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Three Ways to Change Careers without Starting Over

For years, I’ve heard the same limiting beliefs over and over:

“If I change careers, I’ll have to start over at entry level.”

“I’ll probably need another degree.”

“I can’t afford the salary cut right now.”

And every time I hear it, I think: That doesn’t have to be true.

People often ask me how I transitioned from a middle and high school history teacher into roles in instructional design, educational technology, and corporate training—without spending thousands of dollars on another degree, taking years on an advanced degree, and without taking a major pay cut.

The truth is, I didn’t start over. I translated, applied, and proved what I already knew how to do.

This week, I’m breaking down three practical ways to change careers without starting over, based on what actually worked for me—and what I now help others do every day.

1. Use Your Transferable Skills

If you’ve been a professional for more than three years, you likely already have transferable skills—whether you realize it or not.

Transferable skills are the abilities that move with you across roles, industries, and job titles. They’re often hiding in plain sight.

As a teacher, my job required constant planning:

Lesson planning
Unit and curriculum design
Scheduling and sequencing activities
Tracking mastery at different levels
Managing multiple projects at once

When I later became an instructional designer, those same skills showed up again—just with different language:

Training plans and curricula
Project timelines and delivery schedules
Managing multiple learning initiatives at once
Tracking learner progress and outcomes

In other words, project management didn’t suddenly appear when I changed careers. I had been using it all along. I just learned how to name it and position it differently.

2. Upskill Inside Your Current Role

Once I recognized my transferable skills, the next step was applying them in new ways—before I officially changed roles.

I didn’t quit teaching and hope for the best. Instead, I looked for opportunities already around me.

Because I wanted experience designing learning for adults, I:

Started delivering professional development during faculty meetings
Joined my district’s Social Studies Planning Committee
Helped plan district-wide learning days for teachers
Facilitated professional development sessions myself

I was still a classroom teacher—but I was already doing the work of my future role.

This step is powerful because it removes risk. You’re gaining experience, confidence, and proof without needing permission, a new title, or a new degree.

3. Build a Portfolio That Proves It

Eventually, I realized something important: This work mattered—and I needed to keep track of it.

Back then, I grabbed a massive 6-inch three-ring binder and started saving everything:

Handouts I created
Flyers from learning events
PowerPoint printouts
Survey results and feedback

Without even realizing it, I was building the foundation of a portfolio.

So when an educational technologist role opened up, I didn’t just tell them I could do the job—I showed them.

I could clearly explain:

Which skills transferred from teaching
How I had already applied them
What results I had produced

And then I opened that binder.

I wasn’t asking for a chance to learn the job. I was proving I was already doing it—I just needed someone to give me a shot.

Your Career Change Doesn’t Have to Start From Scratch

You don’t need to start over.

You don’t need another expensive degree.

You don’t need to wait until everything feels “perfect.”

You need a strategy.

If this resonated with you, share this post with someone who’s thinking about changing careers. Over the next few days, I’ll be doing a deeper dive into each of these strategies—complete with real-world examples, practical tips, and ways you can apply them immediately. So if you’re not following us on social media, you should be! (Links below)

And if you want a partner to help you map out a clear, realistic plan using these strategies, I’d love to help.