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Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

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If you want to land that new job, you’ll have to work hard on your teacher career change resume. Remember, your teacher transition resume is your first impression. It’s all about showcasing those transferrable skills and highlighting why you’re the best fit for getting the job done.

If you need help leaving the classroom, check out the  Teacher Career Coach Course .  This step-by-step guide has helped thousands with a transition from teaching. Save time and get support with every step of picking a new path, rewriting your resume, and answering tricky interview questions.

It can be intimidating applying to jobs outside of the classroom, no matter how badly you want out! You may be having a hard time identifying the experiences to highlight on your resume. Maybe you’re struggling with how to write them in a way that applies to a job outside of the classroom. Anyhow, you’re about to break through that barrier! Here are some of my top tips from The Teacher Career Coach Course . These will help you put your best foot forward and land that interview! But first, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to start from scratch.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just a teacher,” it’s time to look closely at all you do on a daily basis as part of that role. Honestly, teachers are some of the most skillful and multi talented professionals I know. The truth is, many teachers battle with Impostor Syndrome , often overlooking their achievements and the value they bring to the table in many careers. Whether you realize it or not, the skills and accomplishments you have already achieved will make a stellar resume. (Trust me). 

You are an asset to your school, and you’ll be an asset wherever your career transition takes you next. First, identify your career accomplishments as a teacher. Then you can effectively apply them to the next chapter of your working life. Without knowing the specifics of your teaching experience, as a former teacher, I know you have desirable skills and valuable experience. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. Your new career change resume should reflect your many achievements and in-demand teacher skills! 

Teacher Career Change Resume Resources

In this post, I gathered expert advice to help you master rewriting those resume skills. I want to help you avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when writing their teacher career change resume. Read on to learn how you can tweak your teaching-focused resume to highlight your skills and experience that apply jobs outside of the classroom.

You can also listen to my interview with HR and Resume-writing expert Alli Arney to learn how to effectively translate your teaching experience on your transition resume . 

Let’s get to rebranding your expertise, shall we? 

*But first a note!* Much of what you include in your resume and cover letter will be dependent on the job for which you’re applying. If you’re not sure what jobs you’re qualified for or even what’s out there, take a look at Best Jobs For Former Teachers . This post will give you an idea of what’s out there, who’s hiring, and what you need to qualify for a position.

Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume

Every teacher career change resume needs a cover letter! Your cover letter introduces who you are and what you can offer in position X at company Y. A common mistake I see teachers make is creating a generic cover letter to send with all of their applications. 

Some hiring managers may approach your application with the assumption you’re willing to take any job outside of the classroom. Even if that’s the truth, you don’t want the hiring manager to know that. Use the cover letter and an opportunity to showcase why their job is a great fit for you and what you can bring to the table for their company. Hiring managers want someone qualified, excited about the position, and a good fit for the company culture. 

Make sure every cover letter is unique to the job and company you are sending it to. Add in specifics regarding what excites you about the role and how your experience will translate into the new responsibilities. Do research about the company and address how you are equally passionate about their core values and company culture. You will learn so much from a company’s website, including its mission statement and core values.

Get Started on you Cover Letter

First, start with an introduction paragraph. This will likely stay the same on every cover letter as you introduce yourself. Next, add five to six bullet points about why you are qualified for this specific position and reflect on your qualifying achievements. For example, I am constantly focused on collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that advance the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. Last, add a closing statement about the position to which you’re applying, why it excites you, and how you will be able to effectively fulfill the role and responsibilities.

What career outside the classroom is right for YOU? Free Quiz

Add an Elevator Pitch to your Teacher Career Change Resume

An elevator pitch is basically highlights who you are,  your area of expertise, and your career intentions. It’s clear, concise, and is key to a teacher transition resume. Think about it like this: Imagine being on an elevator and only having about 30 seconds to sell yourself to the hiring manager. You should utilize your elevator pitch on your resume and when you get in front of a hiring manager at an interview. Just like your cover letter, this pitch should always be catered to a specific audience rather than being overly generic. 

Practice your elevator pitch so that it is second nature. It may sound silly but practicing your pitch in front of a friend or even a mirror helps. You can gain confidence in front of a hiring manager or an interview committee after practicing.

Again, an elevator pitch goes beyond your resume. Have your pitch handy at networking events, in job interviews, on any social bios, and in your resume header. Let’s say you are an experienced teacher looking for a transition into a Training and Development Manager position. Here’s an example of an elevator pitch you could use at a networking event or in your LinkedIn bio:

Elevator Pitch Examples

“I have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and various training methodologies, and I am currently looking to transition from the classroom to the corporate world. If you know anyone who is adding to their Training and Development Team, I hope you’ll send them my way.”

To adjust it to be more resume friendly, you could make the following tweaks:

” have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and a variety of training methodologies, and I am currently looking to make a transition from the classroom to the corporate world as a Corporate Trainer at Company X.”

While your elevator pitch is short and sweet, you should always be prepared for follow-up questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the different occupational terms and acronyms associated with any career path you seek. This shows your audience that you are knowledgeable and ready to move into that field of work.

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Formatting Essentials

When it comes to your teacher transition resume, we need to talk about the big F-word: Formatting. 

A whopping 75% of resumes NEVER GET OPENED or seen by a hiring manager. One of the biggest culprits? Formatting. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through applications before they even make their way to a hiring manager’s hands. Luckily there are a few formatting tips that can help you pass the test. 

Length, File Format, and Other Tips For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

When it comes to the length of your resume, it really depends on your experience. While one-page resumes were once a rule-of-thumb, most resumes are now one and a half to two pages. However, if you have 15 years of work experience, you shouldn’t shy away from your accomplishments. In that case, it’s totally acceptable to have a 2-page resume. 

Next, you want to focus on another F-word: file format. There are different platforms and software, but I recommend you send your resume as a Word document, unless otherwise specified. So, when you go to save your resume file, be sure it’s saved in the .doc or .docx format. ATS will reject files saved in Pages, Excel, or JPEG format. 

The last big resume formatting tip is about style . If your go-to is a creative and colorful template that landed you your job in the classroom, it’s time for a change. Simple, chronological resume templates are your best bet in the corporate world, listing your experience starting with your most recent job. This is the most popular resume style, and it’s best for ATSs. It also happens to be preferred by recruiters and HR professionals, so you really can’t go wrong here. 

A chronological resume should be written to include the following elements in the listed order: 

  • Header (including your personal information and your keyword-rich elevator pitch) 
  • Technology experience and expertise 
  • Current volunteer experience (if applicable)

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Spill About Your Skills (The Right Way). 

As a teacher, you already have skills that can be utilized in the corporate world. It’s time to brag about them. Before you can do that, you have to move past any Impostor Syndrome you may be experiencing and acknowledge the value, experience, and expertise you have to offer. Trust me. You have a lot more to offer in roles outside of the classroom than you may think.

For example, your organization and multitasking skills can easily transfer to administrative tasks. Parent-teacher conferences give you the experience to handle customer service situations, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement. You’re no stranger to goat setting or data tracking and analysis. Think about any committees or after-school activities you’ve contributed to or helped organize as project management experience. 

Related Resources: Creating your Instructional Designer Resume

WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK 

It’s not just about identifying your transferable skills but how you translate them on your resume.

Here are three of my biggest tips to help you effectively translate your transferable skills and experience on your teacher transition resume. 

First, be specific by quantifying your accomplishments . 

Second, unless you transition into an education-based role, leave out the teacher-specific terminology, acronyms, or pedagogy.   One of the biggest mistakes teachers make on their transition resumes is not rewriting or translating their resume experience so that it is applied to the world outside of the classroom setting. 

