I Would Never Hire a Teacher

They have limited skills.

Too specialized.

Not adaptable.

Fixed mindset.

*Insert Record Scraaaaaaatch here!*

I have listened to these  👆 types of comments come out of the mouths of hiring managers and business owners over the past few months.

Some were friends.

I stress "were" as some aren't anymore.

Onward.

 

These stereotypes about teachers being inexperienced, or less adaptable, or too specialized to work in a business setting are complete and utter bullsh!t.

So let's talk about these misguided perceptions and what teachers can do to take control of the narrative.

 

THE QUESTION:

Why do some Employers perceive teachers as having limited skills or being too specialized, and why do employers perceive teachers as having a fixed mindset and less adaptable to new challenges?

 

THE (WRONG) ANSWER:

Some employers perceive teachers as having limited skills or being too specialized due to several factors:

 

Narrow job scope: Teachers often spend their entire career focused on a specific subject or age group, which can lead to a perception of limited skills or experience outside of their field.

 

Lack of business experience: Many teachers do not have experience in a corporate environment, which can make it difficult for them to understand the priorities and challenges of business employers.

 

Rigid curriculum: Teachers are often required to follow a specific curriculum or teaching method, which can lead to a perception of being less open to new approaches or ideas.

 

Limited exposure to new environments: Teachers typically work in a classroom environment, which can make it challenging to adapt to new settings or work with different types of people.

 

THE (MORE IMPORTANT) QUESTION:

How can teachers combat this misguided thinking when engaging with potential employers outside of education?

 

The Answer:

Define your job scope: Teachers often spend their entire career focused on a specific subject or age group, which can lead to a perception of limited skills or experience outside of their field. 

Accountants, Lawyers, Doctors, Pharmacists, Recruiters, Salespeople, Programmers, and myriad other professionals spend their entire career focused on a specific subject which makes them…wait for it…EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD! 

Onward.

 

Lack of business experience: Many teachers do not have experience in a corporate environment, which can make it difficult for them to understand the priorities and challenges of business employers.

Put your “hiring manager” hat on for a moment.

Now imagine you need to fill an important position in your company. 

The role requires maturity, public speaking, presentation, planning, project management, leadership, management, analysis, coaching, patience, commitment, and critical thinking (side bar: this role would pay quite well I’d imagine, but I digress.)

Now ask yourself if you would prefer to hire someone with all of those skills, some of those skills, or none of those skills? 

Did you answer “all” or “some” of those skills?

Great!

You just decided you need to hire a teacher.

Onward.

 

Rigid curriculum: Teachers are often required to follow a specific curriculum or teaching method, which can lead to a perception of being less open to new approaches or ideas.

Fact - Teachers are forced to teach within rigid structures created during the industrial revolution period to serve the need for compliant factory workers.

Fast forward to 2023 and not much has changed except for this – Teachers find ways to work within the oppressive structure we call the “education system” and meet their students needs every single day.

They make learning fun and engaging by leveraging their planning and presentation skills honed through years of being saddled with disillusioned learners desperate to find their spark. 

Anyone who can manage to excite anyone to want to learn more and do more has a career path with unlimited potential in business.

Onward.

 

Limited exposure to new environments: Teachers typically work in a classroom environment, which can make it challenging to adapt to new settings or work with different types of people.

I have 25 years of experience working with Fortune 100, small & medium sized businesses, and startups.

I am an entrepreneur who has launched several businesses in multiple industries.

I have interviewed 5,000+ people and hired more than a third of them with a 1-year retention rate of 92%. 

Believe me when I tell you that anyone who can work in an environment with 20-30+ students of varying ages and disparate temperaments and teach them subjects they may not have any interest in learning while maintaining a professional demeanour in the face of the administrative and political BS that rolls downhill daily and lands squarely on their shoulders is someone worth working with in ANY business.

Onward.

 

So where does this leave you?

 

Now that you know what you are up against, you can move forward in your job search with the knowledge that you will face prejudice from some businesses simply because of ignorance to the many benefits you can provide a company outside of the classroom.

You can hold your head high and showcase your transferable skills to potential employers.

You can blaze a trail for yourself, and for those teachers coming behind you.

In short - you can change the narrative.

Onward!