Moving from teaching into the world of training and talent development is a natural progression for many former K-12 professionals. Both are in the field of education after all and both require a number of the same skills. The move from teaching to training and development is not so much a giant leap as a lateral step. Some additional learning in the form of certificate programs, or academic degrees, and earning professional certifications such as the CPTD® after some time training adults, may prove useful however, if a teacher wants to rise to the executive suite in this field.

Much like K–12 teaching, training and talent development require the design and execution of learning materials and classroom curriculum, the actual act of training and teaching others, and measurement and evaluation of the learning. The learning can happen virtually or face-to-face. At the end of the day both teaching and training are about creating new insights and experiences for the learners (aka students).

Common Questions from Teachers Moving to Training

What is a day in the life of a trainer like?
This is a tricky question to answer, as no two trainers' day is the same. Trainers and instructional designers (see more about these roles on the New to Training page) experience their daily and weekly worklives very differently depending on their company size, role and level and in the organization. Many of the responsibilities remain the same though:

• Assessing the needs of the organization, department, teams or individuals
• Analyzing the performance or skills gaps
• Developing a training strategy
• Designing the learning experiences
• Developing or curating the learning materials
• Measuring the learning impact
• Reporting the results and following up with stakeholders.

What are the biggest challenges in moving into training from teaching?
While a lot of challenges are mostly the fear of leaving a profession that is often regarded as a "higher calling," there are three major external challenges teachers face when moving into training:

1) Understanding adult learning methodologies,
2) Translating their resumes, and
3) Learning how to navigate a business environment.

What are some first steps moving from teaching K-12 into corporate training and talent development?
Some first steps should include looking at all the different positions within talent development: trainers, instructional designers, elearning professionals, coaches, to determine the path you want to take next. Once you have decided on the role, start networking with local ATD chapters and at our conferences; looking at any skills gaps you may have and fill those in with side gigs, volunteer work or even classes; research good company cultures that align with your values; work on your resume; and get a mentor or two; and check out our new learning paths.