Make sure you are showcasing your skills and experience in a way that translates into the new roles you are looking for. Hiring managers don’t want to see you as a teacher. They want to see you as someone qualified for and ready to take on the role you are applying for.  Depending on the role, managers don’t want to know about record keeping for 25 students, but that you managed a portfolio of 25 clients. They don’t want to hear about teaching pedagogy and lesson planning but about training strategy and training materials. The corporate world isn’t about grading and cumulative assessments but about data tracking and analysis. 

Go back to your career buckets. Figure out which teaching duties fall under each and then focus on translating the teacher-specific language into corporate-appropriate terminology.  Then you’ll have an already translated list you can easily pull from any time you need to tailor a resume for a new job. 

Do Your Research For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

Last but not least, do your research and include job and industry-specific language and keywords in your resume. These terms should be peppered throughout your elevator pitch summary and throughout your highlighted experiences throughout your resume. Not only will using the language make your experience and skills more relatable to the position you are applying for, but it will show the hiring manager that you have done the work and are fully committed to stepping into the role, rather than a teacher looking for any new job they can get. 

Insider tip? You can utilize job descriptions as a tool, looking for the keywords and experiences highlighted throughout. Find a way to incorporate the industry-specific language as you translate your skills and experiences. Just make sure you know enough to expand upon the ideas if asked in an interview.

If you don’t feel like you have experience in any of the major keywords that pop up, look them up before you write them off. You likely have more experience than you are giving yourself credit for. More often than not, teachers have the skills. They’re just used to calling it something else.

Acquiring New Skills for Your Teacher Change Resume

Even after translating all of your relevant experience, you might find that there are some areas where you are lacking and that’s okay. Depending on the experiences you had while teaching and the role you are looking to transition into, you might find that there are certain skills that would be beneficial to have to make you a more desirable candidate. 

The good news is you can work on new skills while you are still teaching in the classroom. There are a variety of online classes and tutorials you can take at home and add to your teacher transition resume. The added keywords will make it easier for you to find a new career and you’ll likely go into it feeling more confident and prepared. 

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Final Thoughts.

I know that was a lot of information. Maybe you were already stressed about writing your career transition resume, and now you’re feeling even more overwhelmed. If that’s the case, start by taking a deep breath. (Right here, right now). You don’t have to write and send out a hundred resumes in one day, or even one week. 

In fact, you don’t have to write hundreds of resumes at all. 

A lot of teachers ask, “Do I have to create a million different resume templates for all of these jobs?”   Absolutely not. While you should tweak your resume to fit each specific position you are applying for, you can save time by creating a template for each general category of positions you apply to. For example, you might have one template for training-type positions and another for jobs that fall under curriculum writing and instructional design categories.  One final word of advice? When it comes to taking resume writing advice, please, please, please vet your source to ensure the information applies to the position and industry you are applying to.

Teacher Career Change, Beyond the Resume

Developing a professional teacher transition resume is just the first step on your journey to a new career. If you have more questions like: How do I get employers to notice my resume? What kind of jobs am I qualified for? What do I do after I get the interview?!?

I want you to know that if being in the classroom is no longer an option for you, there are many career options for teachers. As a former teacher who transitioned out of the classroom, I have been at that crossroads. I successfully moved from teaching into a new career that has left me happier, healthier, and more relaxed than I ever could have been in the classroom.

Next steps to a new career

One of the biggest mistakes that we see teachers make is that they try to  navigate this process alone . Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. I want to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door. You don’t have to do this on your own. With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, I’ve created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom.  Tap the button below to learn more .

Step out of the classroom and into a new career, The Teacher Career Coach Course

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Top Five Cover Letter Tips for Changing Careers to Teaching

Career changers have many different motivations for leaving the business world or other occupations and going into teaching. Some have been involved in business training and education and want to teach full time. Others have just seen their children off to school and are seeking full-time employment.

The career switcher almost always has related experience that has motivated the move into education. They may have worked as a corporate trainer and have no experience in a classroom or maybe they taught ESL part-time. Over the last 16 years, I am sure I have seen every type of career transition – surprise me with your career situation, if you can.

Whatever experience you bring to your new job search, the onus is on you to show how your past experience makes you well suited for the teaching position you are applying for. To help you make a convincing case and position yourself for your new career, I have compiled my cover letter tips for changing careers to teaching.

You may think you have no experience as a teacher, but you will have relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments once we start digging for them.

Five Cover Letter Tips for Changing Careers to Teaching

With more applicants than there are positions available, it's important to write teacher cover letters that get you noticed . The biggest mistake I see applicants make is sending a standard cover letter and resume and expecting the hiring manager to connect the dots. It is the teaching job applicant's responsibility to emphasize related education and work experience, highlight transferable skills, and demonstrate what other steps are being taken (e.g., courses, internships) to prepare for the job transition. 

Getting into teaching can be quite a challenge, if the career changer is not prepared. Whether you are looking for a new challenge, have always had a passion to teach, or just fancy a change, a newly focused teacher cover letter and resume that shows your readiness and enthusiasm for a teaching career will jump out of a stack of resumes.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter to Transition into Teaching

1. emphasize relevant career experience.

Many career changers I work with feel frustrated by a lack of relevant experience. More often than not, they fail to recognize solid teaching- related skills they possess. Relevant experience to teaching should take center stage in your teacher cover letter and resume.

I like to probe clients to survey their life experience, since many of us have played different teaching roles in various capacities, such as volunteer work and sports mentoring.

Begin your application letter with teaching-related experience. Cover letters do not have to follow chronological order like resumes, and thus provide more flexibility to position yourself for a targeted position.

An applicant with corporate training experience or ESL teaching during college years may want to bring forward this experience. Many careers share core skills with teaching:

  • Nurse to teacher is a natural given the strong human relations skills required and experience instructing patients in health, post-operative care, and other areas.
  • Corporate trainers, team leaders and project managers lead teams, mentor, instruct, and assess performance.
  • Social workers and counsellors are experts in personal and professional development.

Many professionals seek to teach and share their area of expertise, such as:

  • Accountants
  • Computer programmers

Going back to school to sharpen teaching skills could be on your to do list to make a career transition to higher education .

Stay-at-home mothers who are re-entering the workplace have lots of fresh experience teaching and training their children. Over-relying on mommy duties in place of hard teaching skills, however, could weaken your teacher cover letter.

Examples of related experience worth mentioning would be running a daycare, volunteering to conduct reading help twice a week at you child's school, or teaching Sunday school or at the library. The school wants to know what behavioral management strategies and lessons you will use to engage individual students in a classroom.

2. Make a List of Transferable Teaching Skills

Matching transferable skills from your previous work experience to the targeted teaching job can help you identify skills and competencies valued in a teacher. To ensure you do not miss valuable transferable skills, compare teaching job ads with those of your profession.

Most managers today, for example, receive training in coaching, facilitation and mentoring – all valuable teaching skills that are often not mentioned in the cover letter.

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Following is a list of core skills teachers should possess:

  • Organization
  • Mentoring and Training
  • Program Development
  • Making Presentations
  • Multi-tasking
  • Fundraising
  • Collaboration
  • Presentations
  • Creativity and Imagination
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Building
  • And the list goes on…

Many professionals find their love for teaching guiding the professional development of employees, so we have a lot of knowledge on making a career transition to a school teacher from a corporate trainer and other popular transition routes. Career switchers often also overlook many basic skills, such as working with training tools, videos, education software, and online learning apps.

3. Communicating Your Teaching Skills

Many career switchers transition to an education career using transferable skills . Showing how you apply these skills will help demonstrate how you will function in a classroom environment.

Videos of you in front a class training 30 employees will show you operating efficiently in a teaching context.  Make a point of describing, in your cover letter, the practical ways in which you have demonstrated and continue to develop these skills. Both hard and soft skills should be demonstrated.

