Teachers in Transition

Teachers in Transition – Episode 247: The Job Market is Trash so It’s Time to Take out the Garbage of Limiting Beliefs!

• Vanessa Jackson

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Feeling stuck in your career transition during this economic dumpster fire? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down five toxic myths that are holding job seekers—especially teachers and mid-career professionals—hostage in a broken system.

We’ll talk about:

  • Why now is still a good time to pivot
  • How “overqualified” is code for “we don’t know what to do with your brilliance”
  • Alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5
  • The power of the hidden job market
  • And the lie that teaching is “all you can do”

This is your reminder that you are not the problem—the system is. So grab a metaphorical trash bag and let’s take out the garbage, one mindset shift at a time.


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The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzspout

Are you a teacher who is feeling stressed out and overwhelmed? Do you worry that you're feeling symptoms of burnout - or are you sure you've already gotten there? Have you started to dream of doing something different or a new job or perhaps pursuing an entirely different career - but you don't know what else you're qualified to do? You don't know how to start a job search, and you just feel stuck. If that sounds like you, I promise you are not alone. My name is Vanessa Jackson; and I am a career transition and job search coach, and I specialize in helping burnt out teachers just like you deal with the overwhelmingly stressful nature of your day-to-day job and to consider what other careers might be out there waiting for you. You might ask yourself, What tools do I need to find a new career?  Are my skills valuable outside the classroom?  How and where do I even get started?  These are all questions you deserve answers to, and I can help you find them.  I’m Vanessa Jackson. Come and join me for Teachers in Transition.  

***Hi!  And Welcome back to another episode of Teachers in Transition. Today on the podcast, we are going to talk about the extra talents that teachers have, and we’ll ask the question – ‘what else can you do?” In today’s hack, we talk about a task cascade and I’m looking for feedback on how you handle yours, because I promise they’ve happened to you too!  In our career transition segment, we take a straightforward look at this mess of a job market, and we wrap the show with reminders about the free Teachers in Transition workshops coming up on how to write a resume and create (and optimize) your LinkedIn page 

 

When a teacher decides to leave teaching, they often assume they’ll transition into curriculum design or training—after all, that’s  what they’ve been doing, just for fewer (and often younger) people. But then they realize how oversaturated those markets are, and they start looking around, asking themselves, *What else can I do?*  Side note: There’s a great song from Encanto, the movie with this title that asks the same question when that character breaks out her of predestined box of expectations and finds joy in the OTHER things she can do.  I’ll link the video in the show notes)

That’s when it hits them: Teaching has given them a *huge* variety of interests. Maybe they coached and got involved in youth sports. Maybe they bought a Cricut or a Silhouette  machine because, well, classrooms require a lot of creativity—and hey, they like pretty things—so they decide to monetize that and turn it into a small business. Or perhaps they took a quilting class, discovered a love for their sewing machine, and ended up making costumes.  

It’s fascinating to consider all the possibilities. Maybe they’re really into dogs and want to learn everything about them—or even start a nonprofit to help homeless dogs, or a training program to improve family-dog relationships. Maybe they launch a tutoring business or get into website design because they have the creativity, organizational skills, and the drive. The list is *endless*—there’s no way I could name them all in this podcast, even if I could think of them all   

 

And therein lies a small problem. When you have such a wide variety of skills, it can be hard to narrow them down on a resume to target a specific job. If I’m applying for a website design role, *no one*—and I repeat, *no one*—cares that I won "Best-Mannered Teacher" two years in a row from the local Jr Cotillion. (Well, except maybe my mom. My mom cared)  

So as you create your resume, focus *only* on what the job description asks for.  

In my free resume workshop, we’ll talk about this, and I’ll walk you through:  

- How to write and format your resume to catch the attention of recruiters and it is friendly applicant tracking systems as well as how to write the bullet points so that it showcases the skills they are looking for.

And moving on to our hack.  Our hacks are designed to free up space either in your time or in your brain – just to help you have a better day. 

I recently heard a term that really resonated with me: Task Cascade. If you want to hear the original discussion, it was on Episode 528 of the Happier Podcast with Gretchen Rubin.  

