From Classroom to Cubicle: How Teaching Cultivated a Multifaceted Skill Set for Corporate Success

In July 2021, I made the deliberate decision to transition from the field of education to the corporate realm. Now with two years of experience in my new professional venture, it has become increasingly evident that my tenure as a high school English educator uniquely equipped me with a diverse skill set that aligns well to the demands of the corporate landscape. Here are 20 ways in which teaching aided my transition into the dynamic world of business:

1. Communication Skills: As a teacher, I constantly communicated with students, parents, and colleagues. This gave me a strong foundation in written and verbal communication skills, which are essential in my position as an instructional designer.
2. Problem-Solving Skills: Every day, I faced new challenges in the classroom and had to come up with creative solutions. This ability to think critically and solve problems is highly valued in the corporate world.
3. Teamwork Skills: I worked closely with other teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure the success of my students. Teamwork and collaboration are the keys to success in almost any partnership, and business is no exception.
4. Adaptability: The teaching profession is constantly changing, so I had to be able to adapt to new challenges and situations. This adaptability is also an asset at my workplace as things often change due to the nature of the field.
5. Time Management Skills: I needed to manage my time effectively to juggle all my various responsibilities as a teacher. This ability is essential, especially for an instructional designer as I continually analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate.
6. Organizational Skills: I had to keep track of a lot of paperwork and materials in education. This experience gave me strong organizational skills that are now utilized on an hourly basis. Keeping up with projects, preparing for meetings, and following up on tasks require constant vigilance.
7. Project Management Skills: I often had to plan and execute large academic projects, field trips, professional development, and student readings at local establishments. These experiences gave me valuable project management skills that I continue to use daily.
8. Presentation Skills: I regularly gave presentations to students, parents, and colleagues. Truthfully, I literally presented in some capacity for the majority of my day—every day. While presenting still makes me a little nervous, I have total faith in myself any time I’m asked to do so. On that note…
9. Public Speaking Skills: As I mentioned, I spoke in front of groups of people on a regular basis, which gave me strong public speaking skills. These skills are valuable in the corporate world where clear, concise speaking is both appreciated and valued.
10. Written Communication Skills: I wrote lesson plans, quizzes, tests, PPT notes, instructions, reports, emails, and other documents as a routine part of my day in education. This helped me develop strong written communication skills that are essential in my new role where even one misinterpreted word can be problematic.
11. Critical Thinking Skills: I had to think critically about the material I taught and how to best present it to students. I had to read between the lines many times during conversations. I had to assess assessments in order to gauge their validity. This ability to think critically is essential when it comes to analysis and problem-solving.
12. Creativity: I consistently strived to create new and innovative ways to teach students. This creativity is an asset in the corporate setting where one is often asked to develop new approaches to things.
13. Patience: Teaching can be a challenging profession, and I had to be patient with students, parents, and colleagues. The patience I nurtured has become a boon that serves both me and my company well.
14. Empathy: I absolutely needed to be able to understand and relate to students from all different backgrounds. This empathy comes in very handy as I interact with people from across the nation, and even, in some cases, the world.
15. Resilience: There were many challenges I faced as a teacher, but I both persevered and overcame them. This resilience powers me through setbacks and helps me hold my head high at the office.
16. Work Ethic: I was dedicated to my role as a teacher. I was dedicated to my students. I worked hard to ensure their success. That work ethic translates well into my new role where I not only care about ensuring my own success but also the success of my coworkers, my superiors, and the company itself.
17. Professionalism: Professionalism was personally nonnegotiable for me as a teacher, even when things were tough. I considered myself a role model, both to my students and to my fellow teachers. Though I’m still growing in my corporate role, I continue aiming to exemplify professionalism.
18. Positive Attitude: My positive attitude, even when things were very hard, helped me numerous times over 20 years. This positive attitude is also a superpower in my new career. A smile, a can-do attitude, and a willingness to try go a long way with people.
19. Love of Learning: Eagerness to learn new things and grow came naturally to me as a teacher. This love of learning helped me immensely when I joined the corporate world. After all, everything I encountered served as a lesson of some sort and still does to this day. My goal in life is never to get left behind, to always keep up, and to do my best to be in the “know.”
20. Leadership Skills: I was responsible for managing a classroom of students, which required me to be organized, efficient, and able to motivate others. For 20 years, I led 150 personalities every day, each semester, through the sheer power of personality alone. They weren’t paid, I couldn’t fire them, and they couldn’t quit. I found a way. For each and every one of them—I found a way.

My transition from two decades in secondary education to the corporate world has blended the diverse skills from teaching with the demands of my new profession. Those experiences in communication, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability have shaped a unique and agile professional, ready to embrace new challenges, seize opportunities, and pursue continuous growth and success.