If you require more experience, ask at your children's school for volunteer opportunities. Reference letters from schools will give your teaching skills real credibility.

Conduct an informational interview with teachers and principals. Many teachers will be happy to review your resume and provide guidance on how you can strengthen your application.

4. Show Contributions to Performance Improvements in Student Achievement

Like businesses, schools have to demonstrate their effectiveness by meeting academic performance standards. Your class' performance will not only measure your teaching effectiveness but will also become part of regional and national education performance rankings.

Demonstration of your ability to improve the performance of your students will be highly persuasive evidence of your teaching ability.

Examples of relevant teacher work experience to draw skills from includes:

  • Grading of trainings, conferences and workshops you have developed. Participants are often asked to provide both quantitative (on a scale of 1 to 5) and qualitative reviews (remarks) of business training events.
  • Quantitative evidence of the progress of students of your corporate trainings.
  • Reviews of your performance by your superiors.
  • Association and magazine rankings and rewards that reflect your performance, individually, or as part of a group or company.

5. Demonstrate a Commitment to Education

The last impression you want to give is as a job seeker who is chasing the hottest job trends. Schools want teachers with a passion for teaching, not a job seeker seeking a job in a recession-proof industry. In your teacher cover letter, communicate an awareness of current issues and trends in education. Join education associations and take teachings workshops.

Join social media groups. LinkedIn groups provide an opportunity to share information on targeted positions through groups for K-12 teachers, science and math teachers, special education teachers, and so on. Read education blogs and subscribe to education magazines.

Most importantly, research the school district and school and show knowledge of their educational curriculum and challenges, and how you can help address them. Your letter should convey someone who knows what's currently going on in education.

If you know someone who has previously transitioned into teaching, speak to them and find out if they can offer you any additional tips. Someone who has recently been through the application process can often offer valuable information about what is particularly important to include.

Seek out teachers who have made the transition into teaching. What challenges did they encounter? What tips can they offer?

Once you have developed a cover letter that presents your teaching skills and qualifications, proofread and reread your letter. Have others proofread it for you. Prospective teachers are expected to have excellent standards of literacy and numeracy.

Whether you are trying to transition from a business career to teaching or making a career transition from military to teaching , your cover letter should communicate your qualifications, related experience and preparedness.

To ensure you are ready for a teaching career, review 10 questions to ask if you are considering changing careers to teaching . The earlier you start evaluating you career transition, the sooner you can sign up for the courses, workshops and social media networks you need to sharpen your teaching skill set.

To present a convincing case for your career transition to teaching, review our resume and cover letter samples.

Need some writing assistance making an excellent professional career change resume, or CV curriculum vitae? Take the time to review and order one of our resume packages or individual services .

Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing my about me page . From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.

Have questions, please connect by sending an email to Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.

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Sample Career Change Cover Letter and Writing Tips

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  • Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Career Change Cover Letter Sample

How to send an email cover letter.

  • Refocus Your Resume to Match

The Balance / Chelsea Damraksa

Are you considering a career change? If you are looking for a position in a different industry or career field, your cover letter or  letter of intent  is an important factor in the likelihood of your getting the job.

Since your resume may not contain the relevant experience that hiring managers are looking for, it's important to use your cover letter as an opportunity to demonstrate why you are a good fit despite lacking that specific employment history.

A well-written and strong cover letter will convince the reader that your work experience is a strength rather than a weakness.

Before you start writing, though, be sure you're clear on your goals for transitioning careers and that you're  positioned for a successful career change job search .

Tips for Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Any good cover letter explains why you are qualified for the specific job. However, a cover letter written during a  career change  needs to go beyond that.

Be sure to thoroughly  research the company  before writing your cover letter so you can convince the employer that you understand the company and can demonstrate why you want to be a part of it.

You must touch on three important points. This will help you rise above candidates who have more direct experience in the industry. You don’t necessarily have to cover all of these topics in order or in distinct paragraphs. The aim is to make sure you communicate these points somewhere in your letter.

1. Emphasize Your Transferable Skills

Most importantly, focus on the  transferable skills  you have that you can use in the new position rather than on the skills you have that are only related to your current role. Analyze the job description for the position you’re applying to, and look at the skills that the position calls for.

Choose the  ones that best match your own skills or experience . Then, if possible, use specific anecdotes from your work or academic history to illustrate some of these strengths in action. 

2. Highlight Your Superior Performance in Previous Positions

Other applicants may have the relevant experience, but if their experience is mediocre and cannot be backed up by strong references or tangible achievements, you may actually be a more desirable candidate for the job than they are.

In your letter, do your best to explain how you succeeded in previous roles, and connect that to a summary of how you would also add value in this new position.

Make sure your references will corroborate your statements.

3. Express Your Passion for the Company

Mention your passion for the company. This is another way to stand out from qualified candidates. Employers may be more interested in someone who is especially excited about their organization and the job opportunity than they are in someone who just wants a job and doesn’t care about much beyond that. In your cover letter, make it clear that you’re familiar with the organization and enthusiastic about the opportunity to be a part of it.

Read the sample cover letter below, which you can use as a framework for writing your own career change cover letter. However, be sure to edit the sample to fit your personal experiences and the job for which you are applying.

Download the career change cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Sample Career Change Cover Letter (Text Version)

William Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 111-111-1111 william.applicant@email.com

July 21, 2020

Michael Lee Director XYZ Company 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321 

Dear Ms. Lee:

This letter is to express my special interest in discussing the Senior Customer Service Manager position posted on the XYZ Company web site. The opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing, and I believe that my experience and education will make me a competitive candidate for this role.

Although I have been working primarily as an Operations Manager, in this capacity I have interfaced frequently with customers, in addition to vendors and staff. This has instilled multi-dimensional communication skills and an ability to recognize, act upon, and fulfill customer wishes and needs in order to ensure their continued, and positive, relationship with the business.

In fact, in my most recent job as Operations Manager for ABC Company, I received an ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ recognition due to my ability to coordinate complex logistics in order to keep customers happy even when issues arose that were beyond the control of the organization. Again, this involved not only managing operations but also communicating directly with customers. As a result, I believe my combined ability to successfully manage operations while also effectively interfacing with customers makes me a prime candidate for this role.

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers. 
  • Strive for continued excellence.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Eager to learn new things.

You will find me to be well-spoken, energetic, confident, and personable, the type of person on whom your customers will rely. I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that will allow you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of excellence you expect will be met. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I hope that you'll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face meeting, as I am confident that I could provide value to you and your customers as a member of your team. I am very excited about this opportunity to work for XYZ Company. I connect with your mission to “deliver the ‘five star’ factor” to both your staff and your customers. This tenet is reflected in my own professional and personal values, and I believe this alignment strongly supports my candidacy for this role.

I can be reached anytime via my cell phone, 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

William Applicant (signature hard copy letter)

William Applicant

If you're sending your  cover letter via email,  list your name and the job title in the subject line of the  email message . Include your contact information in your email signature, but don't list the employer's contact information. Simply start your email message with the salutation.

Refocus Your Resume to Reflect Your New Goals

When you're seeking a career change, it's important to refocus your resume to reflect your new goals. That way, your resume and cover letter will both show that you're well qualified for a change in roles. Here are six tips for  writing a powerful career change resume  that will help you get started.

Get Ready to Interview

Be prepared, as well, to discuss in job interviews why you're transitioning and what  skills you will bring to prospective employers . It's important to have a comprehensive and professional pitch that will impress the employer and convince them that you're a strong candidate for the job.

