previous Positions

Other applicants may have the relevant experience, but if their experience is mediocre and cannot be backed up by strong references or tangible achievements, you may actually be a more desirable candidate for the job than they are.

In your letter, do your best to explain how you succeeded in previous roles, and connect that to a summary of how you would also add value in this new position.

Make sure your references will corroborate your statements.

3. Express Your Passion for the Company

Mention your passion for the company. This is another way to stand out from qualified candidates. Employers may be more interested in someone who is especially excited about their organization and the job opportunity than they are in someone who just wants a job and doesn’t care about much beyond that. In your cover letter, make it clear that you’re familiar with the organization and enthusiastic about the opportunity to be a part of it.

Read the sample cover letter below, which you can use as a framework for writing your own career change cover letter. However, be sure to edit the sample to fit your personal experiences and the job for which you are applying.

Download the career change cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Sample Career Change Cover Letter (Text Version)

William Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 111-111-1111 william.applicant@email.com

July 21, 2020

Michael Lee Director XYZ Company 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321 

Dear Ms. Lee:

This letter is to express my special interest in discussing the Senior Customer Service Manager position posted on the XYZ Company web site. The opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing, and I believe that my experience and education will make me a competitive candidate for this role.

Although I have been working primarily as an Operations Manager, in this capacity I have interfaced frequently with customers, in addition to vendors and staff. This has instilled multi-dimensional communication skills and an ability to recognize, act upon, and fulfill customer wishes and needs in order to ensure their continued, and positive, relationship with the business.

In fact, in my most recent job as Operations Manager for ABC Company, I received an ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ recognition due to my ability to coordinate complex logistics in order to keep customers happy even when issues arose that were beyond the control of the organization. Again, this involved not only managing operations but also communicating directly with customers. As a result, I believe my combined ability to successfully manage operations while also effectively interfacing with customers makes me a prime candidate for this role.

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers. 
• Strive for continued excellence.
• Strong communication skills.
• Eager to learn new things.

You will find me to be well-spoken, energetic, confident, and personable, the type of person on whom your customers will rely. I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that will allow you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of excellence you expect will be met. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I hope that you'll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face meeting, as I am confident that I could provide value to you and your customers as a member of your team. I am very excited about this opportunity to work for XYZ Company. I connect with your mission to “deliver the ‘five star’ factor” to both your staff and your customers. This tenet is reflected in my own professional and personal values, and I believe this alignment strongly supports my candidacy for this role.

I can be reached anytime via my cell phone, 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

William Applicant (signature hard copy letter)

William Applicant

If you're sending your  cover letter via email,  list your name and the job title in the subject line of the  email message . Include your contact information in your email signature, but don't list the employer's contact information. Simply start your email message with the salutation.

Refocus Your Resume to Reflect Your New Goals

When you're seeking a career change, it's important to refocus your resume to reflect your new goals. That way, your resume and cover letter will both show that you're well qualified for a change in roles. Here are six tips for  writing a powerful career change resume  that will help you get started.

Get Ready to Interview

Be prepared, as well, to discuss in job interviews why you're transitioning and what  skills you will bring to prospective employers . It's important to have a comprehensive and professional pitch that will impress the employer and convince them that you're a strong candidate for the job.

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5 Career Change Cover Letter Examples Made for 2024

• Career Change Cover Letter
• Career Change No Experience
• HR Career Change
• Teacher Career Change
• RN Career Change Cover Letter
• Write Your Career Change Cover Letter

Switching careers can be equal parts exciting and daunting. You’re stepping into a whole new path, facing unknown challenges, and rebuilding your personal brand from scratch. There’s a lot at stake here, and to fight this battle and come out on top, you need to pick the right set of weapons.

Step one: a stellar  career change resume  tailored to match the job. Step two, however, is more challenging because you must write a cover letter to wow recruiters and express your excitement at a career change and for the company.

We’re here to help you navigate these murky waters and set the course for the career of your dreams. Our career change  cover letter examples  and free cover letter builder will help you craft a memorable job application.