She explains a task cascade like this: You go to print something, but you’re out of paper. So you load more paper—only to realize you need to *order* more paper. Then you remember you also needed to sign and mail an envelope. Suddenly, one small task has sparked a dozen others, creating a cascade*of to-dos.  

When I heard that, I thought, *That’s teaching in a nutshell*—nothing but a never-ending task cascade.  

The podcast debated whether it’s better to ride the task cascade or stop it and focus only on the original task. I think the answer depends on your situation and personality—but *wow*, do I ever get pulled into task cascades. By the end of the day, I’m frustrated because I never got back to what I intended to do.  

I’d love to hear your thoughts! On the podcast, one of the co-hosts (Liz) said she prefers to "ride the task wave" because otherwise, she’d forget the follow-up steps. That makes a lot of sense to me too.  The biggest lie we ever tell ourselves is “I’ll remember that!”

For now, here’s what works for me:  

I Ride the cascade just long enough to finish the immediate task.   And I’ll Capture the rest on a to-do list (you know the one—it’s never-ending, but at least you can prioritize).  I’ve been known to tell my phone to send me a text message with the task on it, so I don’t forget it. 

For example: If you go to print something and have to load paper, do that—but I’ll add "Order more paper" to my list instead of derailing my entire workflow.  

So that’s today’s hack:  Notice and name the task cascade – and know what works best for you on how to deal with one!   I’m curious—what works best for you?  Please feel free to reach out and share! 


 And on today’s career transition and job hunt segment:  We’re taking out the trash!
 
 

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the job market right now feels like a giant flaming landfill. I picture  that meme where the dog is sitting in the room and everything is on fire while he sits there saying “It’s fine.  It’s fine”   You’re either getting ghosted after interviews, not getting interviews, rejected for roles you’re overqualified for, or stuck applying to jobs that pay less than your current grocery bill. And if you’re a mid-career professional – oof, especially one transitioning from education or a helping profession—you’re probably wondering how to convince anyone that your skills still matter or that you can DO what they’re looking for if you can only get the chance to prove it.  

But here's the truth: the economy might be trash, but you’re not. And just because the system is broken doesn’t mean you have no value

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and take out these metaphorical garbage bags.

Garbage Bag  #1: Waiting for the “Perfect Time” to Pivot

Spoiler alert: there is no perfect time. Yes, the economy is shaky, but that’s exactly why now is the moment to get clear on what you want next. When everything feels uncertain, it’s an opportunity to redefine what stability looks like on your terms - not someone else’s broken corporate ladder.

If you’ve been burned out, underpaid, or like your current career no longer aligns with who you are, take those signs seriously. Your desire for change is not the problem. It might just be the start of something better.
 
 And I know there’s a lot of fear about the idea of temp jobs because you’re looking for that next permanent job, but here’s an important secret to internalize – every job is a temp job.  It’s ALWAYS a good idea to be positioning yourself for the next best thing for you. 

 

Garbage Bag  #2: Letting “Overqualified” Be a Wall

Being told you’re overqualified feels like being punished for your experience. It's code for, “We can’t afford you,” or worse, “You intimidate us.” But guess what? You don’t need to shrink yourself to fit into a smaller box. 

Reframe your narrative. Show how your experience solves problems, saves time, and builds capacity. You have to speak THEIR language, not the language of education. I’m often amazed at just how easy it to write the bullet point without using the word “student.” Learn to translate your background into the language of the industry you’re targeting. You’re not overqualified—you’re exactly what someone needs, once you find the right room.

 

Garbage Bag #3: Thinking Full-Time Employment is the Only Option

This one’s tough because most of us were raised to believe that stability equals a full-time job with benefits. But if that’s not showing up right now, don’t sit on your hands. Consulting, freelancing, fractional roles, and even strategic side hustles can build both your income and your confidence.  They also show potential full-time employers that you have been owning and using those skills that you know you have in ways that they need. They want to see that you have been battle tested somewhere. 

Don’t wait to be chosen—choose yourself. Offer a service. Teach a workshop. Contract with a small business. Try out a new lane without needing a full rebrand. You’re allowed to make money while figuring it out. One way to look at it is to ask yourself, “What is something other people don’t want to do?”