  • Cover Letter Tips

How To Write the Best Career Change Cover Letter (+ Examples) 

Charlotte Grainger

So, you want to try something completely new? When you’re thinking about a career change, your cover letter is an essential tool. Your resume will tell the hiring manager about your experience, but you’ll use the cover letter to fill in the blanks.

Frankly, when you're changing careers, you have to work just a bit harder than any other applicants with a more intuitive work history. That means showing that the experience you have is an asset and that it can be transferred to this new role. Luckily, you can do all of this (and more!) by writing a well-thought-out career change cover letter. 

A career change cover letter is an opportunity to start a conversation to explain exactly why you're applying for a job outside of your current field. Get this right, and you will convince any hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for the job. But how do you get started?

Here at ZipJob, we give you the resources you need to supercharge your job search. In the following guide, we’ll share seven tips from our professional resume writers on how to write the best career change cover letter. We've also got a career change cover letter example for you to check out.

More common than you might think

First, a word of encouragement: In our fast-paced and rapidly changing economy, people are changing careers at rates that would have been unthinkable just a few short generations ago. In fact, recent statistics show that people have an average of 12 jobs in their lifetime. 

That can create problems for many applicants, however, and you may not be sure how you can use your resume to properly convey the right experience needed for your new career. The good news is that you can take care of that concern by using that other vital application tool: the cover letter.

7 tips for your career change cover letter

Ready to put pen to paper? When you're writing a career change cover letter, it's important to stay on task. This isn't the place to write a heart-to-heart that reads more like a journal entry than a professional document. Instead, focus on what makes you a great applicant. 

To help you along the way, we have some expert-backed tips below:

1. Make sure you use the right words

Changing careers is a big deal. While your resume will have covered your skills and experience, you can use this letter to really sell yourself to the hiring manager. What you lack in experience, you may be able to make up for in the willingness to learn.

While you can use your cover letter to explain why you want a new career, it doesn’t start and end there. This is also an opportunity to share why you are ready to switch things up. With that in mind, use words that excite the hiring manager and show your desire to work in your chosen field. The more creative you are with the language you use, the better here.

2. Be honest about your career change

The biggest mistake you could make here is trying to sneak your way into a new sector. The hiring manager already has your resume, so they know that you don’t have experience in this field. You should never try to bamboozle them into interviewing you on the basis of faux experience. Even if you do make it to the interview level, you will soon get found out. 

Instead, you need to be 100% honest about your career change. Direct your cover letter to the hiring manager and be clear about why you are switching industries. For example, you may have reached the highest heights in your current sector and feel it’s time for a change. On the other hand, you may have a real passion for this new field and want to pursue it. 

Whatever your reason is, now is the time to talk about it. You don’t need to write a short memoir. The hiring manager will ask you more in-depth questions at the interview stage. However, it’s smart to outline your reasoning here so that you fill in the blanks. State that you are looking to move sectors and try to give a compelling reason to the reader now.

3. Emphasize your transferable skills

When you’re writing a career change cover letter, this is vital. Transferable skills are your current talents that would help you succeed in a different position. These skills are often soft skills but may also be technical or analytical skills from your previous profession. Identify what your strengths are. How might those help you in another industry?

You can also approach this from the other side by spending some time analyzing the company’s needs. Look at the job description, the company website, and recent media coverage to identify the core skills that this company requires. Once you’ve honed in on those needs, you can determine which of your skills can help to make you a great candidate for the job.

Of course, you should heavily feature your transferable skills on your resume. Once you've noted them, you can offer more of an explanation in your cover letter about how each skill will apply to this new job. 

Emphasize your relevant skills within the body of the career change cover letter too. That means including specific examples of how they have helped you to achieve certain results and goals in the past. Show the hiring manager what you have to bring to the table. You can do this by identifying the overlap between your two fields and highlighting it clearly. Be brief, but be sure to answer why you're applying and why you're worth interviewing.

Key Takeaway

The key to a career change cover letter is to identify and highlight related and transferable skills.

4. Focus on your results

Results matter more than you think. The number one thing that will push you ahead of your competition are fantastic accomplishments on your resume . Your accomplishments are still valid, even when changing careers: awards, honors, and other results that show you're a high-achieving employee will make you look like a winner. 

Your career change cover letter gives you a chance to explain why it's so impressive that you accomplished something. Try to figure out numbers or metrics – these really stand out on resumes and cover letters. Quantifying your results will show the hiring manager that your hard work achieves big things. This fact will surely grab their attention. 

To showcase those results, you need to emphasize the success that you’ve enjoyed in prior jobs, providing details that help to connect those successes to your transferable skills. From there, you only need to complete the picture by explaining how your prior achievements and transferable skills can offer tangible benefits to the new company.

Always use the STAR method

Showcasing your results and quantifying them doesn’t have to be hard. Make your statements stand out by using the STAR method throughout your cover letter. 

5. Demonstrate genuine passion

Let your passion for the company be on full display so that the hiring manager knows you care about getting the position. Mention something new or interesting the company has accomplished, or relate to the company's core values. You can add your personality to your cover letter – as long as it stays relevant!

Take the time to do your homework so that you have a firm understanding of what the company does and how it hopes to achieve its goal. It’s also worth trying to understand the company culture ahead of time. That will enable you to properly convey your passion for the position in the body of your cover letter. In short, figure out what the vibe is and match it.

6. Tailor your resume to reflect your career change goals

If this is your first time creating a career change cover letter, be sure to review your resume when you’re done so that everything is properly coordinated. It all needs to match up. You don’t want any inconsistencies between those two important documents: your cover letter should only talk about experiences that are also mentioned on your resume.

To keep your message clear, make any resume changes that are needed to keep it aligned with the message on your cover letter. Remember, it’s the little things that often make the difference between success and failure. 

If your resume isn't tailored for your career transition goals, check out this article next: How To Tailor Your Resume For Different Positions

7. End with a strong conclusion 

When you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to sign off. The end of your cover letter is a good chance to reaffirm why you want to take this step. You may also want to add that you will help the business in question meet its goals. One of the more critical things you can do with your career change cover letter is insert some type of call to action – encouraging the reader to reach out to you. 

Remember, the hiring manager will naturally slow their reading pace down as they reach the bottom of the page. For that reason, it is vital that you end on a strong and clear note.

Career change cover letter example

Changing Careers Cover Letter Example

This example is to the point and easy to scan through. It has several examples of how the applicant has added value in the past, using numbers that are easy for the reader to translate to a different industry.

Notice also that this letter – like all good cover letters – includes a professional heading and uses a business letter format. It is highly specific, a quick but clear message that you've put some thought into tailoring your cover letter. 

The letter does not use a generic "to whom it may concern" greeting; ideally, you can find the name of the hiring manager. When in doubt, addressing your letter to a "hiring team" is a good alternative.

The heading with your own information was borrowed from the updated resume format we used to share 200+ resume examples written by our professional resume writers. Using the same format for your resume and cover letter is another instance of details that stand out.

Focus on value; win the day 

As you can see, the cover letter for a career change is similar to many others. You still want to focus on the value you can add to the company. By emphasizing your transferable skills, focusing on past achievements, and demonstrating your interest in the new company, you should be able to leverage your existing skill set in a way that sets you apart from the crowd.

Ready to take the leap and start that new career? Use the ZipJob free resume review now to get the insights that you need to perfect your next application and get ahead of the competition. 

Recommended reading: 

9 Cover Letter Mistakes That Cost You Interviews - ZipJob

7 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

How to Ask for a Job Referral + 5 Examples

Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer, Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer

Charlotte Grainger is a freelance writer living and working in Sheffield, UK. She has a passion for career development and loves sharing tips and advice. Follow her on Twitter

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5 Career Change Cover Letter Examples Made for 2024

Stephen Greet

  • Career Change Cover Letter
  • Career Change No Experience
  • HR Career Change
  • Teacher Career Change
  • RN Career Change Cover Letter
  • Write Your Career Change Cover Letter

Switching careers can be equal parts exciting and daunting. You’re stepping into a whole new path, facing unknown challenges, and rebuilding your personal brand from scratch. There’s a lot at stake here, and to fight this battle and come out on top, you need to pick the right set of weapons.

