Beyond the Classroom with Lisa Harding

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build turns out to be the wrong fit? 

After a successful career in nonprofit fundraising, Emily Cunningham followed her passion into teaching.

But despite loving her students, she quickly realized the classroom was taking a toll on her health, energy, and family life. 

In this episode of The Messy Middle, Emily shares why she made the difficult decision to resign after three years—and what she's learning as she explores her next chapter. 

We talk about: 

✨ Why loving your students doesn't always mean teaching is the right fit 

✨ How to recognize when it's time to listen to yourself 

✨ Finding career clarity by focusing on your strengths and what brings you joy 

✨ Using ChatGPT to strengthen your resume and job applications 

✨ Why career coaching is about more than landing your next job 

If you've ever wondered whether the career you chose is still the career you want, Emily's story is a reminder that it's okay to choose a different path.

 Links from Episode: 

» Connect with Emily: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-cunningham-4846649/ 

» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast

» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review

» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Teachers have a lot of transferable skills.

That isn’t usually the problem. The bigger challenge is knowing which skills actually matter for the job you want, and helping a hiring manager immediately see the connection. 

In this episode, Lisa Harding explains the difference between simply having transferable skills and strategically aligning your experience to a target role. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why “I have transferable skills” isn’t enough 
• The difference between a transferable skill and an aligned skill 
• Why more skills do not necessarily create stronger positioning 
• Why you don’t need to be a 100% match for a job 

Your job isn’t to convince an employer that teachers can do everything. Your job is to make it easy for them to see why you can do this job. 

Links from Episode:
» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review   
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Are you putting time into your career transition but still feeling like you’re not getting anywhere?

You may be doing the right things — just in the wrong order. 

In this episode, Lisa Harding walks through the career-transition sequence she recommends for teachers and explains why updating your resume or sending applications often shouldn’t be your first step. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why so much of your career-transition work happens before you ever apply 
• The four stages of a teacher career transition 
• Three questions that can help you narrow your career options 
• How to identify the skills you’re both good at and actually enjoy using 

If you want to be ready when the right opportunity appears, the goal isn’t to rush to the application.

It’s to make sure you’re doing the right work in the right order. 

Links from Episode:
» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review   
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

If the only thing you’re doing on LinkedIn is searching for jobs and clicking “Apply,” you’re missing one of the most powerful parts of the platform. 

LinkedIn isn’t really about jobs. It’s about people. 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa Harding explains how career-transitioning teachers can use LinkedIn more strategically to build relationships, explore careers, increase their visibility, and uncover opportunities they may never find on a traditional job board. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why applying to more jobs isn’t always the best strategy 
• How your existing network may be bigger than you realize 
• Why informational interviews can accelerate both career clarity and job search 
• How to start networking without asking strangers for jobs 
• Why commenting and engaging can help the right people notice you 
• What the “hidden job market” means for career-transitioning teachers 
• How one LinkedIn message changed Lisa’s decision to review a candidate 
• Simple ways to start using LinkedIn more strategically this week 

Your next opportunity may not come from clicking “Apply.” 

It may start with a conversation. 

Links from Episode:
» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review   
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

LinkedIn can feel intimidating when you’re just beginning a career transition. 

What should your profile say?

What if you don’t know what career you want yet?

Will your school know you’re looking?

And do you really need to start posting and networking with strangers? 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa Harding breaks down why you don’t need to have LinkedIn—or your entire career transition—figured out before you start using it. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why LinkedIn is useful long before you start applying for jobs 
• What to do if you don’t know your next career yet 
• Why your profile does not need to be perfect 
• How to start building connections without feeling awkward 
• Why being a “LinkedIn lurker” can actually be a perfectly good first step 
• How your LinkedIn profile can evolve as your career direction becomes clearer 
• One simple action you can take this week to get started 

LinkedIn isn’t something you need to master overnight.

It’s a tool you can learn to use little by little throughout your entire career transition. 

Links from Episode:
» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review   
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

LinkedIn can feel intimidating when you’re just beginning a career transition. 

What should your profile say?

What if you don’t know what career you want yet?

Will your school know you’re looking?