Career Change Cover Letter Example

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Why this cover letter works

• For instance, this cover letter points to ways the candidate took initiative to connect sales and marketing. This evidences both interest and experience in the target role.

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Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Career Change No Experience Cover Letter Example

• Take, for instance, how Aria tells the story of her expertise—meticulous data analysis, project management, and problem-solving and convincingly discusses how these can be valuable assets for the new role. So, extract and communicate those transferable skills.

Human Resources Career Change Cover Letter Example

• Such competencies demonstrate that although it’s a career change, you aren’t a stranger to the environment. If the past stints involved the hiring company’s competitor, emphasize that for bonus familiarity points.

Teacher Career Change Cover Letter Example

• If you’ve earned professional certifications that don’t match your current role but align with your target career, your cover letter is the place to highlight them.

Registered Nurse (RN) Career Change Cover Letter Example

• Look for unlikely connections between your work experience and target role, then put the pieces together for recruiters in your cover letter.

Related cover letter examples

• Graphic designer

How to Write a Fantastic Career Change Cover Letter

You may think that you’re at a disadvantage when you’re applying outside of your previous career, but when it comes to cover letters, that’s not true. Treat this as an excellent opportunity to be creative and stand out from the crowd.

Here’s the trick: give that job description a good read, then whip your cover letter into shape to mirror it. Try to decipher the company’s core values, be it from the job listing or from its website, and highlight that this mission is important to you too. 

Pinpoint similarities across your past and future roles for this. For instance, if you’re switching from teaching to programming, emphasize your ability to explain complex topics to all kinds of audiences.

Writing a winning cover letter intro

The perfect cover letter begins with a personalized greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name. However, if you absolutely cannot find the recipient (try LinkedIn), you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Company Name] Team.” Refrain from using “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam,” as those can be a little outdated by today’s standards.

Avoid generic starters and instead showcase why your past experience is valuable. For instance, if you previously worked in sales and you’re moving to customer service, highlight your ability to forge lasting relationships with clients.

Check out this example of what not to do below. This opening line is definitely on the uninteresting side—the hiring manager might skim your cover letter if it lacks a proper hook.

No, thank you!

“I am writing to apply for the project manager position I saw on your website. I believe this role is a great fit for me.”

Now, the example below is a huge improvement. The applicant immediately makes it clear that they used to have a different career, but they use this to their advantage by highlighting how their background in working with people can have a deep impact on their new career.

Hooked from the start!

I was inspired to transition my career from nursing into sales when I discovered the impact I could make by connecting people with the right product solutions. I am eager to bring my RN background, where relationship-building is paramount, and my skill set in sales forecasting to American Express as a sales manager.

Writing the main part of your cover letter

Roll up your sleeves because we’re diving into the main part of your cover letter—the body. Use this space as an extension of your resume that elaborates on your skills and the way they can make an impact on the company. 

Find common ground and share some of your greatest achievements that translate well to your new role. For example, if you’re a marketer transitioning into sales, discuss how spearheading a social media campaign increased your company’s revenue by 18%. 

Use metrics to support your accomplishments. Things like revenue, ROI, click-through rates, open rates, customer satisfaction ratings, budget savings, or efficiency improvements all apply to most industries. Much like in the intro, connect your background to match the company.

Here’s a body paragraph for inspiration:

In addition to teaching high school math, I have taught myself web and mobile development, database management, and the version control system Git. I am certified in AWS and Google Cloud, and built an educational app that streamlined school communication, improving homework submission rates by 23%.

Ending your cover letter on a strong note

The closing paragraph is the ribbon that you tie on top of a cohesive whole. It serves to reinforce the sentiments you talked about above—but without repeating yourself.

Emphasize your excitement at joining this particular company, and make sure to mention it by name. Pick one or two of your core skills or qualifications and flex a little—express how you will use these abilities to achieve positive outcomes at your new company.

You’re changing industries, so own it, and explain how, for instance, your knowledge of math can help you write complex code.

Lastly, thank the hiring manager for their consideration—you can do this either in the closing paragraph or in your final sign-off. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s with a respectful “Sincerely, [Your Name].”