Step one: a stellar  career change resume  tailored to match the job. Step two, however, is more challenging because you must also wow recruiters with a cover letter expressing your excitement at a career change and for the company.

We’re here to help you navigate these murky waters and set the course for the career of your dreams. Our career change  cover letter examples  will help you craft a memorable job application.

cover letter for teacher changing careers

Career Change Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

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Block Format

career change cover letter template

Why this cover letter works

  • For instance, this cover letter points to ways the candidate took initiative to connect sales and marketing. This evidences both interest and experience in the target role.

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Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Career Change No Experience Cover Letter Example

Career change no experience cover letter template

  • Take, for instance, how Aria tells the story of her expertise—meticulous data analysis, project management, and problem-solving and convincingly discusses how these can be valuable assets for the new role. So, extract and communicate those transferable skills.

Human Resources Career Change Cover Letter Example

Human resources career change cover letter template

  • Such competencies demonstrate that although it’s a career change, you aren’t a stranger to the environment. If the past stints involved the hiring company’s competitor, emphasize that for bonus familiarity points.

Teacher Career Change Cover Letter Example

Teacher career change cover letter template

  • If you’ve earned professional certifications that don’t match your current role but align with your target career, your cover letter is the place to highlight them.

Registered Nurse (RN) Career Change Cover Letter Example

Registered Nurse (RN) career change cover letter template

  • Look for unlikely connections between your work experience and target role, then put the pieces together for recruiters in your cover letter.

Related cover letter examples

  • Graphic designer

How to Write a Fantastic Career Change Cover Letter

Job seeker stands with hands in air, questioning how to fill out job materials

You may think that you’re at a disadvantage when you’re applying outside of your previous career, but when it comes to cover letters, that’s not true. Treat this as an excellent opportunity to be creative and stand out from the crowd.

Here’s the trick: give that job description a good read, then whip your cover letter into shape to mirror it. Try to decipher the company’s core values, be it from the job listing or from its website, and highlight that this mission is important to you too. 

Pinpoint similarities across your past and future roles for this. For instance, if you’re switching from teaching to programming, emphasize your ability to explain complex topics to all kinds of audiences.

cover letter for teacher changing careers

Writing a winning cover letter intro

The perfect cover letter begins with a personalized greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name. However, if you absolutely cannot find the recipient (try LinkedIn), you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Company Name] Team.” Refrain from using “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam,” as those can be a little outdated by today’s standards.

Avoid generic starters and instead showcase why your past experience is valuable. For instance, if you previously worked in sales and you’re moving to customer service, highlight your ability to forge lasting relationships with clients.

Check out this example of what not to do below. This opening line is definitely on the uninteresting side—the hiring manager might skim your cover letter if it lacks a proper hook.

No, thank you!

“I am writing to apply for the project manager position I saw on your website. I believe this role is a great fit for me.”

Now, the example below is a huge improvement. The applicant immediately makes it clear that they used to have a different career, but they use this to their advantage by highlighting how their background in working with people can have a deep impact on their new career.

Hooked from the start!

I was inspired to transition my career from nursing into sales when I discovered the impact I could make by connecting people with the right product solutions. I am eager to bring my RN background, where relationship-building is paramount, and my skill set in sales forecasting to American Express as a sales manager.

cover letter for teacher changing careers

Writing the main part of your cover letter

Roll up your sleeves because we’re diving into the main part of your cover letter—the body. Use this space as an extension of your resume that elaborates on your skills and the way they can make an impact on the company. 

Find common ground and share some of your greatest achievements that translate well to your new role. For example, if you’re a marketer transitioning into sales, discuss how spearheading a social media campaign increased your company’s revenue by 18%. 

Use metrics to support your accomplishments. Things like revenue, ROI, click-through rates, open rates, customer satisfaction ratings, budget savings, or efficiency improvements all apply to most industries. Much like in the intro, connect your background to match the company.

Here’s a body paragraph for inspiration:

In addition to teaching high school math, I have taught myself web and mobile development, database management, and the version control system Git. I am certified in AWS and Google Cloud, and built an educational app that streamlined school communication, improving homework submission rates by 23%.

cover letter for teacher changing careers

Ending your cover letter on a strong note

The closing paragraph is the ribbon that you tie on top of a cohesive whole. It serves to reinforce the sentiments you talked about above—but without repeating yourself.

Emphasize your excitement at joining this particular company, and make sure to mention it by name. Pick one or two of your core skills or qualifications and flex a little—express how you will use these abilities to achieve positive outcomes at your new company.

You’re changing industries, so own it, and explain how, for instance, your knowledge of math can help you write complex code.

Lastly, thank the hiring manager for their consideration—you can do this either in the closing paragraph or in your final sign-off. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s with a respectful “Sincerely, [Your Name].”

It’s important to keep this final part respectful. Don’t assume you’ll be hired—instead of showing confidence, it can come off as presumptuous.

“I’m not experienced but I’m a quick learner, so I can’t wait to start growing my career at your company next month.”

This next example has it all—it reiterates your interest in the role, talks about transferable skills, and thanks the recruiter for taking the time to read your cover letter.

This is the way!

I would be thrilled to meet and discuss how my transition from sales to marketing can drive impactful strategies at Comcast. Thank you for considering my application.

When transitioning careers, it’s important to build credibility out of the gate by addressing the right person. Check the job listing and the company website. If that fails, try identifying the hiring manager via LinkedIn.

If all else fails, talk mostly about your education and preparation for the career change, but there are skills that apply to most jobs, too. For instance, working as a programmer and a travel agent means dealing with data and interacting with people.

While you may rely on transferable skills you used in nursing in your future sales role, avoid assuming this new job will have a similar company culture as your last one. Instead, adjust your tone to match the company. For instance, if the job ad and the website are written with humor, you can afford to crack a small joke or write less formally.

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These Teacher Cover Letter Examples Will Help You Land Your Next Role

Your guide to a killer cover letter that will get you that interview.

Teacher Cover Letter Examples

Whether you are sending out resumes hoping to land your first teaching job or looking to shift to a new school or district, one fact remains the same: All the best credentials, experience, and passion will go unnoticed without a strong cover letter. The main rule? Sell yourself the way a publicist would. Cover letters aren’t a time for modesty. They’re a time to highlight your accomplishments and make your passion for teaching known. Below you’ll find our tips for creating the best cover letter possible and our top teacher cover letter and CV examples.

3 top tips for crafting a teacher CV or cover letter:

Keep it short and sweet..

You’ve only got about 30 seconds to capture a hiring director’s attention, so start with what we call “the elevator pitch.” Imagine you have the time between the elevators closing on one floor and opening again on another floor to sell yourself. Instead of rehashing everything on your resume, use the space to craft a paragraph or two that will convince them you are a standout candidate and are worth moving on to the next step.

Emphasize why you’re a great match.

Read the job description and find the overlap between the skills you bring to the table with the skills they need. If the job description calls for certain qualities or uses specific language, repeat them in your cover letter! The ultimate goal for your cover letter is to say, “You’ve got a problem? I’m the ideal person to solve it.” Be professional and use concrete examples.

Individualize!

Tailor each and every cover letter to fit the specific school, district, and job for which you’re applying. Research the school and its culture. That way, you can address their expectations and also use specific examples of achievements in your history to show why you’re the right candidate for the position.

