The Career Change Confidence Checklist

For Teachers + Tutors Who Are Ready for Something More

Leaving teaching (or even just thinking about leaving) can feel huge. Overwhelming. Emotional.

But here’s the thing nobody tells you:
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You need clarity.
Clarity builds confidence.

This checklist isn’t about having it all figured out overnight.
It’s about starting to see yourself differently as someone with choices, skills and power.

1. Know Your Why

What are you moving towards, not just away from?

Leaving because you’re exhausted, burnt out, or undervalued is completely valid. But real momentum comes when you start dreaming forward. Ask yourself: If this next chapter could feel any way I want… how would it feel?

2. Know What You’re Brilliant At

You are not “just” a teacher.

Teachers are planners, presenters, leaders, writers, creators, problem-solvers. Write down every single transferable skill you’ve got, even the ones that feel ordinary to you. Someone else will pay for those skills.

3. Know Your Non-Negotiables

What are you never doing again?

This is your chance to draw some lines in the sand. No more parents’ evenings? No more Sunday dread? No more marking until midnight? The clearer you are on what you don’t want, the easier it is to design a life you do want.

4. Know What Lights You Up

Follow the clues.

What do people always ask for your help with? What feels easy for you but hard for others? What could you lose hours doing and not notice the time? These are breadcrumbs worth following.

5. Know Your Money Minimums

Get clear on your real numbers.

Not your old teacher salary. Not what you think you should earn. What do you actually need to cover your bills, live well, and breathe easily? Clarity here takes the fear out of making changes.

6. Know What You’re Curious To Try

Curiosity is more powerful than certainty.

You don’t need a 10-year plan. You need a starting experiment. A “let’s see how this goes” project. Write down 3 things you’re curious about trying next (no pressure, no commitment) just possibilities.

7. Know Who’s In Your Corner

The right people change everything.

Surround yourself with people who get it. People who are building businesses, changing careers, taking brave steps. It’s hard to dream big if everyone around you is committed to staying small.

Final Thought:

This isn’t about having it all figured out today.
It’s about having the courage to get curious.

Every confident career change starts here:
→ A notebook.
→ A cup of tea.
→ A blank page with your ideas.

Ready to figure out your next chapter?