It’s important to keep this final part respectful. Don’t assume you’ll be hired—instead of showing confidence, it can come off as presumptuous.

“I’m not experienced but I’m a quick learner, so I can’t wait to start growing my career at your company next month.”

This next example has it all—it reiterates your interest in the role, talks about transferable skills, and thanks the recruiter for taking the time to read your cover letter.

This is the way!

I would be thrilled to meet and discuss how my transition from sales to marketing can drive impactful strategies at Comcast. Thank you for considering my application.

When transitioning careers, it’s important to build credibility out of the gate by addressing the right person. Check the job listing and the company website. If that fails, try identifying the hiring manager via LinkedIn.

If all else fails, talk mostly about your education and preparation for the career change, but there are skills that apply to most jobs, too. For instance, working as a programmer and a travel agent means dealing with data and interacting with people.

While you may rely on transferable skills you used in nursing in your future sales role, avoid assuming this new job will have a similar company culture as your last one. Instead, adjust your tone to match the company. For instance, if the job ad and the website are written with humor, you can afford to crack a small joke or write less formally.

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Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

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If you want to land that new job, you’ll have to work hard on your teacher career change resume. Remember, your teacher transition resume is your first impression. It’s all about showcasing those transferrable skills and highlighting why you’re the best fit for getting the job done.

If you need help leaving the classroom, check out the  Teacher Career Coach Course .  This step-by-step guide has helped thousands with a transition from teaching. Save time and get support with every step of picking a new path, rewriting your resume, and answering tricky interview questions.

It can be intimidating applying to jobs outside of the classroom, no matter how badly you want out! You may be having a hard time identifying the experiences to highlight on your resume. Maybe you’re struggling with how to write them in a way that applies to a job outside of the classroom. Anyhow, you’re about to break through that barrier! Here are some of my top tips from The Teacher Career Coach Course . These will help you put your best foot forward and land that interview! But first, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to start from scratch.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just a teacher,” it’s time to look closely at all you do on a daily basis as part of that role. Honestly, teachers are some of the most skillful and multi talented professionals I know. The truth is, many teachers battle with Impostor Syndrome , often overlooking their achievements and the value they bring to the table in many careers. Whether you realize it or not, the skills and accomplishments you have already achieved will make a stellar resume. (Trust me). 

You are an asset to your school, and you’ll be an asset wherever your career transition takes you next. First, identify your career accomplishments as a teacher. Then you can effectively apply them to the next chapter of your working life. Without knowing the specifics of your teaching experience, as a former teacher, I know you have desirable skills and valuable experience. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. Your new career change resume should reflect your many achievements and in-demand teacher skills! 

Teacher Career Change Resume Resources

In this post, I gathered expert advice to help you master rewriting those resume skills. I want to help you avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when writing their teacher career change resume. Read on to learn how you can tweak your teaching-focused resume to highlight your skills and experience that apply jobs outside of the classroom.

You can also listen to my interview with HR and Resume-writing expert Alli Arney to learn how to effectively translate your teaching experience on your transition resume . 

Let’s get to rebranding your expertise, shall we? 

*But first a note!* Much of what you include in your resume and cover letter will be dependent on the job for which you’re applying. If you’re not sure what jobs you’re qualified for or even what’s out there, take a look at Best Jobs For Former Teachers . This post will give you an idea of what’s out there, who’s hiring, and what you need to qualify for a position.

Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume

Every teacher career change resume needs a cover letter! Your cover letter introduces who you are and what you can offer in position X at company Y. A common mistake I see teachers make is creating a generic cover letter to send with all of their applications. 

Some hiring managers may approach your application with the assumption you’re willing to take any job outside of the classroom. Even if that’s the truth, you don’t want the hiring manager to know that. Use the cover letter and an opportunity to showcase why their job is a great fit for you and what you can bring to the table for their company. Hiring managers want someone qualified, excited about the position, and a good fit for the company culture. 

Make sure every cover letter is unique to the job and company you are sending it to. Add in specifics regarding what excites you about the role and how your experience will translate into the new responsibilities. Do research about the company and address how you are equally passionate about their core values and company culture. You will learn so much from a company’s website, including its mission statement and core values.