Top teacher cover letter examples:

1. first-time teacher.

This letter is friendly and enthusiastic. It uses concrete examples and experiences related to student teaching while showcasing exactly why the applicant wants to become a teacher.

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2. Another first-time teacher example

This version of a cover letter calls out the specific skills the applicant has and hopes to bring to the table.

3. Experienced elementary teacher

Not every teacher stays in their job until retirement. If you’re looking for a new position, your cover letter should clearly state your experience. This example also makes it obvious that the candidate researched the new district and discusses why she would be excited to join. The candidate also includes references at the bottom of the cover letter.

4. Another experienced elementary teacher

It doesn’t hurt to have additional examples! This teacher cover letter clearly showcases the school’s goals and addresses how this teacher specifically can help. She did her research!

5. Summer school teacher

As school lets out for summer, many teachers still need to earn an income. With competition tight, this cover letter stands out as the candidate states her qualifications as well as her ability to train other staff members.

6. Assistant teacher

With this letter, the applicant took a slightly different approach. The letter breaks down the most relevant accomplishments into bullet points. Those will jump out at the hiring manager, who will likely scan through a ton of applications.

7. Special education teacher

This letter is similar to a standard teacher cover letter, yet it also stresses the specific qualifications and experiences of a special ed teacher. For example, this candidate included how they modified the curriculum to meet the needs of a wide range of learners. In this particular cover letter example, the teacher was looking to move into a leadership role, so this serves as a template for someone looking to transition into management as well.

8. School counselor

This cover letter emphasizes the applicant’s academic achievements, especially with regard to the psychology education required for many counselor positions. It also talks about the characteristics that make this person the ideal candidate for this position.

9. School guidance counselor

We liked this cover letter because it pulls specific metrics that are not in the resume—including the number of students the candidate worked with and the funding obtained for special needs programs.

10. Library media specialist

This cover letter oozes confidence! As with any specialist position, the candidate hones in on how her specific skills and background make her qualified for this role.

11. High school English teacher

This cover letter covers a lot of ground. It points out the candidate’s strengths for teaching and assessing knowledge in the specific subject. It also presents the special techniques the candidate uses to teach students at the high school level.

12. Technology teacher

Taking a very professional approach to writing a cover letter shows that the contender is serious. This letter points out the specific skills that best prove why this candidate is a great fit for the position.

13. Music teacher

A music teacher requires knowledge of multiple instruments and a love of music and music theory. This cover letter showcases the candidate’s background and why they feel music is an important part of the education experience.

14. Drama teacher

Drama teachers often go above and beyond just teaching a class. They host auditions and rehearsals for after-school productions. This cover letter shows the candidate’s knowledge of curriculum, directing a show, and even marketing efforts!

15. Foreign language teacher

Foreign language teachers need to display their knowledge of the particular language as well as showcase how well they can immerse students in the culture. This cover letter discusses the teacher’s plans to incorporate curriculum as well as help facilitate induction of students into the German Honor Society.

16. Sports coach

This cover letter has a terrific opening line that sets the candidate apart from the get-go. It also clearly covers the candidate’s qualifications, from knowledge and experience to attitude and philosophy. This cover letter example also works well for PE teachers.

17. ESL teacher

Teaching English as a second language obviously requires a distinct skill set. This cover letter showcases key communication skills and lets the hiring director know the specific language fluency.

18. Math teacher

Touching on the highlights of their resume without rehashing it completely (who wants to read something twice?), this candidate points out their qualifications and certifications as well as their versatility in teaching different types of students.

19. Pre-K teacher

Teaching pre-K takes patience, creativity, and flexibility. This cover letter effectively highlights the candidate’s communication and problem-solving skills as well as the personal qualities that make them great at their job.

20. Business teacher

This cover letter provides excellent background about the teacher in a way that’s appropriate for business. It shares the necessary information clearly and concisely.

21. International school teacher

Working at an international school requires a certain skill set, and this letter highlights the teacher’s language skills as well as their ability to create effective lessons on relevant topics while providing students with the support they need to succeed.

Do you have more great teacher cover letter examples? Share in the comments below.

Plus, check out tips for teacher job fairs and the most common teacher interview questions., want more articles like this be sure to subscribe to our newsletters .

Looking for teacher cover letter examples? Here are 18 great samples, along with guidelines and advice for writing your cover letter.

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How to Write a Cover Letter When Changing Careers (With Examples)

Kayte Grady

Making a career change is an exciting decision. And whether you're looking for a fresh start or pursuing your passions, writing a career change cover letter to complement your resume is your chance to make a powerful impression.

A well-crafted cover letter is essential to showcase your relevant skills and experience. It should show potential employers that you'll excel in a new industry. And by tailoring your letter to the job description and presenting your transferable skills, you can position yourself as a top candidate and increase your chances of landing that dream job. 

So, if you're ready to take the leap and switch careers, let's explore how to write a cover letter to help you make a successful and confident career transition.

3 Key takeaways you’ll find below

In this post, we’ll explore … 

  • Preparing to write a career change cover letter
  • The sections your cover letter should include
  • 3 career change sample cover letter examples

What is a cover letter?

When it comes to job applications, a well-written cover letter can make all the difference. So let's start with the basics. 

A cover letter is a document that accompanies a job application and your resume. It's a one-page letter introducing yourself. And it also emphasizes your qualifications and interest in the job to the potential employer. 

A cover letter should accomplish two objectives. 

The first is to provide additional information about yourself that isn't in your resume. A resume offers a comprehensive overview of your work history and accomplishments. At the same time, a cover letter allows you to add context. 

The second objective of a cover letter is to highlight why you're the right person for the job while showcasing your personality. Your cover letter should do this in a way that demonstrates you understand the company's needs and how you can contribute to its success.

Are cover letters important?

Yes! Cover letters are an essential part of a successful job application. In fact, 49% of hiring managers believe attaching a cover letter to your resume improves your chances of landing a job. 

Your cover letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and demonstrate your knowledge, many skills, and passion for the position you're applying for. It's also your chance to shine and set yourself apart. 

In addition to providing information not included your resume, a cover letter also allows you to address any gaps in your work history, elaborate on your qualifications, and highlight your achievements. 

All of that said, your cover letter is a chance to tell your unique story.

How should I approach my cover letter if I’m changing careers?

If you’re planning a career pivot , it's best to approach your cover letter as a platform explaining why you're making a shift. It’s also the perfect place to discuss how your previous job experience and past roles will benefit your new role.

As a career changer, you may not have some relevant hard skills (and that’s okay!). Use your cover letter to explain why you are the best fit for the job and how your transferable skills make you a valuable candidate.

How to prepare to write a career change cover letter  

Before you begin writing a career change cover letter, it’s important to research your new industry and the roles you’ll be applying for. So, let’s explore a few best practices to implement before you start writing your letter. 

Research your new career

Starting a new career might seem daunting, but one of the best ways to mitigate any feelings of overwhelm is to make sure it aligns with your goals—career and personal. 

Research your industry and role using the questions below to determine if it fits you. 

  • What are my long-term career goals? (For example, do you want to do meaningful work, work for a prestigious company, or increase your income?) 
  • Will this new position help me to achieve those goals?
  • What hard skills (specialized expertise like Marketo and Ahrefs) and soft skills (practical abilities like agility and communication) are talked about often? 
  • What are some of the current market trends and opportunities in this industry? (For example, has there been an increase in hiring over the past six months?) 
  • What is the salary range? Does it meet my needs?
  • What kind of work-life balance can I expect?
  • Are there opportunities for growth and advancement?
  • What additional education or training might be required? 

You can keep track of the research you conduct in Teal’s Job Tracker . Tips and guidance are offered of where and how to conduct research. You can also log the research completed on the company.

