Posts by Sarah Greesonbach...

Sarah Greesonbach is the founder of Life After Teaching. She believes that teachers are the most talented, versatile, and valuable employees you could hire. She taught high school English for three years before transitioning into writing, editing, and marketing. Her career advice appears on Simply Hired, AOL Jobs, and YAHOO! Small Business.

Resume Tips for Transitioning Out of Teaching

February 6, 2014 By Sarah G

The latest Forbes estimate is that 46 percent of new teachers leave teaching within the first five years. While the politics of how teachers are treated is a topic unto itself, there’s good news for teachers everywhere: you’ve never been more hire-able!

If you’re a dissatisfied teacher who is hungry for more from your career, check out these four resume tips for transitioning out of teaching from the 2013 eBook, Life After Teaching:

Upgrade Your Email
Translate Your Teacher Skills into Corporate Skills
Make Your Goal Statement Relatable
Keep Your Cover Letter Honest & Short

Click through to read about those tips on 4 Resume Tips for Teachers Transitioning Out of Teaching, on YAHOO! Small Business.

3 Simple Networking Tools to Network in Real Life

January 13, 2014 By Sarah G

photo source

We all have our stereotypes of what makes networking awful.

The creepy guy in the bad suit trying to get your business card (& you might not even have one yet). The lady who won’t. Stop. Talking. Or worse, feeling like you’re the only one with nothing to say…

It doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, one of the first things you’ll learn in the eBook is that networking is just talking to people about interesting things.

But when you need to start at the basics, like getting a business card to begin with? It can really be tough.

So, here are networking basics for newbies who also aren’t robots. That means you sometimes don’t feel like talking to strangers, or when you do, you aren’t quite sure what to say.

Go Ahead and Get A Business Card

If you know what kind of job you want, use some of those keywords on your card, like “Education Consultant,” or “Freelance Writer”.

If you aren’t sure what you want to do — that’s fine! Include a few of your interests or specialties, or just don’t include a title at all. It’s just a calling card so that those interested can get in touch with you.

Business cards from a design sites like Tiny Prints are always classier, but there’s no shame in hitting up VistaPrint for a free (yes, free! Just pay shipping) business card. Find a basic layout, and include your name, email address, website (You do have a website, right? If not, contact me through my site and I can build you one at a discount), and phone number.

Make Sure You’re Groomed & Wearing Clean Clothes

You don’t have to deck out in a ball gown or a tux. Most networking events take place after work, so workplace attire (khakis and a tie, a skirt and a nice sweater) are all classy and fine.

Just be clean, well groomed, and put on a fresh layer of deodorant. (Yeah, I said that… be kind to everyone at the event!).

Do What You Can to Have a Relaxed Attitude

Easier said than done, for sure! But the key to networking successfully is to relax and be yourself. You don’t have to have an elevator pitch (though it helps, and we’ll cover that next time). You just have to have a sense of humor and a natural curiosity in the people you meet.

The ultimate key to relaxing? Understand that every networking event you attend will help you in some way. You might not perform the way you want, you might not make amazing connections and get hired. But every moment you spend at a networking event, you’re learning more about yourself, about the industry, and about the kind of people you’re interested in. So, relax and have a good time!

Now you’re ready! Tune in next time, for tips for the actual event: how to find networking events, how to feel comfortable while you’re there, and how to get the most out of it.

For more awesomeness like “Networking in Real Life” sign up for the FREE Life After Teaching newsletter by clicking here. Always useful, never spammy :-).

3 Things You Need to Know About Transitioning Out of Teaching

December 27, 2013 By Sarah G

Are you looking forward to transitioning out of teaching? I was, too. Almost five years ago!

I can hardly remember a time when I waited for the bell to go to the bathroom, or was staying late and arriving early every day to prepare lessons.

Here are three things I wish I knew back when I was transitioning out of teaching (and yes, there are more in the eBook!)

#1 Leaving Teaching Isn’t That Big A Deal to Non-Teachers

I thought it was a huge deal that I was leaving teaching. So much so, that I was worried about that part of the interview. But to folks outside of the classroom? It’s just a job.

What matters is that you present your history and your education with confidence, and you’re excited about the job you’ll be doing for the person you’re interviewing with.

#2 You Don’t Need a Summer Off If Your Job Doesn’t Stink

I was pretty worried I’d miss having summers off and two weeks at Christmas. Then I realized I was spending my summers and Christmas time repairing and recovering my body and my mind from the damage of teaching! (And sometimes we didn’t even get a whole two weeks at Christmas!).

Since I’ve been out, sure it would be nice to be off of work for two months… but I’d much rather enjoy my day to day life! Living in extremes is very stressful on your body and on your life. And is it really that reasonable to just not go to work for a few months each year?

#3 ALL Teacher Skills Are Transferable

You know the way you can make an amazing bulletin board out of nothing more than a few quotes and some paper? That’s a transferable skill.

Showing up with eight hours of lesson plans organized and ready to roll, then present them while managing the behavior of 15-30 (or more) people? That’s a transferable skill.

When I was teaching, I was convinced my skills were useless outside of the classroom, when that simply wasn’t the case. Now I look back and not a day goes by that I don’t use a skill I learned while in school for teaching or as a teacher. I just took it all with me!