Get Started on you Cover Letter

First, start with an introduction paragraph. This will likely stay the same on every cover letter as you introduce yourself. Next, add five to six bullet points about why you are qualified for this specific position and reflect on your qualifying achievements. For example, I am constantly focused on collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that advance the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. Last, add a closing statement about the position to which you’re applying, why it excites you, and how you will be able to effectively fulfill the role and responsibilities.

Add an Elevator Pitch to your Teacher Career Change Resume

An elevator pitch is basically highlights who you are,  your area of expertise, and your career intentions. It’s clear, concise, and is key to a teacher transition resume. Think about it like this: Imagine being on an elevator and only having about 30 seconds to sell yourself to the hiring manager. You should utilize your elevator pitch on your resume and when you get in front of a hiring manager at an interview. Just like your cover letter, this pitch should always be catered to a specific audience rather than being overly generic. 

Practice your elevator pitch so that it is second nature. It may sound silly but practicing your pitch in front of a friend or even a mirror helps. You can gain confidence in front of a hiring manager or an interview committee after practicing.

Again, an elevator pitch goes beyond your resume. Have your pitch handy at networking events, in job interviews, on any social bios, and in your resume header. Let’s say you are an experienced teacher looking for a transition into a Training and Development Manager position. Here’s an example of an elevator pitch you could use at a networking event or in your LinkedIn bio:

Elevator Pitch Examples

“I have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and various training methodologies, and I am currently looking to transition from the classroom to the corporate world. If you know anyone who is adding to their Training and Development Team, I hope you’ll send them my way.”

To adjust it to be more resume friendly, you could make the following tweaks:

” have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and a variety of training methodologies, and I am currently looking to make a transition from the classroom to the corporate world as a Corporate Trainer at Company X.”

While your elevator pitch is short and sweet, you should always be prepared for follow-up questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the different occupational terms and acronyms associated with any career path you seek. This shows your audience that you are knowledgeable and ready to move into that field of work.

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Formatting Essentials

When it comes to your teacher transition resume, we need to talk about the big F-word: Formatting. 

A whopping 75% of resumes NEVER GET OPENED or seen by a hiring manager. One of the biggest culprits? Formatting. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through applications before they even make their way to a hiring manager’s hands. Luckily there are a few formatting tips that can help you pass the test. 

Length, File Format, and Other Tips For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

When it comes to the length of your resume, it really depends on your experience. While one-page resumes were once a rule-of-thumb, most resumes are now one and a half to two pages. However, if you have 15 years of work experience, you shouldn’t shy away from your accomplishments. In that case, it’s totally acceptable to have a 2-page resume. 

Next, you want to focus on another F-word: file format. There are different platforms and software, but I recommend you send your resume as a Word document, unless otherwise specified. So, when you go to save your resume file, be sure it’s saved in the .doc or .docx format. ATS will reject files saved in Pages, Excel, or JPEG format. 

The last big resume formatting tip is about style . If your go-to is a creative and colorful template that landed you your job in the classroom, it’s time for a change. Simple, chronological resume templates are your best bet in the corporate world, listing your experience starting with your most recent job. This is the most popular resume style, and it’s best for ATSs. It also happens to be preferred by recruiters and HR professionals, so you really can’t go wrong here. 

A chronological resume should be written to include the following elements in the listed order: 

• Header (including your personal information and your keyword-rich elevator pitch) 
• Technology experience and expertise 
• Current volunteer experience (if applicable)

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Spill About Your Skills (The Right Way). 

As a teacher, you already have skills that can be utilized in the corporate world. It’s time to brag about them. Before you can do that, you have to move past any Impostor Syndrome you may be experiencing and acknowledge the value, experience, and expertise you have to offer. Trust me. You have a lot more to offer in roles outside of the classroom than you may think.

For example, your organization and multitasking skills can easily transfer to administrative tasks. Parent-teacher conferences give you the experience to handle customer service situations, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement. You’re no stranger to goat setting or data tracking and analysis. Think about any committees or after-school activities you’ve contributed to or helped organize as project management experience. 

