You Haven't Missed the Boat: Career Change at Any Stage

“For the first time in my life I was very unsure about where I was headed and what I could do differently to teaching because I'd been doing it for so long.”

Hannah, a primary school teacher for nine years, left the classroom seeking better work-life balance so she could be there more for her teenagers at home. Now a Youth Participation Advisor working globally to end malnutrition, she's enjoying flexibility around core hours, meaningful project work, travel opportunities, and the satisfaction of using her teaching skills in entirely new ways.

With support from the Academy's resources and community, Hannah navigated the confusion of career transition, overcame imposter syndrome, and ultimately received two dream job offers on the same day. She now helps young people lead community dialogues that drive policy changes, creating resources and managing grants programmes that make a real difference.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Dealing with conflicting feelings over leaving
• Getting back on track with community support
• Project management training and its real-world applications
• Redefining what success looks like outside teaching
• Shaking off old ways of working
• Enhanced transferable skills and renewed confidence 
• Building your network through LinkedIn
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and believing you haven't "missed the boat"
• Coping with rejection 
• Tips for finding roles in charities and NGOs focused on youth work

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