 

Garbage Bag #4: Only Applying to Posted Jobs

The real magic? It’s not in job boards - it’s in the hidden job market. That’s where referrals, informational interviews, and real human conversations live.

Start talking to people—not just about jobs, but about your goals, values, and ideas. Teachers are idea generators!  Let your network know you’re exploring. Get curious, not desperate. Ask better questions: “What’s changing in your industry?” or “What skills are people craving right now?”

You’ll be surprised how many doors open when you stop trying to go through just the front one.

 

🗑️ Garbage #5 – Bulk Trash Pick-up: Believing Teaching Is the Only Thing You Can Do

This one hits deep. If you’ve spent years or decades in the classroom, it can feel like your entire identity is wrapped up in being “just” a teacher. And that belief? That’s one of the most toxic lie the system feeds us.  I spent 25 years in a classroom and the grief when leaving was real – even though it was what I wanted, and what I knew I needed to do!

Here’s the truth: teachers are project managers, instructional designers, data analysts, public speakers, behavior specialists, conflict negotiators, curriculum developers, and community leaders – the list goes on and on. You’ve already worn more hats than most professionals will ever be asked to wear. And you’ve done it under pressure, with minimal resources, and while shaping actual human lives.

So no - you’re not “just” a teacher. You’re a high-capacity problem solver with a skill set most industries are desperate for.  They just don’t know it yet. The key is learning how to translate it into the language of the jobs you want.

You are not powerless in this mess. You’re evolving. You’re gathering data. You’re building clarity, connections, and momentum—bit by bit. You’re allowed to feel frustrated and still keep going.  On of my favorite expressions in these situations is:  “The only way forward is through.”

So no, you can’t control the economy. But you can control how you respond to it. You can choose strategy over spiraling. You can choose purpose over panic. And you can choose to move forward—even when the road is littered with trash.

Take a breath. Then take the next step.

And a final thought today – I saw the video of the elephants creating a protective circle at the San Diego Zoo in its recent 5.2 earthquake (I have a link to the AP article and the video in the show notes).  Those elephants thought IMMEDIATELY of saving the young.  If the public wants to see a metaphor of what happens when kids are threatened in a school – any threat – that’s exactly how the teachers react.  They immediately spring into action and make sure the kids are safe.   This is why so many teachers are such amazing humans.  
 
 If you saw that video and it moved you (and not like the earthquake was moving people), it might be because you know a kindred spirit when you see one.  

A quick reminder about our spring Resume Writing Workshop AND LinkedIn Writing Workshop – Both opportunities are completely free for you – and anyone you happen to forward it to.  These workshops are geared towards teachers, but the basic principles are sound in case you have a friend who isn’t a teacher but might also benefit from it.  These workshops come right before Teacher Appreciation week.  You know, if they have to have a whole week to appreciate you – they aren’t paying you enough. Give yourself the gift of learning how to create these important pieces of a job search. 
 
 The Resume Workshop will be on May 3rd at 2:00pm Central Time. 
 The LinkedIn Optimization Workshop will be on May 4th at 2:00pm Central time.  
 
 If you happen to be busy when one or both of the workshops are going on (and who are we kidding here, you probably are – it’s MAY!) If you register for the event, you wll be a given to watch the video afterwards. So even if you can’t make it, you can still get the resources I promise and you can still see the video.  I expect it will last about an hour and a half, but that also allows room for questions at the end. 


 I will have a link in the show notes or you can head over to TeachersinTransition.com and find the links to register on are on the home page right down the right side.  In addition to learning how to build your resume, you’ll leave with a template for your resume and a checklist for your LinkedIn page to help you build those tools. 

That’s the podcast for today! If you liked this podcast, tell a friend, and don’t forget to rate and review wherever you listen to your podcasts. Tune in weekly to Teachers in Transition where we discuss Job Search strategies as well as stress management techniques.  And I want to hear from you!  Please reach out and leave me a message at Vanessa@Teachersintransition.com  You can also leave a voicemail or text at 512-640-9099. 

I’ll see you here again next week and remember – YOU are amazing!