Lots to Love in a New Career: Exploring Transferable Skills for Product Management Artwork

The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

Sharing inspirational stories from teachers who have chosen to walk away from classroom to successfully transition to a new career. Advice, tips and ideas for exhausted teachers who know there's a difference between "giving up" and "having had enough". Join me to explore all things teacher burnout, career and business coaching and get plenty of ideas for your very own adventure after teaching.

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The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

Lots to Love in a New Career: Exploring Transferable Skills for Product Management

June 03, 2025 • Joanne Howard • Season 5 • Episode 15

“It’s about the right role at the right time.”

After spending 14 years teaching mostly in Further Education, Head of Faculty Gareth left the classroom to pursue new opportunities. Whilst he found his time in education both valuable and enjoyable, particularly at the start of his teaching journey, he began to question the work-life model he was providing to other members of his team.

Now a Senior Product Manager at a university, Gareth walks us through his top tips and offers a skills breakdown for those who are interested in exploring similar roles. Asked what he loves about his new career, Gareth talks about developing new skills, spending more time with his children, enjoying intentional hybrid working, empowering and enabling his future self, having more space to live his life and staying aligned with his core purpose by positively impacting learners.

In this episode, we also cover:

Being ‘all in’ with greedy jobs
Generalist and specialist teacher skills
Learning the language of new industries
The value of networking for job hunting
Bridging opportunities when switching career
What is product management? A sneak peak into the day-to-day
Asking the right questions around partnership roles
Translating your skills before you put pen to paper on your CV
Getting the balance right when leaving education
Reducing the fear of the unknown

Links:

LinkedIn for Teacher Career Change

AAT Jobs Board - Filter by 'Project Manager' to find similar roles

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!