5 Careers for Teachers Who Are Over It

The Challenge We're Solving Today

What careers are actually a good fit for teachers... besides the obvious ones?

If you’ve spent any time Googling “careers for former teachers,” you already know the top answers:

Instructional design
Corporate training
General EdTech 

These are great paths. But they’re not the only ones worth exploring.

This issue is for the teachers who feel like none of the usual options are quite right. You want work that’s meaningful, people-oriented, and a better fit for your energy and strengths, but you’re not sure what else is out there.

Why This Matters to You

Choosing your next career isn't just about matching your resume to a job description.

It’s about building a life that works for you.

Your pace, your values, your goals.

There are careers outside education that genuinely need your teaching skills but if you don’t know what those roles are, you’ll never know to look for them.

Common Solutions and Why They Might Not Work

A lot of teachers get stuck in a narrow loop:

• They search “jobs for former teachers” and see the same 3-4 options.

• They try to force excitement about roles that feel... fine, but not inspiring.

• Or worse, they assume that anything outside education is too big of a stretch.

The problem with this is you're only seeing a sliver of what’s possible. And when the list feels small, it’s easy to think your skills won’t translate anywhere else.

A Better Approach for You

Let’s widen the lens.

There are roles outside the traditional education space that still align with your strengths.

Let’s start with a real story. Last week, I interviewed Sabrina, and it was awesome. She is a total gem.

Read on, my friends.

Meet Sabrina, Former First Grade Teacher Turned Delta Flight Attendant

Sabrina went to school to become an elementary school teacher. She taught first grade in Florida for a few years before accepting a bilingual school role in Germany. That led to weekend trips across Europe and, eventually, a realization: she didn’t want to fit travel into her life. She wanted a life built around it.

When she returned to the U.S., she knew she was ready for something new. Instead of going back to the classroom “just for a year,” she took a part-time nannying role while she applied to Delta’s flight attendant program.

That process took about six months: questionnaires, video responses, a live interview, and a full-day assessment in Atlanta. What surprised her most?

Delta wasn't just interested in her work history. They cared about who she was.

“They wanted to see how I’d respond when someone’s having a tough day. That’s something teachers already know how to do.”

Now, she jokes that she’s still a teacher, just on a much bigger field trip. Clear directions, emotional care, collaboration, logistics galore. It's what educators do every single day.

But the biggest shift?

“I don’t bring stress home with me… My stress level is significantly different than when I was in the classroom.”

Let that sink in.

Who Flight Attendant Roles Are Great For

This might be a strong fit if you’re a teacher who:

• Wants people-facing work without constant email or desk time

• Has led teams, coordinated events, or de-escalated conflict

• Loves structure but craves mobility and variety

Sabrina also emphasized three traits that matter most:

1. Flexibility
Flight schedules shift. You might expect Honolulu and end up elsewhere. You need to roll with change because, hey, that's life.

2. Organization
Every detail matters: timing, communication, safety. If you’re not naturally organized, you’ll need to develop that skill quickly.

3. Genuine warmth
You’re welcoming people into a high-stress, unfamiliar space. A calm, kind presence goes a long way and most teachers already do this intuitively.

Ready to apply? Here’s the application link Delta set up for you.

Want more info before applying?

• Explore the role more deeply: Delta’s Flight Attendant Career Site

• Watch the behind-the-scenes series: Delta Flight Attendant Educational Series on YouTube

4 Other Non-Education Careers You Probably Haven’t Considered

If life in the sky is a no, keep reading. There are other careers that sit completely outside of education, but are still aligned with your strengths.

Financial Planner

This job is about helping people think long-term. You build a plan. You explain options. You help someone make sense of a decision that feels big and uncomfortable.

If you spent years breaking down complex ideas and guiding people through choices, this work will feel familiar.

You will find these roles at firms like Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab, plus local banks and credit unions. Search for financial planner or financial advisor on LinkedIn or Google. In many cases, the companies will pay for the upskilling required to move into this role.

Claims Adjuster

Claims work is detail-heavy and steady. You gather information. You document clearly. You make a call based on what happened and what the policy allows.

That is not far off from how teaching actually works. You listen, you assess, and you respond without adding drama.

Insurance companies like State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, and Travelers hire for these roles regularly. Search claims adjuster or claims specialist.

Community Manager

Community managers keep groups running. They answer questions, solve problems, and handle the day-to-day issues that pop up when people gather in one place.

If you ever ran a classroom, a club, or a program, you already understand this job. The setting is different. The work is not.

These roles show up at startups, nonprofits, EdTech companies, and creator-led businesses. LinkedIn is the easiest place to find them. Check company career pages once you see a title that fits.

Airline Customer Operations

This is public-facing work with clear systems. You help travelers when plans change. You follow procedures while dealing with real people who are stressed or frustrated.

Teaching prepares you for this better than most backgrounds. You already manage conflict, communicate clearly, and make fast decisions when things do not go as planned.

Look directly on airline career sites that service airports near you. Search customer operations or airport operations.

Summary

Let’s recap the key takeaways from this issue:

• You have more career options than the “usual suspects” suggest

• Flight attendant roles are a strong fit for structured, people-oriented teachers

• Other aligned roles include financial planner, claims adjuster, community manager, and airline operations

• Go for it!

Your Next Steps

✅Ready to apply to be a Delta Flight Attendant? Here’s the application link Delta set up for my community.

THEN:
✅Explore the flight attendant path directly through Delta’s career site
✅ Watch behind-the-scenes details via Delta’s YouTube series
✅ Browse free career tools at Elevated Careers
✅ Read more stories and advice on my blog
✅ Catch up on past newsletters here

P.s. A final word if you’re worried these are “too different”

You might look at these roles and think. Too big of a jump. Too risky. Too far from what you went to school for.

Here’s what Sabrina’s story reminds us.

You’re re-aiming skills you already use every day.

It just might be better used somewhere you haven’t considered yet.

Steph Yesil

Find me on LinkedIn, Get My Career Change Kit, 
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