And do you really need to start posting and networking with strangers? 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa Harding breaks down why you don’t need to have LinkedIn—or your entire career transition—figured out before you start using it. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why LinkedIn is useful long before you start applying for jobs 
• What to do if you don’t know your next career yet 
• Why your profile does not need to be perfect 
• How to start building connections without feeling awkward 
• Why being a “LinkedIn lurker” can actually be a perfectly good first step 
• How your LinkedIn profile can evolve as your career direction becomes clearer 
• One simple action you can take this week to get started 

LinkedIn isn’t something you need to master overnight.

It’s a tool you can learn to use little by little throughout your entire career transition. 

Links from Episode:
» Join our next free coaching call: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-transition-career-event?data-cst=podcast

» Book a 1:1 LinkedIn Review: https://www.teachercareertransitionacademy.com/teacher-li-profile-review   

» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

What if you still love teaching—you just don’t love the traditional classroom anymore? 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa talks with Becky Wilmoth about a side of education many teachers may not realize exists: homeschool co-ops, hybrid programs, microschools, enrichment classes, and other flexible ways to keep working with students. 

What began as Becky searching for a better option for her own children eventually grew into programs serving more than 300 students and a career helping others build innovative education programs of their own. 

You’ll learn: 

✨ How homeschool co-ops and hybrid programs actually work

 ✨ Where former classroom teachers fit into these programs 

✨ Opportunities for art, PE, music, and other specialty teachers

✨ How teachers can begin offering services to homeschool families 

✨ What to consider if you want to start a program of your own 

If you love teaching but know the traditional school environment no longer fits, this conversation may open your eyes to possibilities you haven’t considered.  

Links from Episode: 

» Connect with Becky:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wilmoth/

» Becky's Website:  www.nonprofitedsolutions.com 

» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.

» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Back-to-school season has a way of taking over everything. 

There’s always another email to answer, lesson to prepare, meeting to attend, activity to volunteer for, or person who needs something from you.

And when your time and energy are already stretched thin, your career transition can quickly become the thing you keep promising yourself you’ll get back to later. 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa talks about how to protect your career goals during one of the busiest seasons of the school year — without expecting yourself to do everything. 

We’ll talk about: 

• Why your career transition keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list 
• How to decide what your “minimum week” looks like during busy seasons 
• Why protecting your energy matters just as much as protecting your time 
• How to create boundaries around the things that don’t need your attention right now 
• Why consistency matters more than intensity 
• How accountability and support can help you keep going when motivation dips 

You don’t need to fit a second full-time job into your already-full schedule. 

You just need to intentionally protect a little space for the future you’re trying to build. 

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Back-to-school season leaves teachers with very little extra time or energy — which makes it even more important to spend the time you do have on the right things. 

But when you’re trying to change careers, it can be hard to know where to start.

Should you update your resume?

Apply for jobs?

Research new careers?

Take another course?

Work on LinkedIn? 

In this episode of Beyond the Classroom, Lisa talks about why career-transitioning teachers often get stuck doing the right things in the wrong order — and why you don’t need to have your entire future figured out before you can start making progress. 

We’ll talk about: 

• How to identify where you actually are in the career-transition process
• Why doing more isn’t always the same as moving forward 
• How small actions can help you create career clarity 
• Why career exploration is more effective than waiting for the perfect answer 
• How perfectionism can quietly keep you stuck 
• Why progress matters more than having everything figured out 

When your time is limited, you don’t need to tackle your entire career transition.

You just need to know your next meaningful step. Because action gets you information — and information gets you clarity. 

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!

Back-to-school season can make even the most motivated teacher feel like there simply isn’t room for anything else — especially a career transition. 

Between new students, lesson planning, open houses, family responsibilities, and everything else competing for your attention, it’s easy to decide that your career transition will just have to wait.

But putting it completely on hold can make it that much harder to start again later. 

In this episode, Lisa talks about why career transitions have seasons, how to adjust your pace during one of the busiest times of the school year, and how to create a transition plan that actually fits your life.

You’ll hear practical ways to find small pockets of time, stop comparing your progress to someone else’s, and keep moving forward even when your capacity is limited. 

Links from Episode:
» Join my Free Masterclass: Click here to jumpstart your career transition journey.
» Keep Learning With Me: Discover the Teacher Career Transition Academy
» Join our FB Group: A thriving community of support and resources.
» Download the Career Directory: Discover over 200+ alternative careers.
» “I love Lisa and the Teacher Career Transition Podcast” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people – just like you – find happiness in a new career. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”.
» Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding special surprises to the feed, and if you aren’t following, you have a good chance of missing out! Follow now!