Read relevant job descriptions

After you’ve decided this career is right for you, it's time to do a deep dive into some job descriptions. Remember, you want your career change cover letter to demonstrate you fully understand the role you're applying for. 

By analyzing a job posting or job description, you'll see a pattern in the key skills, direct experience, and qualifications that hiring managers want. And these details will help you create a keyword-rich, personalized cover letter.

Additionally, researching the job descriptions will help you understand companies and their core values. Your analysis gives you an idea of which organizations align with what you want. You'll also gain further insight into the best ways to position yourself as a strong culture add.

cover letter for teacher changing careers

Find relevant resume examples

Before starting your cover letter, the last step in your research is to find and read relevant resume examples. Getting familiar with how to structure your resume as a career changer will help you narrow down vital elements you should focus on, like industry-specific language and the the best resume format .

If you don’t know where to begin, Teal has a free resource hub of 1,200+ resume examples to make this process a breeze!

How to write a cover letter for career changes  

Now that you understand the importance of a concise cover letter and the research you should do before getting started, it’s time to dig into your cover letter format and the fundamentals of crafting a cover letter for changing careers in the step-by-step guide below.

Write an introduction 

The introduction of your career change cover letter should pack a punch and grab the reader’s attention.

Start by addressing the hiring manager by name. Do your best to find this information in the job ad, LinkedIn, or company website. If you’re unsure of the hiring manager’s name, try something like “Dear Hiring Manager,” but avoid overly generalized statements like “To Whom It May Concern.”  

Then, start your opening paragraph by introducing yourself. You should include the following:

  • Your current job title
  • Position you're applying for 
  • Company you’re applying to
  • A sentence or two addressing your unconventional background 

Express reasoning 

After introducing yourself, it's time to touch on why you're changing careers. 

While discussing what you didn't like about your previous role might seem honest, your cover letter isn't the place to focus on any negative reasons.

Are you looking for new challenges? Seeking a better work-life balance? Have you become passionate about a different industry? When talking about why you want to change careers, these are the positive elements you should highlight.

Show personality 

One of the most important elements of your career change cover letter (or any cover letter) is showcasing your incredible personality. You can do this by …

  • Demonstrating enthusiasm with a positive tone (e.g., “thrilled,” “excited,” or “passionate”)
  • Using professional but conversational language
  • Talking about your goals
  • Tying in your values and motivation with those of the company
  • Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to apply and for your perspective employer’s time and attention

Customize it to the job description

Much like you should tailor your resume to a job , you should personalize your cover letter, too. Customizing your cover letter to the job description you're applying to demonstrates you thoroughly understand the specifics of the role.

What's the best way to do this? Well, you can use AI tools like ChatGPT for job applications for repetitive tasks like pulling keywords and language from the job description. Then, include that content in the body of your letter.

If you want to skip multiple steps and make customizing your cover letter (and resume) to a particular job easy, use Teal. ( Sign up for free today !) 

Teal has a free Job Tracker that pulls relevant keywords for resume from your saved jobs. It also keeps notes for each job, helping you stay organized and track important information about each position. Just follow the steps below.

  • Log in to your Teal account and navigate to the Job Tracker. 
  • Click on one of the jobs you have saved, or click "Add a New Job." 
  • Teal will automatically pull the hard skills, soft skills, emphasis words, and other key language from the job description.

      4. Click the "Notes" icon in the top right corner to jot down any important details you want to remember to include in your cover letter. You can also include notes about the company to reference as you move into the interview stages.

Highlight transferable skills

Your transferable skills are those soft skills, or interpersonal skills , from previous experiences like employment, education, unique hobbies, or personal interests . According to McKinsey & Company , the need for transferable skills —especially social and emotional—will continue to accelerate rapidly through at least 2030. 

So what transferable skills example might you want to incorporate into your cover letter?

  • Adaptability
  • Collaboration
  • Dependability
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Growth mindset
  • Organization
  • Relationality 

Also, honesty is critical when creating your cover letter and writing winning resumes. No matter what the job description lists, only highlight the skills you actually have experience with. 

Pro Tip: If you need some guidance in this area, check out the class “Identify My Skills” to brush up on the skills you’ve gained over time!

Showcase results 

Hiring managers need a glimpse into who you are, your reason for wanting to change careers, and your soft skills. But it's also valuable for them to see any results that might be considered pertinent to the role you're seeking. 

When crafting your career change cover letter, consider highlighting accomplishments examples like a specific project, awards, or metrics that showcase your skills. These results demonstrate your performance and potential to deliver value in a new field. 

Close with a strong call to action

A call to action tells your reader what you want them to do next. And because you likely want to meet with a company to discuss the opportunity and your qualifications further, let the hiring manager know in the final lines of your letter! 

So what should your call to action include?

  • Enthusiasm 
  • A request to meet or interview

3 Career change cover letter examples 

Now that you understand the fundamentals of a career change cover letter, let's go over some examples that show how to tailor your career transition cover letter to a new industry, highlight transferable skills, and express your motivation and excitement for a new career path!

Dear Hiring Manager,  As a dedicated and passionate teacher for the past eight years, I'm thrilled to apply for the project manager role at Vaniam Group. My unique background and experience as an educator have provided me with a skill set I believe will significantly impact project management. While I've found teaching to be a fulfilling and rewarding career, I'm excited to pursue a new challenge in project management. In my current position, I consistently receive excellent feedback for my ability to communicate effectively with my students, parents, and colleagues. I'm also drawn to this role because I'm passionate about working collaboratively with teams to drive successful outcomes. I believe these skills will translate well into project management, where clear communication and collaboration are essential for success. Throughout my teaching career, I've honed my ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and deadlines while keeping my students engaged and motivated. I've also become proficient in using project management software to organize my lesson plans and classroom activities. I'm confident that these skills, along with my attention to detail and ability to adapt to changing circumstances, will serve me well in the project management space. I'm very enthusiastic about bringing my talents and experience to Vaniam Group and contributing to its continued success. Thank you for considering my application. I'd love to demonstrate my skills and passion for this role through an interview with your team.  Sincerely, Cormac Doyle
Dear Hiring Manager, I'm excited to apply for the business development representative role at EveryDose. As a seasoned retail professional with a passion for driving sales and building customer relationships, I believe my unique background will enable me to make a significant impact in this role. I'm drawn to this role because I am passionate about leveraging my skills to drive success for a rapidly growing organization. As a retail professional, I’ve successfully managed a high volume of sales and customer service interactions, resulting in increased customer loyalty and repeat business. I am confident I can bring this same success to the healthcare technology industry. Throughout my 10-year career in retail, I've sharpened my skills in sales, customer service, and relationship-building. I've consistently exceeded sales targets by more than 20%—leveraging my ability to identify customer needs and provide tailored solutions. In addition to my sales and customer service skills, I also have experience with data analysis and reporting. As a retail manager, I regularly review and analyze sales data to identify trends and opportunities for growth.  Thank you for considering my application. I'm so excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to EveryDose and contribute to its continued success.  I look forward to hearing from you soon to discuss how my unique background and experience can help me excel as a business development representative. Sincerely, Alicia Orgera
Dear Ms. Patel, I'm excited to submit my application for the jr. marketing associate position at Ibotta. As a restaurant industry professional with 15 years of experience in customer service and operations, I've developed a diverse skill set that would translate well to the marketing field. While I've enjoyed my time in the restaurant industry and the valuable skills I've acquired, I’m seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. I'm particularly drawn to marketing because of its dynamic and ever-changing nature—where creativity and innovation are highly valued. As a restaurant manager, I spearheaded a social media campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in online engagement and a 15% increase in customer foot traffic. I utilized my skills in communication, creativity, and strategic planning to create engaging content that resonated with our target audience and drove increased customer interest in our brand.  I'm confident that my experience in the restaurant industry and my passion for marketing make me a strong candidate for this position.  Can you let me know your availability to discuss my qualifications further? Thank you so much for your consideration. Sincerely, Stella Pertaker

How to quickly write a customized cover letter 

Making a career switch is an exciting step in your professional growth. Congratulations on taking the leap!