Related Resources: Creating your Instructional Designer Resume

WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK 

It’s not just about identifying your transferable skills but how you translate them on your resume.

Here are three of my biggest tips to help you effectively translate your transferable skills and experience on your teacher transition resume. 

First, be specific by quantifying your accomplishments . 

Second, unless you transition into an education-based role, leave out the teacher-specific terminology, acronyms, or pedagogy.   One of the biggest mistakes teachers make on their transition resumes is not rewriting or translating their resume experience so that it is applied to the world outside of the classroom setting. 

Make sure you are showcasing your skills and experience in a way that translates into the new roles you are looking for. Hiring managers don’t want to see you as a teacher. They want to see you as someone qualified for and ready to take on the role you are applying for.  Depending on the role, managers don’t want to know about record keeping for 25 students, but that you managed a portfolio of 25 clients. They don’t want to hear about teaching pedagogy and lesson planning but about training strategy and training materials. The corporate world isn’t about grading and cumulative assessments but about data tracking and analysis. 

Go back to your career buckets. Figure out which teaching duties fall under each and then focus on translating the teacher-specific language into corporate-appropriate terminology.  Then you’ll have an already translated list you can easily pull from any time you need to tailor a resume for a new job. 

Do Your Research For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

Last but not least, do your research and include job and industry-specific language and keywords in your resume. These terms should be peppered throughout your elevator pitch summary and throughout your highlighted experiences throughout your resume. Not only will using the language make your experience and skills more relatable to the position you are applying for, but it will show the hiring manager that you have done the work and are fully committed to stepping into the role, rather than a teacher looking for any new job they can get. 

Insider tip? You can utilize job descriptions as a tool, looking for the keywords and experiences highlighted throughout. Find a way to incorporate the industry-specific language as you translate your skills and experiences. Just make sure you know enough to expand upon the ideas if asked in an interview.

If you don’t feel like you have experience in any of the major keywords that pop up, look them up before you write them off. You likely have more experience than you are giving yourself credit for. More often than not, teachers have the skills. They’re just used to calling it something else.

Acquiring New Skills for Your Teacher Change Resume

Even after translating all of your relevant experience, you might find that there are some areas where you are lacking and that’s okay. Depending on the experiences you had while teaching and the role you are looking to transition into, you might find that there are certain skills that would be beneficial to have to make you a more desirable candidate. 

The good news is you can work on new skills while you are still teaching in the classroom. There are a variety of online classes and tutorials you can take at home and add to your teacher transition resume. The added keywords will make it easier for you to find a new career and you’ll likely go into it feeling more confident and prepared. 

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Final Thoughts.

I know that was a lot of information. Maybe you were already stressed about writing your career transition resume, and now you’re feeling even more overwhelmed. If that’s the case, start by taking a deep breath. (Right here, right now). You don’t have to write and send out a hundred resumes in one day, or even one week. 

In fact, you don’t have to write hundreds of resumes at all. 

A lot of teachers ask, “Do I have to create a million different resume templates for all of these jobs?”   Absolutely not. While you should tweak your resume to fit each specific position you are applying for, you can save time by creating a template for each general category of positions you apply to. For example, you might have one template for training-type positions and another for jobs that fall under curriculum writing and instructional design categories.  One final word of advice? When it comes to taking resume writing advice, please, please, please vet your source to ensure the information applies to the position and industry you are applying to.

Teacher Career Change, Beyond the Resume

Developing a professional teacher transition resume is just the first step on your journey to a new career. If you have more questions like: How do I get employers to notice my resume? What kind of jobs am I qualified for? What do I do after I get the interview?!?

I want you to know that if being in the classroom is no longer an option for you, there are many career options for teachers. As a former teacher who transitioned out of the classroom, I have been at that crossroads. I successfully moved from teaching into a new career that has left me happier, healthier, and more relaxed than I ever could have been in the classroom.

Next steps to a new career

One of the biggest mistakes that we see teachers make is that they try to  navigate this process alone . Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. I want to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door. You don’t have to do this on your own. With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, I’ve created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom.  Tap the button below to learn more .

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