If you're looking to write a career change cover letter in even less time, Teal's AI functionality generates custom cover letters with the click of a button. 

All you need to do is navigate to Teal's Resume Builder , click on the cover letter icon at the top of your screen, select a saved job from the drop-down menu, and click the "Generate with AI" button—that's it! 

Still not using Teal? Sign up for free to create custom cover letters, tailored resumes, organize your job search, and so much more today!

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COMMENTS

  1. How To Write a Career Change Cover Letter (With Examples)

    To write a career change cover letter, start with the following steps: 1. Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by stating who you are, what you want and why you'd be a good fit for the job. Highlight your most impressive, valuable and relevant achievements without oversharing your lack of experience.

  2. Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

    Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume. Every teacher career change resume needs a cover letter! Your cover letter introduces who you are and what you can offer in position X at company Y. A common mistake I see teachers make is creating a generic cover letter to send with all of their applications.

  3. Cover Letter for Teachers Transitioning Careers: 4 Tips

    This is where a great cover letter comes in — helping you make connections between your existing skills and the job you want. Check out four valuable tips to craft a cover letter for teachers transitioning careers, so you can open doors to exciting opportunities beyond the classroom. 1. Customize your cover letter for each job you apply for.

  4. How To Write a Resume When Changing Careers From Teaching

    Here is how to create a resume to impress any hiring manager: 1. Find the right career. If you aren't leaving teaching with a specific field in mind, this provides an opportunity to choose a career that suits you. Applying for jobs in a field where your teaching skills are transferable makes a switch easier.

  5. Five Cover Letter Tips for Changing Careers to Teaching

    Tips for Writing a Cover Letter to Transition into Teaching. 1. Emphasize Relevant Career Experience. Many career changers I work with feel frustrated by a lack of relevant experience. More often than not, they fail to recognize solid teaching- related skills they possess. Relevant experience to teaching should take center stage in your teacher ...

  6. Applying Transferable Skills from Teaching to a New Job

    Consider this list of transferable skills from teaching as you craft your cover letter for a new position: Leadership. A successful teacher is a strong leader. Use specific examples to show how you led your classroom or department and how those situations translate to the new role. Planning and organization.

  7. How to Write a Cover Letter When You're Changing Careers (Sample + Tips

    2. Get specific. Your cover letter should expand upon your resume, rather than repeating the same information. One way to do this is by giving details about your past achievements. Quantify your impact with numbers, when possible, and explain how these accomplishments make you uniquely qualified for this new role. 3.

  8. 14 Transferable Teaching Skills for Your Resume

    14 examples of transferable teaching skills for a resume. Here are some examples of skills that may transfer well for teachers pursuing a new career that may be beneficial to include on a resume: 1. Problem-solving. Problem-solving skills enable teachers to evaluate situations and develop potential solutions.

  9. How to Write a COVER LETTER for TEACHERS changing careers

    Are you a teacher looking to change careers but not sure how to write a cover letter that will grab the attention of potential employers? Look no further! In...

  10. How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter

    1. Write an attention-grabbing introduction. Hiring managers have a limited amount of time to spend on each job application. If you start your cover letter by drawing attention to your lack of experience and stating "I may be unqualified, but…" , you risk making a negative impression on employers before they get the chance to learn why you're the right candidate for the job.

  11. Career Change Cover Letter Samples & Examples for 2024

    How to write a career change cover letter in 8 steps. 1. Start with a great intro. Start your cover letter by greeting the hiring manager by name. If you're unable to find a name, use "Dear Hiring Manager" but steer away from outdated greetings such as "To Whom It May Concern.". Next, dive into your intro.

  12. How To Write a Career Change Cover Letter + Examples

    Cover Letter for Career Change Format. your contact info. the company's info. dear (hiring manager name) paragraph #1: big achievement and career change reveal. paragraph #2: job-matching achievements. paragraph #3: make an offer. best regards + your name. PS—with one more accomplishment.

  13. Sample Career Change Cover Letter and Writing Tips

    Note. In your letter, do your best to explain how you succeeded in previous roles, and connect that to a summary of how you would also add value in this new position. Make sure your references will corroborate your statements. 3. Express Your Passion for the Company. Mention your passion for the company.

  14. How To Write the Best Career Change Cover Letter (+ Examples)

    State that you are looking to move sectors and try to give a compelling reason to the reader now. 3. Emphasize your transferable skills. When you're writing a career change cover letter, this is vital. Transferable skills are your current talents that would help you succeed in a different position.

  15. How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter (With Samples!)

    Here's your step-by-step guide to writing a career change cover letter that'll tell your unique story and help a hiring manager envision how you would benefit their organization. 1. Start strong with a unique opener. Get the reader's attention right away by putting the opening line of your cover letter to work!

  16. 5 Career Change Cover Letter Examples Made for 2024

    Writing a winning cover letter intro. The perfect cover letter begins with a personalized greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name. However, if you absolutely cannot find the recipient (try LinkedIn), you can use "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Team.". Refrain from using "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear ...

  17. The Career Change Cover Letter: How to Get it Right

    One way to encourage confidence is to learn as much as you can about the role and write assuredly about how you'll approach it. Career coach Monica Marcelis Fochtman suggests changing up your vernacular to inspire confidence. "Flip your language to reflect the industry you want to go to, " she says. " Our tendency is to speak the ...

  18. Teacher Cover Letter Examples—Real Letters Used To Get Hired

    Sports coach. This cover letter has a terrific opening line that sets the candidate apart from the get-go. It also clearly covers the candidate's qualifications, from knowledge and experience to attitude and philosophy. This cover letter example also works well for PE teachers. 17. ESL teacher.

  19. Teacher Cover Letter Example & Writing Tips

    If you're applying for jobs in special education, make sure you reference our special education teacher resume and guide for more specific industry advice. 2. Quantify your achievements. Adding hard numbers to your cover letter is an effective way to make your application stand out to administrators. Quantifying your accomplishments gives the ...

  20. How to Write an Effective New Teacher Cover Letter

    Try to include the following components in your first-year teacher cover letter: 1. Include your academic credentials. When you're applying for your first teaching job, focus on your academic credentials rather than your limited professional experience. Include any certificates you have earned, too. Both can show you have the academic ...

  21. Writing a Cover Letter for Changing Career Path? Here's ...

    A persuasive career change cover letter should show that despite the lack of relevant background or experience, you are still the best fit for the role. This article will show you a step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter for a career change that can engage the hiring manager. You'll pick up some tricks from reading some career change cover letter examples.

  22. How to Write a Cover Letter When Changing Careers

    Show personality. One of the most important elements of your career change cover letter (or any cover letter) is showcasing your incredible personality. You can do this by …. Demonstrating enthusiasm with a positive tone (e.g., "thrilled," "excited," or "passionate") Using professional but conversational language. Talking about ...

  23. What records are exempted from FERPA?

    Records which are kept in the sole possession of the maker of the records, are used only as a personal memory aid, and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the records.

  24. Teacher Cover Letter Example and Template for 2024

    Here are three tips to help you craft a compelling teacher cover letter: 1. Review the job description to identify key skills. Take the time to review the job description for your desired teaching role carefully to identify what key skills the hiring manager is looking for when reviewing candidates. Write these skills down and consider how you ...